Networking events are an excellent tool to grow the community around your local pharmacy. However, finding the right networking events for your business can be challenging if you don’t know where to look. While some people are more comfortable searching online for the best networking events, there are also several traditional, brick-and-mortar community resources that can connect you to the right events.
Here are a several ways to find more networking events in your community and identify the ones that are most worth your time.
Join the Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce in your community is a great resource for events in your area. Joining the Chamber of Commerce usually involves a small investment that will be returned tenfold after attending a few events! Most Chambers of Commerce host Chamber-exclusive events that allow you to network with other local professionals who are dedicated and serious enough to also invest in their businesses.Joining as a member can open doors for opportunities like participating in health expos, neighborhood open-houses, and more. Participating in a health fair in your community is a great way to educate potential customers on your local pharmacy. Locals may be unaware of the differences between big chain pharmacies and independently owned ones. As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the events are all organized for you in a highly professional and predictable setting. The Chamber keeps you well-informed of all the goings-on, which, as a busy pharmacist or pharmacy owner, saves you precious time.
Search on Social Media
The term “social media” collectively refers to several different platforms, each of which has a varying degree of relevance to you and your business. For example, many local pharmacy owners find that Twitter and Pinterest aren’t for them, but they benefit greatly from getting involved in Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Networking online has never been easier with these and other platforms designed specifically to connect locals with businesses like yours. If you’re looking to connect with customers and get in touch with members of your community at general networking events, Facebook groups are a fantastic, free technique for finding in-person events. There are countless options for joining Facebook groups, including city-focused groups, profession-focused groups, hobby-focused groups, and more.
How to Find Groups on Facebook
- Log into your personal Facebook account.
- In the search bar, type in your city.
- Below the search bar, select the button that says ‘groups.’ Here you’ll find dozens of groups, from garage sales to entrepreneurial groups to charity organizations. Find a group that is of interest to you and click the name of the group.
- Click the ‘+Join’ button to request access into the group.
Once you’ve been accepted into the group, you’ll be able to join discussions, ask questions, and access information on local networking events in real time. Expand your group searches beyond the health industry to access a more broad audience. If you’re looking to connect with other local pharmacy owners or a specific group of professionals, LinkedIn groups may be more beneficial than Facebook.
Join a Membership Community
Online membership communities allow you to converse with local individuals based on shared interests or goals. Some membership communities are free while others come with a fee that can be written off as a business expense.
A few excellent meeting-oriented membership communities include:
Each membership site allows you to search for events closest to you and to filter by specific criteria, so you can find the exact right fit for you! Try them all to find the platform that yields the most lucrative networking events for your business. You never know where the next opportunity will pop up
Follow Up
If you attend any networking events in your community, follow up with the individuals you meet afterward to nurture those relationships. Be sure to collect business cards from the attendees you connect to show you have a genuine interest, to help you remember the names of all your new connections, and to facilitate your follow up after the event. An easy way to stay connected to the people you meet at events is connecting with them on a professional online network like LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a great way to foster your professional relationships. Use the messaging feature to directly ask someone about future events, or create a community discussion by posting a conversation starter on your public feed. You might post something like ‘I had a great time at the 2018 Networking Event! Great meeting all of you. I’d love to stay in the loop for any upcoming events, so feel free to send any information my way!’Maintaining networking relationships significantly grows your community and your local pharmacy customer base will benefit from your efforts. Once you get a few networking events under your belt, you will quickly become a community figure. Prioritize building a strong reputation of being helpful, reliable, and present to set yourself and your local pharmacy apart from the competition. Want to give PCA’s free membership community a try? Sign up here today!