Some of you might already know me well enough to know that I love B2B networking. Being a social media manager for small to medium size businesses, B2B networking is where I most likely will find my next client. I am passionate about meeting face to face with new clients, even though I also work and meet people online.
I’ve seen a true shift away from traditional ways to network to using social media and it seems as if more and more businesses are also looking to network and do B2B marketing ON A BUDGET.
I thought I would give you a nice and easy to follow list of
5 Creative and Virtually Free B2B Local Networking Ideas
The more traditional ways of networking include a (paid) membership to local Chambers of Commerce, BNI membership, civic organisation memberships and print advertising, TV Ads and billboards.
All of these options mentioned are great options if you have a sizable marketing budget and thus can afford it. Each also carries a recurring yearly fee or steep up front cost and might not be a viable option for ‘the home-based start up’ or ‘the one-(wo)man business on a budget’.
With Social Media leading the way, I’ve personally been able to network and do B2B local networking for free, using available resources and a bit of ingenuity and creativity.
Here is my Top 5 list of creative and free B2B local networking ideas:
1. Find a cause you want to support. I encourage you to join the charity of your choice and give your time and talents on the board of directors, if given the opportunity.
This sound simple right? It is. Start by answering these questions:
What are you passionate about? (animals, veterans, children, the homeless, the poor, chronic disease)
Who would you like to help? (local group, national campaign, single family, school, church, civic organisation)
What are your skills? (financial, secretarial, organisational, sponsorship, food prep)
Now do a search, pick up the phone and offer help.
Cost: Your Time.
ROI: Great friendships, life experience, leadership experience and opportunities for B2B networking.
2. Offer to be a featured speaker at schools, civic organisations and churches, and highlight your business and your expertise while giving out useful information.
Cost: Your Time.
ROI: Public speaking experience, business exposure, free advertising/write up in their newsletter, B2B opportunities.
3. Start a local networking group in your niche with web support via MeetUp.com or Facebook Groups/LinkedIn Groups. It’s a great way to find like-minded individuals or businesses and with a bit of creativity, you can grow these groups to several hundred (or larger!) members. (examples of successful local groups might be: Women Entrepreneurs, Young Professionals, Realtors, Home-Bases businesses etc.)
Cost: $12/month for MeetUp.com, or free if you choose to use Facebook Groups or LinkedIn Groups.
ROI: Expertise in networking, leadership of a networking group, leadership skills, business reviews, B2B networking opportunities.
4. Offer free seminars to the public at your local library. As long as your are not selling your service or charging a fee, your local library will let you use their conference room for free workshops and seminars. This is a great opportunity for you to get your name out the the public and meet new business owners.
Cost: Your Time.
ROI: Teaching experience, public speaking experience, re-usable content, B2B networking.
5. Call your local Costco warehouse and inquire about their small business networking events. Costco’s target audience/customer is the small to medium size business owner. Wouldn’t you want to meet those? Many local Costco’s will have their own version of the networking monthly meetings. My local Costco provides a free breakfast, door prizes and a great 1 1/2 hour networking event.
Cost: $35/year for the Costco Membership.
ROI: Costco membership for a year, B2B opportunity, advertising opportunity.
Now that you have my Top 5 list, it’s
YOUR TURN:
- How do you prefer to network locally?
- Can you offer any additional ideas for virtually free B2B networking opportunities?
- How much time do you spend networking each week/month?
Give us your feedback by commenting below. We want to know how you do it!
Dorien@MoreInMedia.com
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I’ve never heard about the local small business opportunities with Costco. There’s one right down the street from me that I am going to look into now because of your post.
Great post! I have to admit that I don’t network enough…I know there are great ways to do so and your article is the proof of that. I used to be a member of The Rotary Club and go to lunches but I didn’t connect with the concept. I also looked at joining or starting a networking group but I didn’t fallow through. You are kinda the kick in the B*** I needed to realize that there is a world out there and not just online marketing. Thank you Dorien…It’s up to us to step out of our comfort zone. Nobody will come knocking at our doors and take us by the hand right??
Dorien I have to admit I don’t do much local networking, I have a great excuse in the fact that I live in a foreign country, but that is just an excuse I know!
I will have to look at ways of networking locally and develop the habit.
Dave
I am assuming you know some Italian, Dave…;)
Get out there and network. Who knows who might be interested in your blog?
Someone might want a chance to read in and improve their English!
Good article and I actually use many of those sources. I just joined a charity, the Optimists group and enjoy the group and the cause (children). Any contacts will be a nice by-product.
Glad to hear it Sherrie.
It is sooo rewarding!
Great tips, Dorien. I’ve worked on 1-3, but hadn’t even thought about 4 & 5. Now both have been added to my “do imminently” list and they are top priority. Thanks for sharing!
Anytime, Mallie, anytime.
Let me know how they work for you.
Great post, these won’t all work here in the UK – would you believe libraries here charge for their conference rooms (and they often have no wifi!) BUT it has inspired me and got me thinking so THANK YOU!
Off to scribble out a mind map now
Awesome Gemma!
Let me know if you have an insight in B2B networking for those of More In Media’s fans overseas.
Fondly, Dorien.
Hi Dorien,
I enjoyed the read, you have some great suggestions here. One thing I wanted to mention is that if you set up a group meeting and support a good cause in the process you may be able to get a donation of pizza and soda from a local vendor. We put on an event for my wife’s quartet group and collected food stuffs for the local food bank and Ronzio Pizza donated a full pie free of charge. You may also be able to get a musician to play at the event for free. Where would you find such a person? How about the local church or other religious facility?
Thanks again,
Bill
Thanks for helping us think, Bill.
SO far, we’ve not had to ‘deal’ with food or drinks as we meet in public places and we all buy our own cup of coffee or lunch meal.
I’ll keep it in mind, though.
Dorien.
#1-4 are also great ideas for B2C businesses like mine. Great suggestions!
Thanks, Karleen.
I don’t do a whole lot of B2C networking, but glad these suggestions would also work for that.
Dorien.
A fantastic blog with details, costs, ROI. This is full of great information and ideas.
The groups such as Hands On Networking and Game of Like have taught me about many networking tools to use. I participate in Chamber of Commerce functions, civic boards and speak or make presentations at civic clubs on occasion, am active in professional organizations for Architects, US Green Building Council, Construction Specifications Institute, etc. Actually, being active in a local and state church committees also puts me in touch with networking opportunities too.
Thanks Joel.
I know you are connected and have been networking for years.
This online social networking is something new altogether, isn’t it?
Thanks for extra ideas on where to network.
Starting a local group through meetup.com is probably the easiest and most effective method. Much better than trying to use fb or twitter to find people. Although I think it works better in a larger city than if you’re in a small town, but then again there would be less competition in a smaller town.
Absolutely. Finding them through MeetUp.com is great.
And then stay connected via FB groups or LinkedIn Groups.
We are a ‘small town’ of <100,000 swelling to >millions in the summer months.
We are very active in networking in Myrtle Beach, especially in the winter months.
Glad you came to visit.