Which Types of Networking Groups Should You Attend?

With so many options to choose from, choosing a networking group can be a daunting process. The good news is that you have lots of groups to choose from so if you don’t like one, you can always try a different group. Here is a quick rundown of the types of events you might attend:

• Chamber of Commerce Meetings - Most cities have a Chamber of Commerce within a few miles of them. These can be great places to get involved and start meeting other community members.
  
  
• Industry Associations - These are associations that focus on the real estate industry such as the National Association of Realtors or the Mortgage Broker’s Association of America.
  
  
• Other Professional Associations - Like real estate, most industries have some type of professional association where members get together periodically. These might include local Bar Association meetings for attorneys or Women’s Network events for business women.
  
  
• Local Meeting Groups - Internet sites like MeetUp.com make it easy to find local meeting groups on a wide variety of topics and interests. You can also find these groups in your local newspapers, religious bulletins, and industry magazines.
• Online - The internet is a powerful networking tool. You can use social networking sites like LinkedIn.com to find other professionals, go to industry blogs and post comments, answer questions on Yahoo! Answers, or join online discussion forums related to real estate.
  
  
• Create Your Own - Some people have great success creating their own groups that meet weekly or monthly to discuss business and exchange leads. You might pull together a mortgage broker, an attorney, a mover, a locksmith, a title insurance agent, and other professionals who don’t directly compete with one another but who can share business with one another or brainstorm for new business ideas. Make sure there is only one person from each field there so competitiveness doesn’t become a factor.
  
  

How can you choose the right groups?
When looking for the right networking groups, make sure to choose groups who share your interest and might be a good place to meet prospects, industry professionals, potential referral partners, and others who would be a good fit for your professional network. Here are five considerations for choosing the right groups for you.

1. Do you enjoy the meetings and members? Why waste your time sitting through a dreaded luncheon with people you can’t stand when you can choose events focused around your interests?
   
   
2. Does your target audience attend? If you’re targeting high level executives from Fortune 500 companies or attorneys from big firms, you’re probably not going to meet them at local networking events. They are too busy and don’t have time to come. They prefer to go to industry focused events with similar peer groups than at the community level.
   
   
3. Give several groups a try. Try out each group at least 2-3 times before you decide to pass on it. Don’t pass on a group because you decided to only attend one meeting and didn’t get any leads from it.
   
   
4. Attend meetings regularly. Once you find a group you like, consider becoming a member and sticking with it. Networking requires consistent action to generate results. You’ll have to attend on a regular basis - at least once a month or so - in order to reap the rewards you are looking for, so you want to pick a group that you find interesting and would like to get to know the members better.
   
   
5. Find ways to get involved. As you become more comfortable with the group, consider volunteering for a committee and becoming more involved with the association. Having a job within the organization not only exposes you to a lot more people, but it makes you feel part of the team - an insider - who is helping to make the organization a success.