Do You Meetup?

I was introduced to Meetup.com a couple years ago because I was searching for a way to connect to other businesses. There are all kinds of networking and business referral groups, such as Business Networking International.

Instead, I was looking for a way to connect with businesses that had a common interest in online marketing.

I found a local meetup group in Pleasanton that was just what I was looking for. I later took over the group when the previous leader stepped down (East Bay Internet Marketing for Businesses). My group now has about 200 people in it, and holds regular monthly meetings.

Meetup is a terrific place to meet all kinds of people. I've attended meetups in Santa Cruz, Menlo Park, Oakland, San Francisco and other locations, and met some terrific business contacts — people with whom I communicate through social media such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Meetup isn't necessarily just for business, though. Doing a quick search in Livermore, I found a sampling of meetups (there are more, too):

Business

• Webify Business Club Tri-Valley

Health

• Livermore Work from Home Walking Hiking Group
• Beth Mid's Livermore Fitness Boot Camp

Family

• Meeting on the Spectrum (For families with autistic children)
• Lez Tri-Valley Moms
• Tri-Valley Singles

Special Interest

• Livermore Movie Buffs
• The Livermore French Language Meetup Group
• Livermore Iron Horses
• The Bay Area Short Film Makers Coalition

I spoke with Ann, who started the "Lez Tri-Valley Moms" group a couple years ago. She and her domestic partner, Beverley, have two small children. After moving to the area from Canada, they wanted to get together with other gay moms to do kid's stuff.

"I almost gave up, but finally, after a year, we now have a pretty consistent group that comes each time," she said.

There are about 20 couples in the group and a half dozen couples attend most gatherings. They like to meet at local parks, the aquatic center, or other local kid-friendly places. Next month, the group is going to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek, which I remember when I was a kid.

Want To Start Your Own Meetup?

Do you have a business or hobby and want to meet other people with like interests? Meetup charges a small fee to the owners of the groups. Some groups will pass that along to their members or to cover the cost of the place they meet.

My meetup for instance, meets at a restaurant. We have food available, but I want people to come even if they don't eat. So my policy is that if you eat, you pay. If you don't eat, it's free. If you bring a new friend to the meetup, you both eat free.

I recommend that you meet on a consistent basis and stick to the schedule. Connect to people through Facebook and other online sites to publicize the meetup, encourage others to attend and interact.

Keep at it, and you'll soon have a group of enthusiastic people in your own meetup.

The fun part? You'll meet all kinds of new people along the way who have the same interests as you.