As most of you know, I am a great fan of networking as a means of promoting any small business, particularly mine.

I have attended networking functions run by several organisations across Perth and suburbs, and most of them worked for me. It is up to you to find the networking group that suits your needs and my needs seem best served by two groups.

The Local Chambers (South Central Metropolitan Chambers of Commerce and Industry to give it its original title) runs over 200 networking functions every year.

Combine the number of functions with the catchment area for Local Chambers, and it should work for almost anyone. The list of member chambers includes Armadale, Belmont, Canning, Canning Vale, Gosnells, South Perth, Victoria Park and Perth City. The list of member businesses covers several A4 pages.

Another function I attend fairly regularly is the monthly networking sundowner run by the Belmont BEC at the Belmont Tavern. Unfortunately, the Belmont BEC function is on the second Tuesday of the month, which clashes with Local Chambers Tuesday Results Networking, which is on every Tuesday evening at the Melbourne Hotel in the city.

Another function that provides networking and some useful business advice is the bi-monthly brainstorming breakfast run by Brian Leaning-Mizen of Mind Synergy at the Inter City Motel.

Click on the names of the networking groups to link to their web sites for more information.

Networking will help you to build your business, but it will also develop your network of contacts to help you to help your clients, which is never a bad idea.