Your Marketing Minute: In search of a tribe for your business
Do you communicate with your business tribe through social media?
Donna Dahl, Calgary-based marketing expert and author
By Donna Dahl
Seth Godin is noted for his books about leadership and changes in the marketplace of a post-industrial revolution. Every one of his thirteen books has become an international best seller.
I think what Seth Godin’s work on Tribes is saying is that each of us needs to be “out there” manifesting our own personal tribe as well as participating in a number of communities (tribes) as active members. We can write books. We can participate in social media. We can write articles. We can connect in face-to-face social situations. We can leave comments on blogs and interact on Facebook.
Do we have a responsibility to our tribes? As tribal leader it is important to keep our tribal members actively engaged or they may go off and join another tribe.
Do we have a responsibility to our tribes? As a tribal member, I am likely to remain a member so long as my needs within the environment are being met. If motivated…by invitation or by inspiration…I may even get actively involved in a temporary sub-leadership role to support the leader and attract and engage new members.
What is the search for a tribe really all about? It is about building a sense of community. Some choose to focus more on developing an online community and others prefer to shake hands with whom they meet.
One thing is for sure. You are not going to meet new people unless you take the steps to start a relationship. Maybe that is one of the reasons why social networking and in-person meet ups are so popular.
Looking for networking opportunities in Calgary? How many would you like to visit? I can very safely say that there are more Business-to-Business (B2B) networking clubs in Calgary than the fingers on both of my hands three times over. There may well be ten times that many. Allow me to list a few of them here.
Jacki McLenaghan’s Success Club got off the ground in January, 2012. Jacki believes that traditional networking needed a new twist and so her monthly evening get-togethers offer a structured format that is different from any other networking event I have ever attended. If the strong attendance at her launch event is any indication of her popularity as a leader and as a B2B networking model with a difference, Jacki’s program is sure to be a hit. For more information contact Jacki at Pure Potentials Wellness Inc. at 403 288 8898.
The Progressive Group for Independent Business (PGIB) has a variety of choices for days of the weeks and times for networking. Contact Joel Dixon at 403-720-2143 for more information. The Progressive Group for Independent Business Women (PGIBW) and the Canadian Leadership Institute (CLI ) can be contacted through the same number. PGIBW meets once a month on the second Tuesday at noon. Venues vary. You don’t have to be a member to attend the informative luncheons that Julie Chandler offers.
Pam Ryan’s Women Extraordinaire meets monthly in the SE. If you are looking for a group that has a charitable component attached to it as well as a Lunch-and-Learn component, this is a good choice. Delightful atmosphere. Delightful catering. This group meets over a catered lunch on the third Thursday of the month. You can find Pam on Facebook.
Have you attended a meeting of the BNI group? A Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast? How about Aline Barker and her Womanition events? eWomen is popular in Calgary as is the group Executive Women International (EWI) Calgary Chapter. Savoire Faire meets for a monthly noon Luncheon. Look for them online.
The Calgary Chapter of BPW, an international organization of Business and Professional Women, meets over evening dinner monthly in the SE. You can find them at www.bpwcalgary.com
Karen Klassen holds her ever-popular Women Embracing Brilliance events several times throughout the year. Her following goes well beyond Calgary. Look for Karen on Facebook.
Carmen Goss of Prominent Personnel (www.prominent-personnel.ca) holds regular events for people interested in being employed in the oil and gas industry. Visit the website and sign up for the newsletter.
Please note that this is not an all-inclusive list by any stretch. My apologies to any organization that I have not included. There are B2B and social networking opportunities, and meet up groups all across this country. Some require membership.
Some protect exclusivity. Some allow guests to attend one meeting to try the group on for size. If you are a member of a networking group that you would like to see mentioned here, send me an email with your contact information and a couple of lines of description about the club. I will do my best to post your info in a future column.
Looking for a particular niche? Do a search for networking groups or Meetup sites online for something that matches your interests.
Donna Dahl is an author, marketing strategist and professional speaker/trainer. Her work takes clients from Stuck to Start™ in 90 minutes. Ask her about her Stuck to Start™ by Phone program. She can be reached at donna@makoye.com. Visit her website at www.makoye.com. Invite her to do a presentation on improving your memory at www.farrowmemoryspeakers.com/DonnaDahl or take in one of her shows at www.thewinonline.com/shows/tenacious-marketer Donna Dahl was awarded a 2011, 100th Anniversary International Women’s Day Outstanding Service Award in Business.
Category: Business Stategy
About the Author (Author Profile)
Markham began his journalism career writing columns in the mid-1980s for Western People Magazine, then reported for a small Saskatchewan daily. He has spent most of his career in media and communications, likes to dabble in politics, was actively involved in economic development for many years, thinks that what goes on in the community is just as important as what happens provincially and nationally, and has a soft spot for small business (big business, not so much). Markham is a bit of a contrarian and usually has a unique take on the events of the day.
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Hi Donna. Great Ideas about networking in Calgary. I also encourage clients to follow up their networking by finding and connecting with any new people they meet on the social media channels (fb, twitter, linkedin). Sending a short note to say ” HI Jack, was nice to meet you at x event”, is a nice touch.
Thanks Donna.