Picked up a new referral partner at a Chandler coffee meetup and saw 3 deals close in 2 weeks

I went to that Wednesday morning networking thing at Lola Coffee in Chandler, mostly just to get out of the office. First time I actually sat down with someone instead of just swapping cards, a real estate agent named Jen. We talked for maybe 20 minutes about the rental market in Tempe and how she keeps running into tenants needing property management. Two weeks later I signed three new leases from her referrals, which is way faster than anything I got from the big chamber mixers. Has anyone else found better luck with smaller meetups over the big events?

2 comments

2 Comments

milaprice10d agoTop Commenter

Lola Coffee is my favorite spot just for the pastries alone, so maybe I need to go to one of these meetups there. The big events always feel like a cattle call where everyone is trying to hand you a brochure and run. I got roped into a 20 minute talk with a guy selling toner cartridges at the last chamber thing. Small meetups let you actually figure out if you like the person before you commit to working together. Maybe I'll show up Wednesday and just pray nobody spills a latte on my shirt.

verar2110d ago

Just show up to Lola and hope the only thing awkward is the conversation, not a coffee stain on your favorite shirt. @milaprice, if a toner guy corners you again, tell him you only print on recycled dreams and watch him panic. For real though, small meetups are the way to go - you can actually ditch if the vibe is off without making a scene. Last big event I went to, someone tried to sell me a "bespoke networking app" while I was mid-bite of a croissant. No thanks. See you there Wednesday, I'll be the one hiding near the pastry case.