Serious question, which Arizona networking group actually pays off?

I went to a Phoenix chamber mixer last Wednesday that was packed with 80 people but I only got 2 real leads out of it. Then on Friday I tried a tiny Scottsdale coffee meetup with maybe 12 folks and somehow left with 5 solid referrals. The big group had way more energy and free food but the small one felt more genuine somehow. My buddy swears by the big BNI chapters here but I've also heard they're too salesy for some people. Has anyone else noticed this gap between the huge mixers and the niche meetups in terms of actual business coming in?

2 comments

2 Comments

tarag285d ago

Yeah I read something online about how smaller groups actually convert better because people have time to actually talk instead of just swapping cards. Makes sense from what you saw.

jordan_anderson905d ago

Oh man, that totally matches what I've seen too. I swear the bigger the group, the more it feels like a business card blender where you just walk out dizzy and empty handed. I'm living proof that bigger isn't better because I once went to a massive networking event and left so overwhelmed that I just went straight home for a nap instead of following up with anyone. Pretty sure that nap cost me a couple potential clients, but at least I was well rested. So yeah, small groups are where it's at, unless you count my attention span which apparently caps out at like three people.