How Can Local Meetups Boost Your Reputation?

Meetup.com has been a great place for people that have common interests to get together. There are groups for hiking, social media, web design, business, and much more. While you always have Facebook, Twitter and other social networks to talk, sometimes a real face really helps. It also is a time to meet new people without having to hide behind the computer screen.

Local meetups can boost your reputation because these are the people closest to where you live and can probably network with you if you have talents and services they might need. Now, let me emphasize that while you can network, you probably should be engaging and getting to know others, rather than making it a point that you are selling your services. There are not many people who enjoy an “in your face” pitch introduction.

They are more than likely going to be relieved when you go onto the next person and forget about you. However, if you are talking with someone and they have questions, perhaps you might have an open door to do business.

Some of the local meetups might have scheduled speakers or schedule panels where there is a focused topic. This is a great way to learn and take away great information for both yourself, your business, and perhaps even your clients.

If your local meetup group (or groups) that you attend have found you quite influential, your reputation will grow and when you cannot make a meetup, members who missed you on a previous session will more than likely seek you out and ask questions.

Have you been to Meetup.com and joined some meetup groups? If so, have you ever attended any meetup sessions? Any advice for newbies wanting to try to network with locals at a meetup group for web design, business, or even social media?