My Experience Of Networking Groups

Can Networking Groups Help You (1) — **Can Networking Groups Help You**

Today I want to talk about my experience of networking groups. So, I want to talk about networking groups and how they can help you in your line of business. Many of us work online or from home, which is great, but I also believe it’s important to connect with other people. Although working from home brings flexibility and independence, it can sometimes be a bit isolating, so having that human input and sharing ideas with others is valuable.

My Experience with 4N Networking

Recently, I visited an online networking group called 4N. It’s actually a group I went to about 15 years ago, back when they held traditional breakfast events. However, the one I attended recently was an online event, which I found incredibly convenient. There’s no travelling involved, which saves a lot of time. Living in a village, it can be quite a trek to get to places, and even if you live in a town, there’s usually traffic to deal with. So, I found the online version really efficient.

Sometimes, it’s also nice to go to a physical networking event, but being able to log in from home or the office makes life easier. On the 4N website, you can choose whether to see local or online events. I personally prefer the online ones. The meeting I attended was called Business Without Borders. They meet fortnightly, although the next one happens to be three weeks apart this time because of a clash. I’m already looking forward to attending again.

Finding Networking Events

If you’re looking for local networking groups, you can simply type “business networking events near me” into Google, and you’ll get a wide range of results. There are all sorts of networking groups out there — both online and in person — so it’s easy to find something that suits your business and schedule.

What Happened in the Meeting

The meeting I attended was open networking, which means it was suitable for anyone. We began with introductions so that everyone could briefly explain who they were and what they did. I’d never attended this particular group before, so it was nice to see a variety of people. After the introductions, one of the members gave a short talk about their business, which was interesting and informative.

Then we went into Zoom breakout rooms for one-to-one chats. Each session lasted around eight minutes, and I had three different one-to-ones during the event. That section took about thirty minutes altogether, and the full meeting lasted about an hour and a half. It was well-organised, relaxed, and enjoyable.

Meeting Like-Minded People

What stood out to me was the variety of people. There were business owners from different backgrounds, including one person who did affiliate marketing. That immediately caught my attention because it’s something I do myself. Although I didn’t get to speak with him during the Zoom breakouts, he later reached out to me on LinkedIn — funnily enough, I was about to message him when his message came through first! We started chatting, discovered we had common interests in affiliate marketing and cryptocurrency, and decided to share some ideas.

He invited me to join something he was doing, and I did. Likewise, he’s planning to take a look at something I’m involved in. It turned out to be a great connection and an excellent example of how networking can open doors. We might never have met otherwise. That’s what I love about these events — the genuine opportunities that come from simply talking to people.

Why Networking Matters

Working online often means spending long hours alone, so I think it’s healthy to break up the day with networking or online meetings. For me, it was refreshing to mix with fellow humans! I’ve always been a people person — I enjoy hearing about what others do and how they make a living. Not in a nosy way, but in a genuinely interested way. Many of us are self-employed, trying to build something meaningful, and it’s encouraging to connect with others on the same journey.

We can also learn from others far more than we realise. Hearing about real experiences — what’s working for others, what challenges they’ve faced, what tools they use — can give us fresh ideas for our own businesses. In my case, I picked up a few new perspectives and discovered areas I’d like to explore further.

Collaboration and Trust

Another big benefit is collaboration. As I mentioned, the person I met from the meeting and I are already bouncing ideas off each other. But it doesn’t stop there. Once you attend a group regularly, you begin to build trust and people start to understand who you are and what you do. Over time, friendships and business relationships form naturally.

Networking can be an older-fashioned concept, but I still believe it’s very relevant today — especially when so many people work remotely. It’s an opportunity to talk confidently about your business, your products, and your experiences. The more you communicate, the more you learn, and the better you become at expressing your brand and message.

Are There Any Downsides?

Of course, like anything, not all networking groups are the same. I’ve heard that some can be too sales-focused or dominated by certain individuals, which might not suit everyone. But in my limited experience, I was pleasantly surprised. The group I joined was friendly, balanced, and genuinely interested in helping each other.

Even if you join a group and find it’s not quite right for you, there’s no obligation to stay. You can simply move on and try another group until you find the right fit. That’s the beauty of it — networking isn’t one-size-fits-all, and there’s plenty of choice.

Benefits of Joining a Networking Group

Mixing with other people: It breaks up your work routine and gives you a sense of community.
Learning from others: You hear real experiences and ideas that can improve your business.
Collaboration opportunities: You might find new partners, affiliates, or clients.
Building trust: Over time, you develop credibility within the group.
Improving confidence: Talking about your business helps you refine your message.
Convenience: Online meetings save time and make it easier to attend regularly.

My Final Thoughts

Overall, my experience was very positive. In fact, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t another meeting this week! I’m looking forward to the next session and definitely plan to continue attending. Maybe I was lucky to find a good group on my first try, but it really showed me how useful networking can be.

My suggestion would be this: try a networking group yourself. See how you get on. Whether online or in person, these meetings can bring fresh energy and new opportunities into your business. Even if you don’t come away with a direct sale, you’ll likely gain new ideas, friendships, and perspectives.

For those of us who work online or run affiliate marketing businesses, these interactions are a reminder that while technology connects us, it’s still people who make things happen. Talking, sharing, and supporting one another makes the journey more enjoyable and often more successful.

Watch My Video

If you’d like to watch the video version of this post, you can find it on my YouTube channel below:

Watch on YouTube: Can Networking Groups Help Affiliate Marketers?

Final Word

If you’ve ever thought about joining a networking group, give it a go. You never know who you’ll meet or what opportunities will come from it. And if you’ve already tried one, I’d love to hear about your experience — leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Thanks very much for reading, and I hope this post inspires you to explore the power of networking in your business journey.