Warning! Not All Networking Groups are Member-Friendly!
There are 9 Essential Questions You Must Ask Before Joining Any Networking Group!
When you join a networking group, you should be looking for a group that has your interests at heart. All too often the opposite is the case. This list of questions will assist you to find a networking group that will support you.
1. How Static Is The Membership? Is the membership dynamic?
When looking at different networking organisations it is important to work out if you will be meeting the same people at every event or if you are constantly and consistently exposed to new people and new business. Ideally you want both; meeting the same contacts each time means you are able to form and establish working business relationships. New people are equally important as they allow you exposure to other business owners and they build your database.
2. Is the networking group focused on growing your business and promoting you as a member or interested only in statistics to promote the organisation?
As a member of a networking organisation you and your business growth should be the top priority. Each business has different needs and requirements and a good networking group will find out these to assist you with promoting your business. Too often the importance is put on statistics for the networking organisations marketing purposes that it neglects the very core of networking – building lasting mutually beneficial business relationships.
3. Is there strategy involved in seating arrangements? Are you placed with businesses you have synergy with, or is your seating hit and miss?
There is nothing more frustrating than going to a networking event and sitting with the same people, or even worse sitting with four people from the same organisation! Networking is about meeting new contacts so be sure you have the opportunity to do that. A good networking group will strategically seat you with other businesses you have synergy with so you can maximise your networking time.
4. Are the Terms and Conditions restricting you from joining other networking groups?
It is vitally important that you read through the Terms and Conditions of membership very carefully so you can work out your responsibilities and commitments. Many groups have clauses in their Terms and Conditions that you cannot be a member of another group. Consider this carefully, this can be very limiting if you rely heavily on networking and word of mouth marketing. A good networking group will actively encourage you to join as many networking groups as you can as each will offer your business something different.
5. Do they have strict criteria ensuring members are ethical in their business dealings and that they can be trusted to do business with?
It is extremely important to know that the people you are doing business with have been chosen against strict criteria and that they are constantly evaluated in their business dealings. While no one can offer a guarantee, it is important your networking group has a procedure and system in place that monitors the level of integrity of each member and can terminate memberships should they prove unethical.
6. Will you be in breech of the Terms and Conditions if you are unable to attend every event?
There will be times when something will come up and you won’t be able to attend an event or even a couple of events. Make sure you will not breech the Terms and Conditions if this is the case. Some groups come down heavily on members if they cannot make it to events. You need your networking organisation to be understanding that business can be unpredictable at times and that things can come up at the last minute.
7. Do you have to attend the event yourself or can a team member represent you?
This is an important question to ask your networking group. There will be times when you can’t personally make it but you can send a team member or a delegate such as a good client, to represent the business in your place. Some groups do not allow this to take place so be sure to ask.
8. Can you make business contacts in other regions, intrastate or interstate? Or is it confined to your region?
You want to be sure that you can grow your business through your networking organisation. Are you able to make access business owners in other areas and have their contact details? Are you allowed to form alliances with businesses in other areas? Are you able even to attend other events on a regular basis? Some groups actually prevent their members from visiting other chapters.
9. Do you have to refer a certain level of business to each member of the group?
Some groups have a rule that you must refer a certain level of business consistently. Be sure to ask if this applies to your networking group and how much it is. Keep in mind the amount of time you will need to dedicate in order to sustain that. Can you manage that with your current workload? Consider your workload 3, 6, or 9 months down the track; is it still sustainable?