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This past weekend I attended the Meetup202 Los Angeles event which was organized by Jasper Pangilinan and the guys at Tracking202, and hosted by Eleah Portillo and Shanti Beaurline of AKMG. According to the Meetup LA page, there were about 25 or so people expected, but the turn-out was probably closer to about 40 or more. I like attending Meetup2o2 events for the sake of meeting like-minded people and expanding my network, so here is my short list of 7 important reasons you should attend a Meetup202 event in your area:

Find Resources You Otherwise Would Never Meet

One great thing about networking events is, even if you check out the Meetup202 page thoroughly before the party begins, you never really know who will show up. You might expect to meet only affiliate marketers, but you may find yourself meeting web designers, programmers, product developers, and club promoters, all of which I’ve met at these events. The point is, some of these people may become a great resource to you for future projects, promotions and advertising campaigns, and vice versa.

Create Trust with Your Affiliate Managers and Advertisers

I’ve met with affiliate managers and account reps from some of the larger companies that work closely with affiliate marketers and networks. Making the effort to attend networking events like the Meetup202 shows that you’re willing to put in a minimal amount of effort (a few hours every month or two) to show face and meet these companies in person. It means a lot to foster relationships in person, so make sure to put yourself out there and make your presence known.

Take Advantage of Free Networking Opportunities

An event like this does not require you to register for a $500-$1000 marketing conference, book a flight to Las Vegas, and reserve a hotel room in proximity to your conference center. Take advantage of the fact that these events can be very similar to attending some of the larger conferences, only in your home town, and a lot less expensive. Sometimes, they may only cost you the price of a couple gallons of gas.

Get Ideas

Most of the people who I’ve met have very similar personalities — they want to work independently, and they’re motivated. Being around a group of 40 like-minded internet hustlers definitely can create a lot of motivation. If you’re feeling the funk of not making the money you think you should be, attending a Meetup202 event might help give you some ideas. Even if it’s just someone mentioning a vertical you’ve never thought of before. It can spark a whole chain of thoughts you hadn’t expected.

Learn from the Pros

This weekend’s meetup was different than the past few that I’ve been to. Jasper did a great job of organizing two speakers. Ryan Pamplin of Ryactive and Alex Tsatkin of Tracking202 gave short presentations, much like you would see at the sessions at ASW. Ryan went over how his company operates successfully using a group sharing approach to affiliate marketing. Alex’s presentation attacked how to succeed using Facebook ads. Each had a follow-up Q&A, and I would recommend other Meetup202 organizers to have speakers if / when possible since many of the LA attendees got a lot out of it.

Make New Friends

Let’s face it, it’s not like you can walk into a bar and start up a conversation with, “Hey, so how about that Google slap?” You’d probably get a “F*** you” or a drink thrown at you at the seemingly-intimate inquiry. But it is something you could ask comfortably to a total stranger at the Meetup202 events…and they would get you. Making friends who have similar interests in internet marketing, who live in your area, is extremely valuable. The internet can be a lonely place. Why not make real-life friends, who you can hang out with in real life, and talk about internet stuff with in person? You’d be surprised how alike many of the people are, if you’ve never been to a Meetup202 before.

Become a Local Celebrity

You just never know what might come out of attending these events. Being knowledgeable in a highly targeted niche could gain you some popularity. So why should you care if you become popular in a local meetup group? Well, remember that the Meetup202 event in particular was founded by the guys at Tracking202. They have their finger on the pulse of pretty much everything hot in the affiliate marketing space. That means that you have their attention if you speak at an event or somehow provide value to the members. Creating a name for yourself through this local channel can help your business grow on a larger scale!

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Check out these related articles:

• Snapshot of Meetup202 Los Angeles July 2009
• Internet Marketing Related Jobs Are Still on the Rise
• Networking: LA Style, and Beyond
• My Epiphany About Networking: Revisited