Is it me...or are Chamber of Commerce events Useless for Networking?

23 replies
Now that I'm finally ready to roll out my offline marketing business, I just returned from my first Chamber of Commerce networking event (a BBQ) in hopes of building a few relationships. Do I have leprosy... or are Chamber of Commerce attendees always this disengaged and antisocial??? :confused: Honestly, I was shocked at the number of people who seemed utterly disinterested in chatting with me. I felt like I was at an insurance seminar. I did absolutely no "selling"; I'm an unselfish listener, and I'm a reasonably adept and friendly conversationalist...but I'll be damned if I didn't feel outright unwelcome. (yes, of course I was showered, shaved, and clean-dressed!) Apparently, the worst place to do any kind of networking whatsoever is at a Chamber of Commerce networking event. I could really use a word of encouragement on where I can meet people who will give me the time of day.
#chamber #commerce #events #meor #networking #useless
  • Profile picture of the author Rob Thayer
    I've been a member of several Chambers, and my issue was just the opposite... you get approached by a lot of people who are only interested in promoting their own businesses. Sometimes they would ask what you do out of courtesy, and a few of those turn into legitimate leads, but I never got much out of it for the time invested. You have to have the right kind of business.

    The question for you is... why didn't you approach them rather than rely on them approaching you? Networking mixers are not for the shy.
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    • Profile picture of the author Linda Sweetfield
      In a former life I was a budget consultant for SMEs, networks and Chambers of Commerce.

      I could not tell you the amount of breakfast events, networking events, social seminars blah blah etc I went to over that time.

      I can unreservedly second what Rob has said. Most people at these events are only focused on their own sectoral interests, whatever they happen to be. Even if you have something of marked value to offer and you know its of use to them, it can be very difficult to get people to engage with you.

      The fact is a lot of them are not business owners or descision makers, sometimes their boss just sent them along to "network", hence your experience.
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    • Profile picture of the author czilbersher
      Originally Posted by Rob Thayer View Post

      I've been a member of several Chambers, and my issue was just the opposite... you get approached by a lot of people who are only interested in promoting their own businesses. Sometimes they would ask what you do out of courtesy, and a few of those turn into legitimate leads, but I never got much out of it for the time invested. You have to have the right kind of business.

      The question for you is... why didn't you approach them rather than rely on them approaching you? Networking mixers are not for the shy.
      Hi Rob. Thanks for your thoughts. Actually, I'm not shy. I did ALL the approaching. I'm fairly gregarious. Maybe you're just far better looking than I.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dana Goetz
    Well, I don't know where you live but you can try things like referral networks for instance, http://referralexchangenetwork.com/ Look for one in your area.
    Hope that helps ya.
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    Umm, I anytime I attend a Chamber or professional networking event, I leave with a stack of business cards with the directive to call the person in the next few days to set up a FTF. It's one of the absolute best ways to meet prospects.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Franklin
    You can also try meetup.com which allows you to network in variety of different settings....The great thing is that there's always meetups taking place....Assuming you don't live at the North Pole!
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  • Profile picture of the author AlanGNW
    Complete and total waste of time IMHO. Never got anything out of them, CoC's are run by a bunch of retired has been types (the fact that they still have to work for the CoC says much) or want to be business owners...

    The time could be far better spent doing some proper marketing or networking.
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  • Profile picture of the author Charles Harper
    BNI is very structured, but I found it helpful in my neck of the woods.

    I have heard from many in the offline world that you need to get in front of them with a talk and then once they see how much of a genius you are, they will want to talk to you.

    Why not leave a leaflet with your next scheduled teleseminar or conference call on one side and on the other side, as Michael said a call to action to call you today to get your free whateveryouhavetooffer.

    CT
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      I was shocked at the number of people who seemed utterly disinterested in chatting with me
      I used to attend Chamber meeting in a small city and when someone appeared who was new with no physical biz location and began introducing himself quickly, the members were polite but no more. Chambers are the target of every entrepreneur out there.

      Some things to think about:

      Is the city/chamber large or small? Have you lived in the area long? Have you patronized the businesses of other Chamber members?

