BNI - Anyone use them?

[seabro]

Hi,

I have been invited to a BNI Meeting.

Business Networking International. (www.bni-europe.com)

The meetings are every Friday morning at 06.45 and last till 08.30

As I understand it, you meet every week and do some chatting before breakfast is served. Then you get 60 seconds to pitch to the others. The others are business owners, currently there are 20 but it can rise to max of 40. There can only be one representative from each type of business. Business cards get passed around so everyone leaves with upto 40 business cards. I was told they currently do not have a IT Services supplier so they need one. Each week during the course of your business you try to recommend the others and the others (upto) 40 people try to recommend you.

You have to turn up to the meetings.. or else. You also have to try to recruit for them. Until 40 is reached. Occassionaly they have a bring someone day and you need to bring someone.

It costs £400 to join. (A year or 6 months not sure). The feedback on the web seems to be 'try it it might work for you'.

I haven't heard anything really bad about it, anyone here have any experience.

I am thinking of going as a guest a few times - then I can make up my mind.

Comments appreciated.

[Richard Glynn]

Hi Sean,

I've been to a couple of these meetings as a freebie.

I think you'll enjoy it. They are almost evangelical - depending on the kind of person who chairs it.

But I have some reservations.

The ungodly hour you need to get there for (but PR people only ever wake up in time to 'do lunch' anyway - right?!)

As a member you are under pressure to deliver leads for other members. This can be a great money-making arrangement. But be aware that it is isn't always reciprocated.

Look at the other members and see if they're in the kind of businesses with contacts who might realistically deliver you business. But remember you're under pressure to give not just take!

And if I personally give advice or a recommendation, it's because I genuinely believe in it. If you're duty-bound to recommend the printer in your BNI chapter - even though you know there's a better one just round the corner - then I think this reflects badly on the person offering the advice. So it can compromise your opinions.

I think BNI works - but it depends on the kind of person you are. It might work for you. Personally I'd invest the money into marketing my own business without compromise!

But do check it out. I've always left each meeting feeling focussed and ready for anything! It's a good gee up. Praise be to the God of making money! Halleiluah!

PS I think smart people could form allegiances like this without having to pay BNI fees. This way you can cherry pick who you 'join forces' with. A bit more work - but possibly more fulfilling.

[VeryMark]

BNI works for our business, even though we are pretty specialised. In my experience, IT firms that can help most businesses usually do fairly well in referrals.

Go as a visitor, also visit more than one chapter if you can (the mix of people can make a difference), and then make a decision.

[seabro]

Thanks guys, some quality info.

Amen

[Bizgifts]

IT companies always do well at the BNI groups my business attends and also others we visit.

I'm quite surprised that a BNI group with a membership of 20 doesn't have that profession covered already. Go for it, you have nothing to lose.

BNI membership brings in a substantial amount of new business in for me, so much so that we will be joining a 3rd BNI group in January.

Also I must point out that never has there been pressure to produce referals at any BNI group that I have attended and I think is a common misconception.

Mark