GROUPS: 1. Chamber of Commerce, 2. Business Networking Intl, 3. LinkedIn, 4. Facebook, 5. Meetup, 6. SCORE, 7. Local Trade assoc’s, 8. Local Development assoc’s, 9. Rotary Club, 10. Kiwanis, 11. Women in Business, 12. Entrepreneurs’ Org, 13. Young Entrepreneur Council, 14. Amer Mktg Assoc, 15. Network after Work, 16. Vistage, 17. The Fastlane Forum, 18. The Referrals Group, 19. Opportunity, 20 Biz Referral Group.

Intro: Your network plays a vital role in your small business. Not only does it help you reach more prospective customers, but you can also make connections and unlock opportunities that push your business ahead.

That’s why we should think of networking as a great form of business marketing and an investment in your long-term success.

DIY Mfg Shop owner April Wilkerson attributes the power of networking to everything from finding new business to hiring employees. “I hardly ever leave a conversation where I’m not spreading the word on ‘Hey, this is what I’m doing,’ or ‘this is what I’m looking for,'” she says.

As Wilkerson shares, you also don’t need to be an aggressive salesperson to get the word out about your business. You can casually share what you do at your business to make contacts.

But how do you build a professional network beyond your existing contacts? Small business networking groups can bridge the gap, bringing together entrepreneurs eager to move their businesses forward.

Naturally, not all networking groups are the same, and not every group is right for every small business. Here’s a closer look at nine (9) of the best networking organizations for small business owners, both on- and offline.

1. Chamber of Commerce

Your local C of C is a great place to start. Most cities have one, allowing you to start networking regardless of where you live.

The Chamber of Commerce helps push for community policies that help small businesses thrive. They also offer small business networking events, mentoring opportunities and other tools to help your business grow.

While each C of C is different, many small business owners say that getting involved is a great way to build a community that will be there for you and your business in the long run.

2. Business Networking Intl (#1)

(BNI) is a referral-based networking group. Every member in a local chapter must work in a different industry.The key benefit of BNI is that members refer business to each other.

This organization works best if you can afford the fees and the time commitment. But many small business owners say they’ve gained great referrals and built strong relationships through this group.

3. LinkedIn

is far more than an online Profile. This social media platform has become a great place to connect with other biz professionals online.

With a free LinkedIn account, you can connect with other entrepreneurs, join groups of like-minded small business owners, follow news in your industry, publish articles and much more.

One of its best features is the ability to seek out new connections using several filters, including job type, location and industry.

Similar to other social platforms, there is a feed where you can share content related to your business and interact with others’ updates.

That gives you opportunities to grow your network, establish authority in your industry, meet new people and build meaningful business relationships.

4. Facebook Groups

While you may typically use Facebook to get updates from family & friends, it’s a great way to find business-oriented Facebook groups.

You can search Facebook for groups related to your industry, location, and profession. Some groups are public; others require you to submit a request to join.

You’ll usually find daily posts and conversations related to the group’s purpose when you join. Here, you can ask questions, give advice, search for collaborators and even find work — although outright advertising is often prohibited.

For example, the Small Business Networking Facebook group aims to connect businesses and share knowledge. It currently boasts over 200,000 members, with hundreds of new posts every month.

Another example is the Small Business Support Group group, with more than 20,000 members. It describes itself as a positive, non-promotional space to help fellow small business owners through challenging situations.

5. Meetup.com . . .

is a massive platform for building local community groups based on shared interests. An entire section of the site is dedicated to Small Business Networking, which lists groups around the world that meet for the sole or primary purpose of networking.

Each group is free to set its own agenda, schedule, membership requirements & other details, so you may need to try a few to find the one that feels like the right fit.

6. SCORE

The Service Corps of Retired Executives, has been a valuable resource for small businesses for over half a century. The organization is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and offers free business education and mentoring.

You can connect with a Mentor through the website (remote or in-person), find small business networking opportunities, and take part in local workshops, live webinars, recorded webinars and courses on-demand. If you want to share your expertise, you can also volunteer.

7. Local Trade Associations

Depending on where you live and what line of business you are in, you may find a local trade, merchant or industry-related association in your community.

Many of these groups host monthly or weekly seminars; attendees often choose to go out for dinner or drinks afterward.

If you’re looking for a low-key way to grow your network without the pressure of some professional networking groups, your local trade association may be the right place to start.

8. Local Development Associations

Many cities have Development Associations that focus on growing business districts in different neighborhoods or towns.

Depending on your location and the nature of your business, a local development authority might be able to help you develop partnerships.

9. Rotary Club

Founded in 1909, Rotary Club International isn’t a traditional networking group. Instead, it’s a global service organization focusing on hyper-local projects.

However, it tends to attract a lot of entrepreneurs who want to give back to their community, so it can be an excellent place to meet like-minded small business owners, as well as retired entrepreneurs who offer advice & mentorship.

