The 7 Different Business Networks

Have you ever wondered where you might network? For business people there are so many different networks available that sometimes it's a challenge to know where your time would be best spent.
Here's a list of 7 different types of business networks, with a couple of suggestions to help determine which ones may suit you best.
1. Casual Contact Networks are networks like your local Board of Trade. Generally speaking members get together monthly and mingle socially. Many people from various professions attend. This type of network gives you the opportunity to become a visible business person in your community.
2. Strong Contact Networks meet weekly and limit the number of business people to one person per business category. The purpose for meeting is to refer each other business. BNI is this type of network and the value lies in the fact that you will get business and develop powerful long-term relationships by participating in this kind of network.
3. Community Service Clubs do exactly that, serve their communities. An organization like Rotary is an excellent example. In this network you have the chance to give something back to your community and generate positive PR.
4. Professional Associations exist to for the exchange of information and ideas. they are industry specific and give you the tools to ensure that the knowledge you share with your clients is accurate and recent. The value in this network is it builds your confidence as a professional in your field.
5. Social Business Groups are more casual in nature. They may meet less frequently and participants are people who share a common interest. Meetup.com lists many of these special interest groups. Networks like this are perfect if you're new to networking as they offer an excellent platform to home your networking skills.
6. Women's and Ethnic Organizations are very diverse in their structure and make up. They tend to offer education and professional development as well as networking. They're offer a supportive way to develop a network of contacts.
7. Online/Social Media Networks are ideal to build your brand and your credibility with the people you are connected to. Business relationships don't necessarily start here but can be supported here. These networks can be an excellent resource for cataloguing your accomplishments to build credibility with new relationships.
One of the most important skills in developing a profitable business network is to decide what you want to accomplish and then choose to fully participate in the network that best meets your objective.
For more about successful networking, I recommend reading the World's Best Known Marketing Secret, by Dr. Ivan Misner.

10 Commandments of Networking a Mixer

1. Have your networking tools with you: your business cards and a name badge. Always wear a name badge and include your profession, if you can.

2. Set a goal for the number of people you'd like to meet. And who you'd like to meet. your networking activities will feel much more productive if you meet the people you'd actually like to meet.

3. Act like a host, not a guest. The guest role is fairly passive in nature, but the host role is very active. As a host, you'd make sure that everyone was comfortable, had a beverage and you'd introduce them to others. It doesn't matter is it's your event, act like a host anyway. It's an attitude that will make you a networking master.

4. Listen and ask. Dale Carnegie advised showing genuine interest in other's businesses to build rapport. Ask questions and then listen actively to the answers.

5. Offer help. Displaying an authentic "how can I help you?" mindset shows that you are attending the networking event to create true connections, not to "sell".

6. Describe your product or service in a memorable way. This takes time and planning. Develop your introduction to include a short, well-crafted description of what you do. Be creative, anyone can be boring.

7. Exchange business cards, but only with the people you'd like to be in touch with again. business cards aren't wallpaper, they're a next step tool.

8. Spend 10 minutes or less with each person you meet. Don't linger with friends. Remember you're here to meet new people.

9. Jot notes on the backs of cards. It's important to remember what you've learned about someone and also what you may have promised to do. If you're uncomfortable doing this ask the person if it's OK.

10. FOLLOW-UP. You just spent effort to meet new contacts, build rapport and then....do NOTHING? You may as well not have attended the event in the first place. this is the early stages of building what might become a mutually beneficial relationship. Don't blow it by not following up.

If you'd like to learn about the 10 Commandments of Networking a Mixer from the one who wrote the book, click here for Dr. Ivan Misner's World's Best Known Marketing Secret. He wrote the book on business networking.