      Why wait until your product is "ready to go" to make an appearance? A BBQ is a social chamber event and people may gather/gossip with those they know. A total stranger walking up to introduce himself may be an interruption at a BBQ but routine at a more formal meeting.

      meet people who will give me the time of day
      If you want someone to give you the time - tell him how impressed you are with his watch. just kidding - but think about it.

      Becoming a member of a group isn't about "get to know me" - it's about "I'd like to know YOU". Do your research - know who the players are before you show up - know what businesses some own and how long they've been in business - know what advertising they use.

      Do your homework, do your legwork - and give Chamber members time to accept you. THEN it can work.

      kay
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      • Profile picture of the author dbarnum
        As suggested above, I've also found if you join in at event, you get more interaction. Example:

        our Chamber hosted a trade show that was a bit costly for smaller companies. So we invited a bunch of other members until we found 9 others in all to join us, split the cost and rent a space, sharing table duty, etc. It was a blast and we met a lot of other businesses and hosted fish bowl drawings that gave us an additional opportunity to get leads (we printed out in a list and gave all 9 other companies a copy for following up, too).

        Note one of these members who joined us was the US Army! And if our table didn't stand out with a military rep there in full uniform, wow

        So go for it. Reach out and make your own stuff happen
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  • Profile picture of the author Jagged
    Most local chambers have weekly or monthly networking breakfasts or luncheons. I prefer to go to these instead. If you go to the regular Chamber meetings, I have found that most are there for a variety of reasons (other than networking), so when someone approaches to "network", the interest for the most part is not there.....at these luncheons, attendees are much more targeted. They too are there to network...they want to meet you & hear what you have to say & get heard by you.....much more casual, much more targeted...

    Good luck,
    ~Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
    Here's how you can earn a small fortune through Chamber events...

    First, disregard most of the info you've read in this thread so far. These
    events are a virtual goldmine if you know how to work them properly and you
    have some patience.

    As has been said, most of the people who attend these events are
    there hoping to find someone to buy what the sell. How refreshing do
    you think it might be to be the only guy/gal in the room who isn't trying
    to pitch everyone?

    Here's what I do...

    I engage people one at a time. I ask them what they do. I pay
    attention and jot notes if necessary. I ask them to describe for
    me, as briefly as possible, what their product/service will do for
    someone... what problem will it solve. I ask them what their ideal
    prospect "looks" like. I ask them for their business card and let them
    know that I talk with lots of people every day and will pass on their
    contact info if I run into someone who "looks" like their ideal prospect.

    When I get home I send each of them a handwritten note letting them
    know how much I enjoyed meeting them and learning about their business.

    I then follow through in my day to day activities. When I meet someone
    who "looks" like an ideal prospect for someone I met at a Chamber event,
    or anywhere else, I connect them.

    I'm known around my town as a connector... I frequently get calls from
    people who say they're looking for something and someone told them I'm
    the guy who can hook them up.

    I also get an almost endless stream of referrals for my own business
    from those I've connected in some way that helped them.

    That's how you mine the gold at Chamber events.

    Tsnyder
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    • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
      Originally Posted by Tsnyder View Post

      Here's how you can earn a small fortune through Chamber events...

      First, disregard most of the info you've read in this thread so far. These
      events are a virtual goldmine if you know how to work them properly and you have some patience.

      As has been said, most of the people who attend these events are
      there hoping to find someone to buy what the sell. How refreshing do
      you think it might be to be the only guy/gal in the room who isn't trying
      to pitch everyone?

      Here's what I do...

      I engage people one at a time. I ask them what they do. I pay
      attention and jot notes if necessary. I ask them to describe for
      me, as briefly as possible, what their product/service will do for
      someone... what problem will it solve. I ask them what their ideal
      prospect "looks" like. I ask them for their business card and let them
      know that I talk with lots of people every day and will pass on their
      contact info if I run into someone who "looks" like their ideal prospect.

      When I get home I send each of them a handwritten note letting them
      know how much I enjoyed meeting them and learning about their business.

      I then follow through in my day to day activities. When I meet someone
      who "looks" like an ideal prospect for someone I met at a Chamber event,
      or anywhere else, I connect them.

      I'm known around my town as a connector... I frequently get calls from
      people who say they're looking for something and someone told them I'm
      the guy who can hook them up.

      I also get an almost endless stream of referrals for my own business
      from those I've connected in some way that helped them.

