August 13, 2003

Networking 101

I went to the networking group this morning. It was about a dozen small business people meeting together to give each other leads.

The group was heavily female. Out of 14 people, only four, including me, were male. Too much estrogen in the room.

The people I can remember are a massage therapist, someone that does brochures and newsletters, a landscaper (I think), a mortgage broker, someone that does commercial trash, someone that does gift baskets to businesses, someone that does something about recording music, a real estate person, and a Herbalife person. There were other professions there, but I can’t remember them.

One of the ladies gave a talk on networking through this organization. I was greatly impressed with her talk. It was very well done. She struck me as a very savvy businessperson.

I think I may join. It cost $325 for a year and $250 to renew next year. A single yellow pages ad cost more and probably delivers less. I’ve rarely gotten anything out of the yellow pages. In addition, just one good sale would cover 10-years worth of dues.

They meet once a week from 0730 to 0900. Although it’s an hour and a half of my time, the diner, where they meet, is about one mile from my house. It doesn’t get any more convenient. I just don’t know if the people they might refer to me would fit. My clientele are companies with at least two people using the accounting system and usually seven to 25 users.

Still, as a member, I can visit other chapters and that may prove useful.

Posted by Ted at August 13, 2003 7:46 PM