Depending upon where you live, there is bound to be a plethora of offline networking opportunities with the people who reside in your community. Don’t forget about these prospects in your quest to market online products or services.
How many times have you attended a local event and struck up a conversation that turned to your occupation only to find that the person you are speaking with had no idea what you did for a living? This indicates that you can do a lot more work as far as marketing to the people who live nearby.
Here are some opportunities that will allow you to start networking within your own community.
Business Networking International
This business networking and business referrals association has chapters located throughout Australia. Members exchange referrals for products or services offered by their peers. The organisation also provides tips for using meetings as a way to network and as a lead generation technique.
What’s different about this association is that only one person per business category can become a member of a particular chapter. So if there is no one else in your local chapter who offers the same products or services you do, then you can join and be recognised as the only provider in the room. This is an excellent opportunity to market your company and form lasting relationships with other business owners.
Meetups
Bringing together people with a single interest is the goal of meetup.com. This worldwide organisation makes it easy for someone in a particular location to post notice of an event that relates to a specific topic. There are meet-ups throughout Australia, for instance, that focus on such things as sports, religion, a passion for food, alternative medicine, and much, much more.
Whatever hobby or interest you are passionate about, you are sure to find an appropriate meet-up group. Although these are not networking events, per se, they do provide an excellent opportunity to establish relationships and let others know what you do for a living. If your business is related in some way to the meet-up’s subject matter, you can offer to do a presentation to the group.
Offline Networking At Local Events
Not every form of offline networking need be based purely on business. In fact, some of the best marketing opportunities could occur when you are out having fun with family and friends.
Attending a crafts fair, festival, or a holiday event in your community is a great way to show your support for local vendors – and they are much more likely to support your business in return. Don’t spend the entire time networking, but do casually slip the details of your occupation into the conversation and have business cards handy for dispersal.
When you interact with others during fun events, you are bound to achieve positive marketing results and form new, personalised relationships.
Internet marketing need not be confined to those activities you perform online. Offline networking and meeting people in person makes a much greater impression and allows you to converse naturally, without being confined to 140 characters or less, or broad promotional efforts through your blog or website.
