As a young professional or a business owner, what you need just as much as a small business plan are networking opportunities. Joining a local group of similar professionals can help expand your opportunities and form career-long bonds. Here are the most important ways these groups help you.

Why Join a Local Group?

1. Make Contacts

When you attend group meetings, activities, and workshops, you get networking opportunities with people in similar stages of business development and career growth. This is the way to find potential partners and make yourself known to people who may recommend your services in the future. You can cooperate on promotions and ad campaigns and start developing shared projects—it all starts here.

2. Get Ideas

When you're talking shop with local professionals, you get a better sense of the trends and new developments in your industry and your area. This can be a source of inspiration for business development ideas or projects you can pursue. It can also be a motivating experience because you have people to discuss your ideas with and get advice from.

3. Improve Image

Joining young professional groups gives you an opportunity to meet and engage with future clients and introduce them to your business. Through volunteering and community service, outreach programs, and community events, you can increase awareness of your brand and make it clear that you're part of the community. This increases trust and makes locals more likely to seek out your business.

If you're looking for these types of networking opportunities, visit the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce in Florissant, MO. They include over 400 businesses already and are open to all businesses within a 20-mile radius of the town, hosting a wide range of activities and improving the local economy. For questions, call (314) 831-3500 or check their event calendar online.