Yes you should consider being part of a business networking group during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Are you from Brantford? Do you run your own local business or manage a business locally? Are you interested in building relationships that last? Have you considered joining a business group, but you are not sure about networking during COVID-19? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, this post is written specifically for you.

I get asked the following three questions all the time about being in a networking group:

  • Why am I in a business networking group?
  • Do I get business from the group?
  • Did you really build your network?

I now get asked a fourth question.

Should I Join a Networking Group During COVID-19?

I can tell you without hesitation that it is absolutely worth it. The connections and career advice I have obtained are invaluable. That is why I am in a business networking group and why you need to join one too … especially during COVID.

During personal health concerns and economic hardship, a networking group can bring value when it’s most needed. This is where you want to lean into the group and get the support you need to survive, both mentally and financially.

As someone who has managed several networking groups over the years, the time to connect and reach out to as many people as possible is now. Your relationships are what will get you through this. We are all in this together.

Another reason to join a networking group is that many of us are now working from a home office. Connecting with others is becoming a thing of the past. I was talking to a sales rep who has not made an in-person call in over a year. When we connect, we get inspired. Inspiration is what helps us create. Creating is what gets us more business, and isn’t it more business that we are all after?

Last week we had thirty-four referrals including 20 from social media and two testimonials. This is huge during COVID.

If you are looking to join a breakfast networking group or a business referral group in your area but are still unsure about networking during the COVID-19, let me take some of the pain away. Join us for breakfast, it will be on us. See if it is something that you are interested in and that you would want to join. If you decide it is not for you, then at least we could talk business over breakfast. But you never know. Maybe this is the thing you have been looking for to get you through.

Every Wednesday at 7:00 am, we meet for 90 minutes at the Sherwood in Brantford. You will be on your way before the workday starts.

Note – During the lockdown, we made a digital transformation and continued to meet over Zoom for virtual coffee. Connecting is the key.

If you’re interested in networking during COVID-19, get a hold of us on social media or through our website to set up one of our informational interviews. There are a lot of people in the group that are waiting to connect with you and share their tips for networking.

I’m the president of Brant Business Builders, Brantford’s longest running professional networking group.

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