Networking in Seattle

Every week I hear from a small business owner about the pains of networking.  There are several reasons for this:

• The business owner has chosen a networking group that is not a good fit
• She does not actually participate in networking and simply waits - and waits - for business to come to her
• She thinks networking will book her solid after a minimum of effort

All successful networkers know that business does not start flowing overnight.  After all, networking is not just going out and meeting people; it is the followup that happens after you meet people that begins the start of your relationship.

If networking were just about meeting people, the Wal-Mart Greeters would be the most connected people on the planet.

To help you on your networking quest, here are some of the local groups to explore.  Make sure the one(s) you choose meets your needs and that you put as much into it as you are expecting to get out of it.

• eWomen Network of Greater Seattle has almost 150 attendees at their monthly Bellevue lunches, and a Seattle monthly meeting starts in August.  Members stay in touch throughout the month with a members-only networking site and various after-hours networking events, and the focus is on supporting entrepreneurial women. 
  
• WBO is an entrpreneurial organization for women.  You may have heard of the annual Nellie Cashman award from this organization.  Similar to eWomen, you will find plenty of networking opportunities and quality speakers at their monthly Seattle lunches and East Side events.
• BNI is the world's largest referral organization with dozens of chapters in the Puget Sound region.  Each chapter has only one person from each "category" of business, which insures the members refer any potential business in that category to one person.  The time investment is a weekly meeting as well as one-on-one meetings with members to learn how to better refer to them.
• LeTip is another referral organization with only one person per category of business.  LeTip incents members to attend, refer, and bring guests by exacting penalties for not meeting goals.  I'm only familiar with one of the chapters in Seattle, but it is a large and very active one.
• Biznik is a national website of independent business owners separated by geographic area.  Because I'm listed as a Seattle business, I have access to events hosted in Seattle and can even host my own.  In addition, I get the benefit of reading articles and tips from business owners all over the country.  This is a great online+offline networking group, and I'm not aware of another one as formally organized as this.

The important thing to realize is that, while you can do them all, you probably shouldn't.  I fully participate in eWomen and Biznik, which is why I've been able to create such great relationships.  If I were to belong to more groups than that, it would be hard to keep up and make any kind of impression anywhere.

Keep in mind that networking and sales are necessary in every business, and by thinking about how you want this to work for you, you are well on your way to adding some great clients and even a few good friends to your life.