Image courtesy of Meetup.com

We recently held the now quarterly Affiliate Summit Meetup in Montreal this past Tuesday, January 24, and as usual, these events are quite a lot of fun, especially for educational and networking purposes. If you look closely at Meetup.com, you’ll notice that there are not only Affiliate Summit Meetups, but many independently run online marketing groups throughout the US and Canada.

Some people are shy about going to an online marketing Meetup for the first time. It’s amazing how challenging it can be to transition from online to an offline setting. If you’re interested in attending a related Meetup, but wouldn’t classify yourself as a social butterfly, here are a few pointers on how to make these groups work best for you.

• In order to be strategic when networking, it’s a good idea to look at the guest list in advance of a Meetup. This gives you an idea of who is going and their backgrounds. Think of questions you want to ask the guest speaker or key individuals who’ll be in attendance. Doing this means you spend more of your focus on targeting the right people.
• Remember to smile. A friendly smile goes a long way. Make sure to carry one throughout the event. It can make the difference between people not wanting to meet you, because of a severe look, or warming up to you because of a pleasant appearance.
• Think about helping others. Online marketing Meetups are not just about you. Other attendees are there to learn something too. So, do a bit of onsite consultation if you’re an expert in your field, and help people who may not know anything about the digital marketing space.
• Don’t forget your business cards. A business card is a must for these types of events. When you can, get some made up and distribute them liberally at these events.

If you live in a city where no online marketing group exists, you can always start a Meetup! Sometimes not every Meetup will attract the 20+ attendees you are expecting. Even if you only have four people show up for the first time, all you have to do is ramp up your marketing via social media channels, email, and forums and blogs. Eventually, with a few runs, interested people will start to come out.

If you have any other advice on how to make the most of online marketing Meetups, we'd love to hear it. Please leave us your tips in the comments section below.