In most structured networking groups, members have the opportunity to do a ten-minute presentation at their local chapter meeting to further educate their fellow members about their business, the types of leads they seek, their unique selling points and the ways in which members can assist them. The one-page business description can be used as an outline for this presentation.

In addition, the ten-minute presentation should contain ideas or directions regarding ways in which members can find leads for you or assist you in other ways. This portion of the presentation could contain information about the types of referral or strategic partners that would be best for you, what types of questions to ask to uncover leads, materials like discount coupons or free samples that could be shared to help generate first time customers, etc. Most members do a good job of describing their businesses but few do a good job of instructing others on how to help them. This portion of the presentation is extremely important, because your fellow members want to help with your business, but don’t always know how to help.

The purposes of your ten-minute presentation are to focus your chapter members on helping you and to provide them with the information they need to help you. Conclude your ten-minute presentation with a call to action or specific assignment that members can easily complete. For example, you could provide each member with coupons they can distribute to a specific target customer group with which they all have contact. Or, you could identify specific types of referral partners and ask members to think through their contacts and let you know if they know anyone fitting that description. The simplicity of these tasks increases the likelihood that your fellow members will complete them. The feeling of accomplishment resulting from their ability to fulfill the simple assignment will predispose them to take additional steps to help you.