Five ways to get more out of your networking group

Joining a referral group is the easy part. Getting a genuine return takes a handful of small, consistent habits. Here are five that make the difference.

Show up. Referrals flow to the people in the room. Regular attendance is where trust is built, and trust is what makes someone comfortable putting their own reputation behind an introduction to you. When you cannot make it, a quick apology keeps you visible.

Learn to describe your ideal referral. "Anyone who needs an accountant" is hard to act on. "A tradie turning over more than a few hundred thousand who has outgrown their spreadsheet" is something a fellow member can actually spot. Be specific and make it easy for others to find work for you.

Give before you expect to get. The members who receive the most referrals are almost always the ones who give the most. Go out of your way to find business for others, and it comes back.

Follow up fast. A warm referral goes cold quickly. When a member hands you an introduction, treat it like the favour it is: contact the person promptly and close the loop with the member who sent it, so they know how it went.

Book one-to-ones. The weekly meeting is the shop window; the real relationships are built one on one. Sitting down with another member for twenty minutes to understand their business is the single best way to start sending, and receiving, quality referrals.

Do these consistently and the group stops being a weekly breakfast and becomes a genuine channel for your business.