Network Better is a business networking organization helping its members to find connections, rather than "cold-calling" on prospects.

Learn How To Network Better!

Networking is about relationships.  It is good to have a large networking group at your disposal, but to get it you must be willing to invest time and effort in your group.  You must be willing to give before you can receive.

If your network is not producing the results you want it is probably because you are not networking well.  You must be willing to give good referrals and testimonials to get good referrals.  If a person in your network knows that you have directed good qualified leads to them they are more likely to lookout for good qualified referrals for you.

A qualified referral is not a name and number of someone who might be interested in a product or service you are selling.  A qualified referral is someone who the person that is referring to you has talked to about you and your product or service.  They have prepped them for you and have told them how great you are.  Otherwise it is just a cold call and you do not need a referral for a cold call.  So to get qualified referrals make sure that you give qualified referrals.

Follow up on all referrals that you receive.  Track who gave them to you, when they gave them to you, and what the status of that referral is.  Always send a thank you card for the referral and keep them informed on the progress of that referral.  That way they will know that you appreciate there help and they fell important.

It is not important that you belong to a structured networking group, but it is important that you do have a networking group even if it is informal.  There are several networking groups that you can join.  The Chamber of Commerce, The Better Business Bureau, and Network Better are a few that come to mind.  Each of these has different structures, but all provide the same thing to business members, networking opportunities.

The Chamber of Commerce is probably the most well known of all the networking groups.  Usually the primary mission for the Chamber of Commerce is community economic growth.  However they must give a value to its members and that is primarily thru networking meetings.  Most Chamber of Commerce’s will have monthly networking opportunities.

The Better Business Bureau primary mission is to rate and track business practices.  However they must give a value to its members and that is primarily thru networking meetings.  Most Better Business Bureau’s will have bi-monthly networking opportunities.

Network Better is in my opinion the best networking group out there.  The mission of this group is to provide qualified referrals thru structured weekly networking meetings.  They provide networking training to all of its members every six months and have weekly networking meetings.

I have belonged to all of these groups and they all provide a great service.  I still belong to the Chamber of Commerce and Business Network International.  I would belong to the Better Business Bureau however there is not one in my location.  If you have the opportunity and the money to join I would suggest that you join one if not all of these groups.  If you work them right they will return your investment.