ROC Weekly Marketing Minute
ROC Weekly Marketing Minute
Creating Business Networking Groups to Connect with Other Business and Rehab Owners
Business networking groups are a great way to connect with others in the industry, share concerns, offer advice and ideas, and grow together. They provide an opportunity to build relationships in a strategic way, provide and receive support, and connect with local business people.
How to create a business networking group
Here are a few considerations and steps you can take if you are interested in creating a business networking group:
Find a venue: Choose a favorite local spot (or a couple) that offers a large table or side room where you can regularly meet. Inquire if they can book it for you at regular intervals for your meetings.
Name your group: Create a catchy name for your group to help with communications and cohesion.
Create a goal or mission statement: By creating a goal, you can help others know what your group is about immediately, encourage like-minded people to join, and help keep the focus on the purpose of the meetings.
Strategize and invite members: Review your contact list and see who might benefit and contribute to your group. Think of the number of people you would like to join, and invite a few more than that, as not all invitees are likely to attend. Consider the people that might have questions, could offer advice, and are likely to show up.
Create a loose agenda for each meeting: By creating a loose agenda or topic of conversation for each meeting, you can help keep the conversation on track and ensure that important issues get covered. You can also choose to feature a member each time, where they have the opportunity to set the topic and guide the conversation to address their needs and concerns.
Tips to create an effective business networking group
Here is a list of tips for creating your own business networking group:
Identify your purpose
Determine the goal of the group and how you can focus on the people that would benefit most from the meeting.
Provide value
Try to identify what other groups are doing in your area, and offer something different. This will help recruit members, encourage engagement, and provide opportunities to meet with other professionals that cannot be found anywhere else. To help with this, think of your general topic, and keep narrowing it down.
Address member concerns
Provide an opportunity for members to bring up concerns at your meetings or contact you privately so that you can address the topic at the next meeting. When your members feel like they can utilize the group to address their specific concerns, they are more likely to participate and feel connected to the group.
Use scheduling tools to keep your group updated
You can use online tools to help schedule your meetings so that all members are updated. Consider scheduling a few in advance so your members can plan ahead. It is important to create a routine with these meetings so people know what to expect and can start anticipating the event.
If you are interested in joining the ROC community, please complete this form for consideration: https://tinyurl.com/5btxe39z