meetup

I'm an avid member of Meetup.com because it's a great way to find out about events related to your industry or field of interest. So far my foray has been pretty fruitful, and I've come across many interesting people on my meetups. If you're a job hunter, meetups are a great way to network, so definitely try to see if there are any near you that are worth going to. Here are my tips for a successful meetup:

• Organizer: Look up the organizer online, view her meetup profile, and see what her track record is like. Check out her LinkedIn profile or her website bio to see if she's legit. Sometimes you can end up going to an event that's a waste of time, so be sure to check her out to see if it's really worth your while.
• Attendees: You can tell a lot about the event by the participants. Take the time to look at their profiles and their backgrounds to see if these are people you are interested in meeting.
• Business Cards: Always bring your business cards and remember to ask for the other person's business card as well. It's a great tool for networking, and will make you more memorable. It's also easier on you if you're bad with names — a sneak peek at the card is a great reminder.
• Good Questions: Remember to have a few good questions and even key topics in mind before you approach someone. This is so you don't end up drawing a blank after introducing yourself. If possible, try to prepare a couple before the event.

For more tips on great networking, read on.

Some of us like to work out with buddies, and some prefer the solitary approach, but we all can appreciate how our fitness goals connect us to others on a similar workout mission. Finding a group of like-minded exercise buffs can be a great way to meet new people while also motivating yourself. My friend recently finished grad school and moved to a new city, and while she loves her town and her new career, moving to a place where you don't know anyone can be a little intimidating. She decided to join a rock climbing group on Meetup, a social website that aims to gather people with similar interests into groups that meet every few weeks.

Meetup has many fitness-related activities to choose from in any given city, like hiking, team sports, or kayaking, so it makes it easy to find the perfect exercise group to join. When choosing a group, think about your social and fitness goals. Joining a yoga group is great if you want to step up your knowledge of poses, but may not be the best place to socialize. Or if you know you aren't into competitive sports but still want to find a group that encourages communication, try a dance or hiking group. Either way, you may come out of the experience with a new friend or two, or maybe a roster of workout buddies to keep you on track!

Have you ever used Meetup or another exercise group to find friends with similar fitness goals?

Source: Flickr User 29cm