Networking at local groups is a marketing strategy that is often overlooked by entrepreneurs. I don’t mean passing out your business card. Instead, attending these events with the goal of building relationships with business professionals. Individuals who are ready to help you build your firm.

Kevin Jordan, a small business marketing consultant, explains how we can leverage business networking in this article.

Five Tips for Using Local Networking Groups to Grow Your Business

In today’s digital world, the hot topics in the small business marketing industry tend to be things like SEO, responsive web design, pay-per-click advertising, and of course whatever the latest fad in social media happens to be in any particular week. Of course all of these things are important and have a role to play in successfully marketing a small business, but while all of these constantly changing and evolving areas have been dominating the conversation, one time-tested marketing tactic has continued to quietly provide good results for those relatively few small business owners who have truly mastered it. I’m talking about good, old-fashioned networking, which—especially at the local level—is still one of the most cost effective marketing methods available to a small business. Read more…

Here’s a list of the five tips:

Be specific when you request referrals

Don’t forget about strategic partners

Use your group to help promote your content

Have members of your group write you a review (and vice versa)

Use your networking group to help your customers