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Starting Your Own Business Networking Group
By admin | February 10, 2008
Starting a business networking group takes time, money, and a lot of effort, but the potential rewards can be staggering. Having your own business networking group is a great way for you and your business associates to meet new people, meet new customers and share the invaluable experience you have obtained from your efforts. You may be a business just starting out, or you may be a well established company looking to share your expertise in your field. You may be a business looking to meet new and interesting contacts that could help your business, or maybe you’re looking to broaden your customer base. No matter the case, starting a business networking group can have several advantages.
Before you start any business networking group you will want to have a clear purpose in mind. What the basis is for this networking group, what it can offer my business as well as my associates, and how much it will cost. You will also want to determine when and where you are going to have your meetings, whether they are at certain locations or even online. You will want to take care of every detail in advance so that your group looks organized and professional. Having a disorganized, poorly run networking group just shows other business professionals that you are a poor, unorganized business person, and this will turn them off from doing business with you.
Depending on the size of the group you may want to hire volunteers, or team up with like-minded people who share your vision. They can help you to shape the direction of your new group, and help to broaden its purpose and goal, not to mention help out on the costs. You will want to create a clear plan of what the group’s purpose is, when and where the meeting will take place, as well as define guidelines. The guidelines will help to govern your group so that it runs smoothly and has a clear purpose. Your guidelines will also establish the cost of membership, how you will choose your leaders, and how to manage the group’s funds. By creating a thorough set of guidelines on the outset, you’re likely to have less confusion down the road.
You will want to try to come up with a plan for the whole year before you decide to launch your group. You will want to have certain events planned in advance, so that new members can see exactly what you have planned to make a better decision if they would like to become members or not. Figure out the appropriate meeting time and meeting place and try to stick to that model throughout the year. Being consistent is vital for any business networking group, as well as being professional and being well organized. Create a group that people will want to join, not only for meeting people, but to help their businesses grow. By following these practices, you will make sure that your business networking group doesn’t fizzle out and die within the first few weeks of its launch.
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Help answer the question about networking groups
Does anyone know of any securities professionals networking groups???I am currently searching for a job and it would be a good idea to network with other securities professionals. I live in the LA area. Does anyone know of any networking groups in LA????
About Author
Jonathan Boyd has written countless articles for Meeting Wave, a free website to meet people offline, for social or business networking. Check out the MW blog at www.meetingwave.com/blog
Topics: Networking | 18 Comments »
February 10th, 2008 at 9:04 am
ok dude u wasted my time just show us how in 2 min
February 10th, 2008 at 9:17 am
but thanks anyways
February 10th, 2008 at 9:54 am
February 10th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I'd like to join!
February 10th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
lol if you meet my maths teacher you would believe me
February 10th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
lol remove yourself from the group and it will be deleted! lol funny group though i would have joined it!!! xD
February 10th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Double major in Business (Finance or Operations) and English.
Yes, in international business you will need to know a second language, but a degree won't do you any good — only practice and immersion will guarantee fluency. Master the English language first. That will enable you to create dynamic marketing campaigns, engaging magazines and well-written business documents. (The business world is choking to death on bad writing). GOOD LUCK!
February 10th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
While difficult, a straightforward business relationship is possible even with former lovers.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:38 am
I made a group, but when I try to post something for everyone to say it say it’s by me not the actual group. And I don’t know how to do it.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:17 am
LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
February 11th, 2008 at 9:44 am
February 12th, 2008 at 7:46 am
thnx dude my 100 comment
February 12th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Thanks dude
February 12th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
thank you for showing me how to do this, but is it necessary to make a ten minute video to tell us where to click?
February 12th, 2008 at 10:25 am
The misconception is that a person who owns a business can purchase group health insurance. Here are the facts, companies like Blue Cross, Blue Shield, HealthNet, have specific requirements for qualification for a business or what is known as "Group" insurance. Here are some of the major things you will need, first off you need at least two full time employees, these employees will need to be on payroll. You will need to show proof most common is a DE-6 (this is submitted to EDD to show withholding tax for employees, it will itemize payroll -hours worked, and withholding tax- if your employees are paid as independent contractors, you will not qualify for group health insurance). If you only have one employee on a DE-6 and you are the owner, you will need to show your Tax returns. Since your company is new, you should also be aware that the companies listed above also have a half of the quarter rule in business. You will need to also have Workers compensation insurance, in Ca. State Fund is the most popular for new companies. Another requirement is that you will be required to pay at least 50% of the employees cost, (not dependent) and also you in order to qualify your group you will need to meet participation, for the above companies it is normally 70-80% meaning that if you have 10 employees at least 7 will need to apply, unless they can prove that they have other insurance with a spouse (employer based). Here is the reality, no law says that you as a small business owner must offer health benefits, it is difficult enough to start up a business, you can purchase Individual/ family plans from the carriers listed above, qualification is based on your "health condition". I would advice you contact a broker, here in Ca. literally thousands available (I am one) I would advice interviewing several (call around) and pick someone who who mix well with.
February 13th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Being concerned, or even afraid, of going to door to door (also called "cold calling") is perfectly normal.
You're going onto someone else's property. As children we're taught not to tresspass, and as adults we're aware that we're invading someone's "personal space" when we step onto their property.
There's also the concern that you will indeed annoy the homeowner, or wake him/her up, or disturb a meal, television show, or even an intimate activity.
I discard flyers left on my door. I also usually don't answer the door if it's someone soliciting. I'm not rude to cold callers, but I firmly tell them, "No thank you, I'm not interested."
You don't mention what your business is. There are many ways you can advertise for free. You may want to ask local businesses to put up a (professional-looking) flyer for you. You may want to write a Letter To The Editor of your local newspaper describing your new business, or even send them a small press release about your business.
Cold-calling and leaving flyers make a lot of people nervous. I don't think there's a way to get around the fear other than to simply become used to it and develop a thick skin in case you annoy someone.
February 13th, 2008 at 6:50 am
First off, you are way to structured, you need to loosen up and get open and watching for any opportunity to get what you want. Business is all about adapting and making the best of shifting opportunity.
Like minded people are great, but the best benefit is with people who can add something you don't to your perspective.
Networking with anyone who can give you perspective, information, good contacts, access to whatever you need and they can also be your best customers and or proponents, and you can be theirs.
There is so much that people who work in diverse areas can do for each other if they will, it's mind boggling as any potentially exponential situation can be. The possibilities are only limited to what the minds involved can grasp, and numbers and diverse points of view only multiply the possibilities.
edit: That Menelas punk is going around copying others answers verbatim. Not only this one, I've seen him do others, like this one: What are some good products I can purchase to sell on e-bay?.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Nope, not at all. If your entrepreneurial skills enable you to start and grow your own company you can be the CEO even if your are illiterate.
However if you are so fortunate to do this it is a good idea to hire people with college degrees and surround yourself with intelligent, capable, reputable people. That will help you stay in a position to keep hiring the best and improving your company.
Bill Gates, Dave Thomas, Howard Hughes, Sam Walton and Mary Kay Ash are a few who've done it without college degrees.