Business networking groups for early stage businesses are a fantastic excuse to get out of the office and find out what is happening in the world of business.
What are your competitors up to?
What are your prospective customer's real needs?
Which sectors are doing well?
Is there an opportunity there for you?
All of these questions can be answered if speak to other business owners.
Business networking
Networks are available for like minded business people to meet up and chat about their companies. Just don't go there with the mindset that you need to sell. You might even come away having signed up to a fantastic new service that will help you grow your business! The more people that you get to know in business, the more business will will be able to do because, and I know it's an old cliche but it's true, people buy from people.
Early stage businesses
Any young business can fail. One of the most common reasons is undercapitalisation. Lack of money for marketing. How much do business networking events cost? £5? £10? Some events are even free! So you don't need a massive marketing budget to do well in business. Just don't overspend. Too many early stage businesses overspend on marketing like many of the big companies do. Cost effective marketing strategies, especially Internet Marketing, works.
Combine offline networking with social networking
When you arrive back from an event send them an email and add them to your online networking groups. This way you will be able to stay in contact.