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.
About Sean Rasmussen
Hi Sean,
This is excellent advice. The thing I like about offline marketing is that you get to interact with people face to face. I find it a lot easier to get a sense of who people are when I’m physically talking to them as opposed to interacting online.
Offline marketing is another great way to market my business and build relationships with other business people.
Hi Sean,
I have recently helped a lady start an interest group in Sydney on a subject she is passionate about. She is so appreciative and thinks I am marvelous. This is also proving to be a great opportunity for me to be networking, meeting new people and learning what their interests are as well.
Great ideas in this article on benefits of networking locally and I look forward to the next issue.
Regards,
Jill.
That’s great news Jill. With your new online skills, you will be surprised at how many people take an interest in it and want to learn more.. hopefully this will provide you with many future opportunities
I always find that bringing up what I do in a public and unrelated situation is looked down upon. The other day, for instance, I was at a gym for children with other mothers and the topic of discussion was books. To tell them my favourite book is the one I published seemed inappropriate. I just never know when to mention this or when to keep my mouth shut.
It does surprise me, however, when people I work with every day reveal they had no idea I was an author but I don’t feel it’s up to me to tell them. And yet sometimes I so want to shout my own accomplishments!
It can be uncomfortable talking about your own achievements, products or services Sarah. The beauty is that if you are in an on topic converstion, many times people will actually ask what you do… giving you the perfect opportunity to tell them exactly that
shout it out Sarah
Hi Sarah,
I agree with Sean and Jackie. Shout it out. You should be proud of your achievements. So, get out there and let the world know you are a wonderful writer.
One thing that I have come to learn is that Offline Networking is almost a must for online success. I have now attended a few seminar’s (with many more on the books) and have also attended meetups with like minded individuals. This has been as a direct result of joining the Year Of The Affiliate forum
Offline networking is very beneficial, as it seems you have found out Cemil. Good work
Hi Sean,
Networking locally does have advantages. The advantages are mainly due to word of mouth advertising that works so well. It is in fact probably the best form of advertising and word of mouth advertising attracts like minded people.
Networking at local events is a great idea.
There is plenty of groups for my topic to be networking offline with, but I feel a little uncomfortable doing this as I feel people will think I am just trying to sell them something (which I am). This is something I need to get over and just get on with it. My friends and family are often surprised to know what I have been doing for the last couple of years online which goes to show a little offline networking would go a long way with me.
Wow Sean,
This goes way beyond the scope of internet marketing & is really good advice to meet people for a variety of opportunities & reasons.
Networking to build your business contacts & generate leads is not something I have done really before but sounds like a very good way to expand on opportunity!
Hi Sean
I really like the advice you have given us here. I looked up Business Networking International and their website looks pretty nifti with some really cool podcasts that I would like to listen to.
You have mentioned a couple of sites including BNI that I will join up.
It is important for me to network offline because I like the human element and I know there is business woman’s network in my local city that I feel I can really offer something to once I get my branding in order. Thank you.
In my area we have a great small business networking group which I have participated in for my home business…however I have not done it for my Intenet Marketing. Being a person is so important as the person you are networking with can build a different relationship with you which they will remember later on and hopefully you will come to mind when they want a service which you can offer.