From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Networking Group (TNG) has been around since 2010, but membership has doubled over the past 10 years. The group consists of members from various industries working together to drive local business.
Josh Wooten, the social media chair for TNG said those involved learn about different products and services offered in and around the city of Trussville.
“All the members get together and try to get to know each other and know the businesses that they have so they can refer those businesses,” Wooten said.
The group strives to grow those local businesses by sharing information from business leaders with community stakeholders.
Melissa Keck, president of Trussville Networking Group said referrals from the group are trusted by all members of the group.
“It’s building each other up and putting value in referrals and having a good name inside this community,” Keck said. “Your referrals are a reflection of your word and your ability to follow through.”
Keck said referrals have been helpful in getting local businesses through the coronavirus pandemic.
“We saw a huge hit on small businesses but we were still in the background referring and building each other up and finding new ways to support each other,” Keck said. “That’s what this group is really made for.”
TNG meets the first Thursday of every month and hosts events throughout the year although, during the coronavirus pandemic, plans have changed for the group frequently.
During meetings, participants are able to talk about their trade and share the latest information about their business.
“We also have guests that are allowed to come and speak and kind of push their business to just kind of make everybody aware of what’s available in and around Trussville,” Wooten said.
Keck said the group also promotes education.
“So, one of the things that is really important to us is kind of knowledge-sharing on how to use social media in the best possible way, in order to promote each other,” said Keck.
In order to join TNG, you must first attend two meetings and submit an application. TNG only allows one representative from each industry.
“So, say a dentist got on there and saw we had a dentist, they could still come to the meetings and still submit an application and it would stay on file,” Wooten explained. “They couldn’t fill that position until that dentist decided to leave or didn’t live up to their portion of the meetings and then they could be voted on at that time.”
Members of the community can go to the TNG website for information on trusted services and products.
“If you’re looking at buying something on Amazon, you look at the reviews and those are reviews that have purchased and used that product,” Wooten said. “So, when you take that and kind of really grind it down to the lowest level, if you’re looking for a referral in Trussville, you’re going to want to see the reviews.”
Membership is $75 a year.
To contact TNG or view members, check out its Facebook page or website.
