Networking is a great way to form new relationships in business. I have found from personal experience the long-lasting benefits of meeting people at business networking events. Not only will you gain new customers and clients, but also make other contacts that will give you work and referrals for many years after.
For example, I met a business owner called Mike back in 2006 and he gave me some immediate work. I also stayed in touch with him over the years which lead to many referrals including one project valued at $24,000. So these relationships, if developed, can lead to significant benefits over time.
Networking Success
When it comes to obtaining good results from networking, it’s important to network with the “right” crowd. For example, if you a promoting your recruitment company services then meeting with small business owners who advertise and hire themselves – will not really be your target market. You would be better off networking at specific industry groups or associations (see below).
Specific industry groups and associations
To find them search for your target market on Google. i.e. “Industry association Perth”
e.g. “motor trade association Perth”, “accounting association Perth”, etc.
Call that group or view their website to see if they have regular members meeting in your city.
Perth networking groups list
Here are a number of networking groups available for business people in Perth:
(with mixed micro, small and medium sized enterprise business owners as members)
- Business Network International (BNI) membership approx $1,000 per annum
- District 32 events
- Local Chambers Of Commerce – Google Search
- RealLogic membership $990 per annum
- Small business associations:
- Belmont Business Enterprise Centre
- Stirling Business Association
- Joondalup Business Association
- Central Eastern Business Association (CEBA) – No longer exists
- Wanneroo Business Association (WBA)
- Nifnex (Zeeshan Pasha)
- Out of the Box (artists, photographers, writers, designers, etc)
- Perth Networking (Peter Taliangis)
- Small Business Meetup
- SBN – Superior Business Network membership approx $1,000 per annum