Experiment with Chamber of Commerce and Other Business Networking
When you want networking insight, find inspiration here.
Entrepreneurship books and podcasts recommend networking, so I knew I had to try it.
I researched networking organizations: considering cost, opportunity, and location. I focused on chamber of commerces and business associations.
I joined three organizations in 2017:
- Austin Independent Business Alliance
- Lago Vista and Jonestown Chamber of Commerce
- Austin Young Chamber of Commerce
You can see a plaque and placard for two of my memberships:
Austin Independent Business Alliance events energized me. The events rocked! I loved the speeches.
While attending another organization's networking event that I didn't enjoy, an epiphany struck me. I realized these networking events throw random people together and although if two parties desire to forge a business relationship, they can, you better focus on more specific relationships. In my case, I need to find illustrators and narrators and I met neither of them at any event I attended. I can save time and energy by finding illustrators and narrators online.
After discovering this, I heard Myleik Teele recommend "only targeted networking" on her MyTaughtYou podcast.
The Austin Independent Business Alliance also offers advertising announcements for members, so I promoted my books through these announcements.