Walking into a networking meeting without a plan is easy. Walking out with real connections takes a little intention. Here is a simple game plan you can use at every Southern NH Networking Group meeting you attend.

Before the Meeting

Set one clear goal.
Decide what you want from the meeting before you arrive. It might be meeting one new person, learning about one member’s business, or following up on a referral you received last time.

Bring what you need.
Have plenty of business cards, a pen, and a short way to describe what you do. Keep that description to a sentence or two so it is easy to remember.

During the Meeting

Arrive a few minutes early.
The open networking time before the meeting starts is often where the best conversations happen. Arriving early gives you time for unhurried introductions.

Introduce yourself to someone new.
Look for someone you have not met yet. Ask what they do and what a good referral for them looks like. People remember those who ask.

Listen more than you talk.
When you understand another member’s business well, you can spot opportunities for them. That is how trust starts to build.

Take a few notes.
Write down names, businesses, and anything worth following up on. Memory fades fast once the day gets busy.

After the Meeting

Follow up within a day or two.
Send a short email or make a quick call to anyone you connected with. Mention something specific from your conversation so it does not feel like a form letter.

Share a referral when you can.
If you met someone who needs a member’s product or service, pass along the connection. Referrals flow both ways, and giving one often leads to receiving one.

Attend several meetings before judging results.
Relationships build over time, not overnight. Visit several meetings as a visitor first so you can see how the group works and get to know the members.

How Southern NH Networking Group Fits In

We meet twice a month, on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from 7:30 to 9:00 AM. Membership follows a one member per classification rule, so each business type is represented by a single member. That structure means the referrals you receive are not competing with other members of the same classification.

If you are interested in joining, plan to attend several meetings as a visitor first. That gives you a chance to meet the members and see whether the group is a good fit.

There are a few open classifications right now, including roofer, chiropractor, and caterer. If your business fits one of these, or another classification not yet taken, we would like to meet you.