If you prefer to build your own network while helping your community thrive, Rotary could be a great choice for you.

10. Kiwanis Club . . .

was founded in 1915 by a group of Detroit businessmen. Like the Rotary Club, Kiwanis is a service organization that can be a great small business networking opportunity. Kiwanis is more focused on projects serving children and is somewhat smaller than Rotary. Many entrepreneurs say they’ve made great business connections while giving back to their communities.

11. Women in Business

If you’re a woman who owns a small business, you might want to join the WiB community. This international organization offers training workshops and digital and in-person conventions designed to help women succeed.

The highly active community offers numerous networking opportunities for finding referrals and gaining valuable support as you build your business.

12. Entrepreneurs’ Organization

EO calls itself the only peer-to-peer network exclusively for entrepreneurs.Through mentor relationships, online networks, and global networking events, it has cultivated a community of more than 15,600 business owners around the world who share knowledge and build their biz networks through EO’s various programs.

13. Young Entrepreneur Council

YEC is for entrepreneurs under the age of 40, this invitation-only organization provides concierge services, professional development, and networking opportunities.

Along with the quality of connections and resources, millennial business owners promote the fast-paced, heavily digital nature of this organization as compared to older and more traditional small business groups.

14. American Marketing Association

AMA. Every small business owner utilizes marketing, even if you’re not working in the marketing industry itself.

Along with marketing education resources available from the national AMA, your local AMA chapter is a great place to form connections and learn from fellow marketers and entrepreneurs in your community.

15. Network after Work . . .

calls itself a professional community of entrepreneurs and other business professionals, with the goal of developing relationships to grow their businesses and careers.

Members can create online profiles, search for other members within the same field or location, and attend both virtual and in-person events. The organization also hosts live events in 87 locations across the United States.

16. Vistage

Connecting the most successful CEOs of small and midsize businesses, Vistage creates the connection for collaboration to share expertise, build lifelong leadership excellence, and challenge one another to think critically.

The CEO peer advisory groups are made up of 12–16 CEOs or local business owners from different markets. The members of these groups support one another by looking for blind spots, vetting ideas, and troubleshooting problems.

17. The Fastlane Forum

If you want to learn more about small business marketing, get reading recommendations, or receive advice on running a small business, then you’ll love diving into Entrepreneur Forum where real small business owners help each other find success. This forum has over 60,000 entrepreneurs who discuss a wide range of subjects.

18. The Referrals Group

We create groups of like-minded, talented local business professionals with a common goal and direction. The Referrals Group isn’t a one size fits all program. Our goal is to attract and retain talented local business professionals and allow them to grow their network, business and support systems together.

19. Opportunity . . .

uses a match-making algorithm to connect business professionals who may want to work together on projects together or who want to simply grow their network.

Business Referral Group

BRG provides small business owners and managers with a platform to establish formal and strategic relationships. Benefits: Industry exclusivity, Increased business, Become a Spokes person.

Networking Tips to help you succeed

Successful networking doesn’t happen overnight. Below are a few tips for successful networking:

Have your ‘elevator speech’ ready. This is a brief explanation (30-60 seconds) of who you are and what your business is about. It’s crucial for face-to-face networking.
Always carry Business Cards. Nothing says “amateur” like a home-printed business card. Have yours professionally made through an online or local print shop and bring plenty to networking events.
Have a two-way Conversation. Successful networking works best when it’s a two-way street, so don’t just talk about yourself. Make sure you ask people about their business, what they’re looking for, and how you might help them.
Take Notes and make Connections. To help build stronger connections, jot down a few notes on the back of someone’s business card as a reminder of how you met them and what you talked about.
Follow up. After an event, send a quick Email to remind someone how you met, what you’re looking for, and if you heard of any business opportunities that would benefit them. Instead of an Email, you could also send a connection request through LinkedIn. This should be done as soon as possible after the event, within 24 hrs.
Keep at it. Successful business relationships take time to establish. The more businesspeople you meet and connect with, and the more business networking organizations you try, the better your networking skills will become.

In time, you’ll be networking like a pro and forming your own business community by utilizing some of the skills you’ve developed along the way.

How to Find the right Small Business Networking group for you.

Networking is crucial to building any small business, but it can also feel intimidating, especially if you’re not a natural extrovert or your existing contacts don’t include any small business owners. Fortunately, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

By joining a small business networking group, you can tap into the group’s collective wisdom and experience to help your business grow. The internet makes networking even easier than ever.

No single group is right for everyone, and your needs may change over time. Start by figuring out where your business seems to “fit,” and join an organization or two that you believe can help grow your company.

You will soon discover which groups resonate with you. At that point, start looking into how you can get more deeply involved with your chosen groups.

Like anything else, the more time and effort you put into networking, the more you will get out of it.

20 best Business Networking Groups for new Businesses via Referrals for your Biz