How to Select the Best Networking Organizations to Join

Can networking help you grow your business? Absolutely! Networking experts recommend you should belong to and be active in a minimum of 3 organizations: a great local Chamber of Commerce, a referral organization, and another regional group in your area.

Where Should You Network?

Your Local Chamber of Commerce. You should join a "great" Chamber of Commerce in your area. Visit several Chambers near you before you join one. You do not have to join the Chamber in the city you reside or where your office is located. Join the most active Chamber where you will receive the most benefit and you can give back the most.

The very first Chamber I ever joined was in the city I lived in at the time. I paid and joined and THEN I attended a meeting. It turns out their membership was a bunch of retirees. Very few business people attended their networking events. When I visited the Chamber in the next city over, they had 70 active business people attending their meetings. This Chamber would have by far been a better investment of my time and money. Learn from my mistake! Take the time to visit several local Chambers in your area.

A Referral Organization. If you are serious about growing your business, you should be part of an exclusive category referral organization. Referral groups meet weekly, are exclusive in membership (one person per category), and the sole purpose why they meet is to build relationships and bring referrals for each other. Joining a referral organization is a big commitment. You have to find a chapter where there is an opening for your category, select a day, time and location that fits well into your schedule, and where you connect well with the professionals who are already part of the chapter. However, your time and commitment can pay huge dividends to you and your business over time.

There are several referral organizations out there for you to choose from. I have been part of TEAM Referral Network since 2006. TEAM is known primarily in the Southwest United States, but you can participate in a Virtual Chapter from anywhere in the world.

Other Networking Groups. You can find other groups in your area on Facebook or Meetup.com. These groups might meet monthly--maybe a women's group or a networking group for your specific industry. Visit them and find one that will be a good fit for you and your business.

Service Clubs. Some of the most successful business people are members of a Service Club such as Rotary, Kiwanis, or Lions Club. The purpose of a Service Club is to give back to your community (and the world, really). Join to give, and take the networking slow. You will build solid relationships with key people from your area which can, over time, potentially lead to business. 

Don't "Over Join": Do not join more organizations than you can be active in. You want to be able to attend their meetings. You will gain business through building relationships, not just being having a directory listing on a website.

Ask yourself:

Are the networking organizations I am currently part of still serving me well? Am I putting my all into the relationships there?

What are some new networking organizations I should visit and consider joining?

When will I visit? Schedule the date of the next meeting in your calendar.

Terilee Harrison helps entrepreneurs and small business owners get more referrals, clients, and leads through proven offline and online marketing strategies. Book your referral strategy session here.