Networking Tips from the Trenches

How to meet the right people for your marketing journey

I began searching the Interwebs and beyond for networking opportunities while starting Mountain Valley Marketing. I started my search blindly, but was optimistic in what I would find. I was lead to potentially interesting networking events (think: underwater hockey meet up, CFI Skeptics of Eugene, etc.) and eventually some serious networking gems. After trial and error, we found the methods that work best to build an entrepreneurs network. These methods range from the old-school Chamber of Commerce to the using LinkedIn and Twitter. We believe you can be most successful by using all potential resources to keep shaking new hands and expanding circles.

The Fat:

The first resource is straight out of the modern entrepreneur’s playbook: LinkedIn. Any tech-savvy entrepreneur should be taking advantage of LinkedIn to form connections with other business professionals. By uniting international entrepreneurs, everyone can become more successful and productive. The first step is to maintain a professional and complete LinkedIn profile. From there you can make organic connections provided by the “People You May Know” feature or search and join professional groups. (Eg. Digital Marketing Group — 988,411 members). If you are unsure about the finer details of LinkedIn networking, check out this great article.

Facebook groups are much like LinkedIn, but with a generally more casual feel. You will need to be more creative when searching for these because there may be many small groups that may not be valuable unless you build them yourself. On the flipside, there are massive nationwide ones that don’t truly allow you to be seen or heard by posting on them. I have found a ton of value in the local entrepreneurs support group and a School of Greatness group, in addition to groups about personal interests

*Remember, be picky, and avoid joining too many groups. The quality of connections serves you much better than the quantity.

Twitter is a valuable networking platform because it consists of a large number of valuable influencers and thought leaders that are easily reached. Joining conversations on Twitter posts is a great way to get noticed and to create a connection. Be wary, if overdone, you may come across as the guy at the bar who is too excited and hops in on every conversation. That hurts your networking.

Two underutilized features of Twitter that can easily maximize connectivity are lists and hashtags. If you are familiar with common hashtags in your networking space, searching for them will land you smack dab in the center of multitudes of interrelated conversations. Additionally, there are custom lists allowing you to follow or create lists that only view the feeds that are most useful to you. We are part of lists like, “Fans of Robert Rose” (912 members) and “Digital Marketers” (5000 members). There are surely lists out there for you, too.

Meetup.com allows professionals to hone in on meeting people in person. Type in your zipcode and watch meetings groups like “Young Professionals” and “Writer’s Coffee Talk” fill the feed. From there, simply pick a group and RSVP for upcoming meetings. Additionally, it is growing in popularity; I just discussed this topic with an East Coast professional who raved about it.

This is an extremely valuable method if you are looking to network in a profession you are unfamiliar with. I used Meetup recently to network with the Eugene UX Design group. UX Design is not a specialty of mine, but expanding the network at the event opened up various doors to both clients and to resources in different disciplines.

An old school method to networking that is neglected is using local resources. There is a large disparity between the amount of local commerce-supported opportunities and the number of entrepreneurs who are aware of them. Walk into to your local Chamber of Commerce or Small Business Development Center to become immediately connected with major influencers in the local marketplace.

If you have exhausted those resources, one of the simplest and most efficient ways to network is asking around at your favorite retailers. The small shoe store down the street or fly shop across town may just know of groups who are helping businesses succeed in your area. Don’t be bashful about asking; you never know what may come out of it.

The Takeaway

You must be creative when finding networking opportunities. Its an ongoing process that isn’t difficult, but it takes a little time and initiative to make it happen. Whether you are more comfortable on a computer or in person, there are ways to network for you, so give it a shot. Who knows, you may just find that underwater hockey is right up your alley.