Yesterday, I talked about networking and used it as a paradigm for creating a simple marketing plan. You plan, you do, you review.
Today, I return to the subject of networking and ask the question that may be on your mind: “How do I find the best networking groups for me?”
There are lots of ways to find them but the simplest, and arguably the best path to discovery, is to find out where your existing clients and contacts network and go there.
If you represent business clients, find out where they go to meet other people in their industry. If they don’t network (much), ask them to introduce you to professionals they know and ask them where they network.
For consumer clients, ask your existing referral sources where they network.
Keep in mind that some people don’t think of what they do as networking per se. They belong to groups–charity, hobby (e.g., golf club), social, community, etc.–and spend time at those groups’ functions, where they regularly meet new people. These non-business groups can also be a fruitful source of new business for you.
You can also turn to your clients and contacts for help with other kinds of marketing. If you want to know where to submit articles or guest posts, or a good place to advertise, ask your clients and contacts what they read or listen to.
Questions like these should be a fixture on your new client intake sheet. Find out who your new clients know, what they read, who influences them, and where they spend their time. Ask the same kinds of questions (eventually) of your new professionals contacts.
Want more clients like your best clients? Talk to them. Work smarter by working backwards.
Lawyers are complicated. Marketing is simple. More here. . .