      That's how you mine the gold at Chamber events.

      Tsnyder
      Bingo! This is a great outside-of-the-box method of getting referrals. I also agree with Michael Hiles. I've never left a COC meeting without business cards. Being a connector is a great way to building relationships. Also the 15 minute speech gives you great exposure, I've given so many over the past decade and have met so many people it's made my head spin.

      You get out of these events what you put in. If you show up wanting to just get leads or sell something or a one-shot deal, you're going to be very disappointed. But if you go to these events and bring value with you and focus on actually networking, you'll be amazed at how people will open up to you.

      They've been an absolute goldmine for me. I've connected car dealerships with auto-detaling businesses, I've set up free workshops to show people how to use Aweber to build a list and increase their business, etc. Bring value and over time you will be the goto person that people will want to consult with and do business with. You can transform your business in 90 days or less with real, focused action.

      RoD
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  • Profile picture of the author Thirty3Down
    I'm sure every CoC is different, but I absolutely love ours.
    My experience with the Chamber is you "get" if you "put in".

    If you just pay your dues and never do anything else....its probably not worth it, but our Chamber has put countless opportunities in front of us.
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  • Profile picture of the author freudianslip27
    I hope people don't assume from this first post that CoC groups are worthless, my local one has helped me quite a bit.

    I got a client from the very first mixer I went to. After I joined, I got the opportunity to give a short talk about what I do (my chamber offered this for free). It's a great way to get the word out.

    That being said, my chamber is in a smaller town, and I don't think I'll be renewing my membership there, because I think that money would be better spent joining a bigger CoC in a nearby city that is much larger. Great way to start out though.

    Matt
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  • Profile picture of the author KarlWarren
    See, the problem is - most people think that:

    NETWORKING = SELLING

    It isn't...

    What you're aiming to do is build allies for your business. Sure, some people will need your services - but, if they don't, there's no reason to end the relationship there. By befriending them and bringing them into your "network" they could become a champion for your business.

    It works like this:

    Say for instance you're a plumber and I meet you at an event.
    I know 10 people, those 10 people know 10 more people each.

    If you impress me enough with your people skills, a great proposition and are at least mildly interested in something other than selling to me, then you might become a friend of mine, or at least an acquaintance.

    Who do you think I'm going to think about when one of my 10 friends asks if I know a plumber? Or, they tell me that their friend needs a plumber.

    Think of networking for what it is...

    The opportunity to build a network of potential sales people.

    Networking can happen anywhere, too. It's not just limited to CoC's and Business Referral Exchanges. If you're truly interested in growing your business, you should take EVERY opportunity to grow your network - down the pub, with your friends, etc.

    And I don't mean the cheesy network marketing stereotype - simply be a friend, and impress people, while ensuring they know who you are and what you do.
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  • Profile picture of the author MichaelHiles
    HINT: If you're a brand new chamber member, find an "old boy" who will "vouch for you" and hang with them as their "guest" at the next event. Better to be introduced by an old-timer.
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  • Profile picture of the author iw433
    Tsnyder you sound like Zig Zigler. You gotta give if you wanta get. Good post.
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  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    Depends what country you are in, as to how business is done. Chamber stuff is usually quite low key and more about relationship building and not about hard sell, especially initially. Join in, chat and wait for people to ask you what you do. Just make sure you already know what they do so you are talking to the right person.

    And if you struggle with networking then try a good tutor, in the UK I have worked quite a bit with Will Kintish and highly recommend him.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dexx
    Believe it or not, I atually focus more on the networking aspect of CoC events vs lead generation.

    The last event I attended I spoke with (and collected cards from) a land investment broker and a financial planner...could they use my help with marketing...sure...did I give them my quick USP...of course...

    but in the end I collected their business cards and put them in my business card holder...why?...because should I be working with a client down the road, and the opportunity to JV comes up...I have a contact name already!

    ~Dexx
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  • Profile picture of the author Online Bliss
    The way to get noticed at Chamber of Commerce meetings is to offer a 15 minute talk. They are always looking for guest speakers.
    Another thought is to treat them like your mailing list.
    Show people your personality first and don't rush to sell.
    Once you are better known they will respect you and then
    you show them what you have to offer.

    Offline prospects may just ask you themselves
    "So, what to you do?"
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