International business networking groups provide opportunities for you, your senior management team and your sales staff to meet and build relationships with other business professionals who can send you sales leads, set you up for inside prospects with those one the international business networking list as well as become customers and suppliers for your company.

You can valuable time by networking online through an international business networking website. Have your staff follow the trend of using online communities to do their business while participating in social networks. Members on an international business networking list attend the meetings and events of the networking groups for most of the same reasons and expect to find business opportunities through the relationships they build. Use the international business networking groups in a number of different ways.

1. Ask employees to join an international business networking web site

2. Put your business on an international business networking list

3. Sponsor an event for an international business networking vendor

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find an international business networking website

Turn socializing into a business opportunity through an international business networking website. Some of the most effective sales techniques can be applied to friends and others who trust you through social referrals. You can make the networking phenomena a part of your corporate culture by encouraging employees to utilize online blogs and business sites to promote your business.

I recommend: Advancing Women is a growing international business networking vendor that focuses on women business professionals and entrepreneurs. Facebook recognizes the inherent value of online networking and offers the business community the Visa Business Network.

Join international business networking groups

The more exposure your company can get, the better. Salespeople and company executives should find a group in which they can participate on a regular basis to build the kinds of business relationships that pay off and show up on your bottom line. International business networking groups that charge fees for membership tend to have a more committed roster of members, while groups with no membership fees attract a wide variety of participants.

I recommend: Membership in a local BNI group gives you access to online networking and events with an international community of business professionals. LeTip offers local chapters as well as online groups in which you can participate with international professionals to further your business goals.

Advertise with an international business networking vendor

Many international business networking groups are non-profit organizations and rely on corporate and small business sponsorships to put on large events such as conventions and trade shows. Through the publicity you can receive by sponsoring an event, you can reach all the group members that previously may not have been on your company radar.

I recommend: The eWomen Network puts on a slew of events that need backing as well as offer online advertising opportunities to reach female business owners and professionals. Konnects is a professional international business networking group that accepts advertising to reach its members online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask your sales team for reports from their regular and online international business networking groups to share information with each other from the various groups.