TIL those small business networking groups actually do work if you pick the right one

I was real skeptical about joining the Amarillo Chamber's morning mixer group, figured it was just a bunch of folks handing out business cards and nobody paying attention. But after 4 months attending the one at the Polk Street coffee shop on Tuesdays, I've gotten 3 solid referrals and one repeat client from a bakery owner I met there. The trick seems to be picking a group that's small enough, around 8 to 12 people, where you actually get to talk instead of just speed networking. Has anyone else had good luck with a specific group in town or should I try a different one?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron_chen19d ago

My cousin joined an Amarillo knitting circle and got more business leads than the chamber.

angela_carter19d ago

The part about the group being 8 to 12 people is the real key, and I think most folks miss that. I tried one of those big chamber events with 50 people and it was just a blur of handing out cards and small talk that went nowhere. But there is a different angle here that nobody brings up. You have to check how many people in the group are actually your target customers, not just other business owners trying to sell to you. I joined a group full of other consultants and got zero real leads until I switched to one with office managers and local shop owners who could actually use my service. Did you look at who else was at that coffee shop group before you started going?