The ABC’s of Networking Offline: Joining Organizations

Networking offline for any business is just as critical as networking online. Contacts must still be made, clients must still be appeased and deals must still be hashed out just as they would in any setting. Most often, the mistake that most people make in networking offline is that they think it’s harder to do than online. Actually, this isn’t altogether true. Networking offline requires planning, discipline and focus to be successful.

When you take your business outside of the confines of your home office, what strategies do you employ to network with other entrepreneurs? Do you attend business luncheons? Bible Study Groups? What about playdates with other WAHM’s? Whatever strategies you choose to use to network outside of the office are important in successfully building your busienss.

Back when I first began my home business, I started networking within my local Chamber of Commerce to find leads. I attended the luncheons once a month and got about an hour and a half of pure networking. There was the exchanging of the business cards, the “what do you do’s” and the chance to sit next to someone for a solid hour and talk about our businesses and how we can each help the other. I received SO much business and leads from this type of netowrking that I signed up as a Chamber of Commerce member and became an active participant. The opportunity for that type of networking is invaluable.

To be successful as an offline networker, position yourself in organizations that will bring your business a lot (or a little) exposure. For instance, if you are a distributor for Discovery Toys, consider joining your school’s PTO Board. If you are a sports writer, consider coaching a little league football or softball team for the city league or community league. Since I am a freelance writer, I placed myself on the PTO Board of my son’s elementary school to write the school’s monthly newsletter. It helps me by honing my writing skills, helps the school by having someone who can efficently write their newsletter and brings me exposure as a writer in case the school (or the newsletter readers=parents who work in corporations) has needs of a writer. Being in the right places at the right time can do wonders for your business.