Should You Network With Other Small Businesses?

Time is money. As entrepreneurs, we know that.


Time is a huge factor when deciding which networking events to go to. Although many of them sound like fun (especially during the holidays), you should only go to the ones that help your company meet its objectives.


So should you consider going to small business networking events, even if small businesses aren't your customer base? Chances are there are still a ton of big advantages for you to attend these small business events. Here are a few:


1. Two heads are better than one.

If you have a small business challenge, there is a good chance that someone else at the event is going through the same thing or has in the past. Small businesses go through 90% of the same challenges at some point. Why not learn from someone else's experience and leapfrog these difficult moments?



2. Small business is willing to help.

If someone approaches an entrepreneur with a business idea, there is a much bigger chance that they are going to be willing to help make the idea work than the average person. Entrepreneurs are always looking for good ideas, so they are more open to them. Also, entrepreneurs have all experienced rough times and are more likely to help others in that stage.


3. They may not be your customers, but they may talk to your customers.

Even though a small business owner may not be your direct customer, if they have the same target market as you, they could very easily be an extension of your sales team. Why not partner and double your salesforce? Affiliations are a great way to extend your marketing reach, grow your salesforce, offer a wider range of services, and help you go head-to-head with the big guys.


4. Support could be more than just business support.

Being an entrepreneur can be lonely at times. A lot of responsibility is on you. Having people who are going through the same thing (dealing with cash flow, customer, economy, and time management concerns), can give you the emotional support that you are looking for.


So next time you are debating on which networking event to attend, take a second look at mingling with other small businesses. The opportunities could be limitless as Microsoft, IBM, and Wal-Mart were all small at some point.