In a down economy networking becomes a bit of a catch 22. Money is tight so many hesitate to pay registration fees for events they otherwise would have benefited from attending. On the other hand, these are the times when we should be working even harder to connect, meet, and network, that next hand you shake may mean the difference between your next big deal, and unemployment.
While doing research on local networking groups, I came across Meetup.com. Meetup allows you to find local groups who share your interests or industry, and meet at live events in your area. From sales groups to dog lovers, its easy to find a group that suites you, allowing you to meet, network, and get involved. Group size can range from 5-6 people to hundreds of members depending on location and the type of interest.
Joining Meetup and finding groups is completely free (some group organizers do have registration fees). And if in your search you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can set up an alert that will notify you when a new group forms.
Networking in these times is hard, but necessary. Make your search easier by allowing someone to do the searching and organizing for you.
