I am asked at least once a week by someone or other.. "Which networking group should I join?"  or "What networking groups do you recommend?"  So I thought it was time to dig out an old article and answer the question in my Blog.

Successful networkers suggest that if networking is a key part of your marketing strategy then you should join at least three quality networking groups which are right for your networking goals. In addition you should attend at least one new networking opportunity every month. However one of the first problems facing new or growing businesses seeking Networking opportunities is “Where do I go?” or "Which group should I join?"

There are literally hundreds of Networking opportunities available in each state in Australia. You can find them on government and council websites, on search engines and by talking to other business owners. In fact that is how the idea for the Networking World directory was born.  We spent over 6 months compiling the Networking World directory. There are currently over 1400 organisations listed and during the course of the year we have had thousands of events posted in our calendar. 

  But with all those groups and events to choose from,  how do you decide which one to join?

1. The first thing to do is to work out your Group "Selection Criteria".

Some of the things which you should think about in compiling your list of criteria might include:

• Do I want to meet people from a particular profession- either my own or one with which I have potential to develop synergistic relationships?
• Do I only want to meet people from my local area or do I want to expand my Network geographically?
• Who is my target market?
• What is my budget?
• How much time do I have available?
• What kind of format do I prefer? 

This is only a beginning, your short list may include other criteria specific to your goals and circumstances. 

 2. The second step is to compile a short list of groups that meet your criteria

Some of the answers to your criteria will be apparent from the Networking World directory, for others you may need to visit each groups website, talk to their contact person and talk to other members.

Other things you need to think about include:

• Am I eligible to attend?
   - Some groups are closed and only allow membership from particular professions.
   -  Other groups are limited to one person from a particular industry – check to make sure there is a vacancy for your profession.

• Does the membership of the group match my networking goals – if you need to meet decision makers from large corporations there is not much point joining a home based business network.

• Is membership of the group realistic in terms of your marketing budget? – Remember networking is a serious business activity – you need to be able to generate a positive return on your investment.

• Can I meet the membership commitment – some groups require that you attend every week for breakfast – can you realistically make this commitment?

• Location – can I easily attend this groups events without spending hours driving to and from.

Different networking groups and opportunities will suit different people depending on your networking goals, your business, the relationships and synergies between the members of the group and your own personality.

Once you have determined that the group caters to your business and networking goals and meets all of your selection criteria the only real way to determine whether a group is right for you is to try it. 

3. Reflect, review, revise

Finally you need to critically evaluate the return on investment you receive from each group. At the end of each year review your memberships – drop off the groups which have not been working and add new groups to replace them. 

 Different networking groups and opportunities will suit different people depending on your networking goals, your business, the relationships and synergies between the members of the group and your own personality.

Remember the return on investment from Networking is rarely immediate – it is not about making sales but about building long term mutually beneficial relationships. 

If networking has not been effective for you, talk to other successful people from your industry to determine their marketing mix and if and how they have incorporated networking into their business strategy.

4.  Using the Networking World Resources

Networking World subscribers can access the Networking World Directory of Networking Groups and Calendar of Networking Events and free resources including a ten part video e-course on effective networking and a 40 minute audio report on "Finding the Right Nnetworking Group for your Business and your Personality" in the Networking World SMART Networker Lounge.  Not yet a subscriber?  Join here now. It's Free!

 We wish you successful networking and we look forward to seeing you in the SMART Networker Lounge!