When it comes to cost, how much can you afford or not afford?

When it comes to cost, the first thing that comes to mind is money, the cost of membership. Although this may be a consideration, you should also look at the cost as part of the investment you need to make in order to improve the bottom-line. It is the return on investment that needs to be considered with any group. Leads groups can cost anywhere from the cost of a meal and an extra $20, to a few thousand dollars per year. In addition to the financial considerations is the cost of time that you must commit to the group. A weekly 2 hours meeting in the early hours will not likely have much affect on the time you need to generate your own leads for business. However, if you are committed to attending weekly meetings for lunch or dinner, your client base may suffer if attendance is required and there is a conflict between the meeting and the client requirements.

There is also the aspect of commitment to any group. The cost of commitment can be low if they require fewer meetings and at the appropriate times. You must weigh all of these factors before you make your final decision on joining the group. Before you make the commitment, review the time it will take to work the group, and also the returns you will get from membership. It is best to know these factors in advance.

When looking at costs, you need to make sure that you have enough details on the group to properly analyze what it is you are getting into. Many groups have guest speakers on topics that are relevant to business that will add to the value. Make sure that you have enough details before lunging forward. Also know how people are removed from a group. It is one thing to be a member and it is another to be asked to leave. You need to be definitive about your own personal focus.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.BlueprintBooks.com