4 Networking

[Uzair Kharawala]

Anyone here member of http://www.4networking.biz/ It looks really good and thinking of joining it. Any pros or cons would be appreciated.

Thanks
Oz

 

[Faevilangel]

Hi Oz

I have been a member of 4N for 3 years now after being recommended by a member here and I love it.

It's main purpose for me was to get out of the house and meet people but in reality it's totally changed my business (I won't go into specifics here).

It's a national joined up network, instead of joining one group / chapter you join every group in the UK (340 at last check) and you can go to as many as you want, so you can do 3 a day, 5 days a a week (breakfast, lunch and evening).

There is no rules that you have to turn up (I can go weeks without going to a meeting because of work commitments).

It's £200 to join for 6 months (if you join on your first / second meeting - you have 3 free meetings to go along too if you would like) and then £12/£15 per meeting for the food / venue hire (depending on type).

If you're thinking about joining, you can use my referral link here which means I get 1 months free membership if you join up.

Once you're a member you can do this as well, invite colleagues and clients and if they sign up you get your free month. One member in the network has recommended 27 people so he won't pay any membership fees for more than 2 years.

Have a look at the forums as well as they are pretty good for finding people in your area so you can get to know people (virtually) before meeting them at the meeting.

Any questions on 4N feel free to ask away, I can't recommend 4N enough as it totally changed me and my business and enables me to work anywhere in the country, I have been to groups over 300 miles away when going to meet clients.

Regards

 

[faradaykeynes]

Yes it is good though i am only online member for it, went few time to morning breakfast

 

[businessfunding]

If local networking is your strategy I would say it at the top of the list - A good blend of structure and informality

As s has been said, its not just about drumming up business - which can take a while - it can be a good source of advice and a chance to mix with business minded people

 

[No Missed Calls]

We joined 4N in November 2013 after we met them at The Business Show, London.

We were exhibiting opposite them and there was a real buzz on their stand.... Great guys.

Attended quite a few meetings already and got some clients and made great contacts/connections. Everyone is really friendly and supportive.

One of my colleagues has now become a group leader.

I would say take the plunge and give it a go

 

[APOS Recruitment]

Would you say they are industry specific? I'm setting up a recruitment agency specialising in Accountancy, Payroll and Secretarial staff. There are a few meetings close-ish to me and was pondering if to go or not?
Cheers

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

Thinking of joining but there is no where to see who is in the group we want to join.

 

[Printing Deals]

I have been their member for quite a while now. It's really good for local networking, specially in my line of business its very important to see local businesses in kind of informal way.

Every member attending pays tenner towards breakfast and booking charge and networking starts fairly early, last I attended it was 7am in the morning.

Ahsan

 

[businessfunding]

Thinking of joining but there is no where to see who is in the group we want to join.

Turn up to a couple of local groups - call first it will just cost you the price of a breakfast

@JamesC27 no, they aren't industry specific and they don't operate lock out. What are you hoping to achieve?

 

[matt.chatterley]

Anyone here member of http://www.4networking.biz/ It looks really good and thinking of joining it. Any pros or cons would be appreciated.

As with all these things, I think it depends on what you are expecting from it - and also who you want to meet. We went to a 4N meeting and a few other similar things locally and found that they weren't really for us as the sort of 'clients' we want to meet just weren't there, but on the other hand, I've recommended them to others in different industries (or targetting different groups).

They can be good for making contacts beyond simply immediate clients, too. It's a valid form of networking which typically pays off in the end if you keep your goals in mind - give it a go, worth the cost of breakfast to try!

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

I know we can just go along, but they could just as easily publish it on their website.

 

[webgeek]

Have always done well with joining civic organisations and by simply leading by example (think Rotary, Optimist, Scouts) as well as any religious, hobby and similar groups.

When you build a networking group for the purpose of networking, you're pushing an obviously contrived atmosphere whose sole goal is the meeting for financial gain of other people.

When you join a group with a purpose (often to help others), whereby networking comes secondary, you have a chance to give first, share, get to know, then decide if you would want to do business with any of the others.

FYI, most of those companies attending networking events, much like LION's on LinkedIn, can be connected with via LinkedIn, Twitter, G+ for free

 

[Faevilangel]

I know we can just go along, but they could just as easily publish it on their website.

4N doesn't work like that, members aren't tied to a specific group as they can visit anyone they want, there is a list of members on the website but it doesn't tell you which group they go to but does tell you where they are based.

At the end of the day, it's not about who is in the meeting, it's who they know, most of my business through 4N comes through referrals and not for work directly in the room e.g. Tom the accountant recommends me to his clients when they need a website.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Like all these sort of groups, you've got to understand two things:

1/ Join the group/chapter that will benefit your business. While 4N is not industry specific and don't operate lock-outs, you may find one group has become very industry-specific purely because of the members they have. For example, I did belong to BNI but our local Chapter became very centred around the building/construction industry (there was a planner, architect, surveyor, builder, CDM coordinator, ground surveyor, etc.) and they would pass a lot of work between themselves. The rest of us (an accountant, printer, solicitor, mortgage advisor, translation service, virtual office, etc.) got very little.

2/ You (should) get out what you put in. People will refer to you if you refer to them. However, going back to 1/, you need to be in a group that you can refer business to and who will refer business back. There was a solicitor in the BNI Chapter, and she was red hot at handing out "qualified referrals", some weeks up to 7 or 8. Yet, she was lucky if she got a referral back in 2 or 3 months. Unsurprisingly, she left after a year.

Sadly, you will get those who will pass what appear to be referrals but when you follow them up, the person they've given you the details of was possibly only "thinking about" using a service like yours - and didn't know you'd be calling.

 

[FirstClassVirtualOffice]

Yes we have done BNI, had same experience as you Ashley.

I just wanted to get a feel for who the regulars were in a particular group, as we have been before, so there is always a regular core of members and then the passporters (less of those than the regulars), and a couple or so new visitors. Just wanted to know who the core regulars were.

I did really well at my BNI and brought the most new visitors to my BNI group in my 12 month membership. But like you say, not so much is given back to those that do the more than everyone else. Should add, this wasn't for the virtual office business, as it's too niche a service to warrant paying the BNI fees.

 

[Emma Fryer]

My 2p's worth.....

All networking groups are as good as their members and it has to be understood that Networking can be a very slow burn approach.
If you are going in to sell to the entire group, networking will just not work for you.
I recommend attending and testing out the groups, getting a feel for the members and the types of business as well as how they do business.

Enjoy it.

 

[APOS Recruitment]

I'm ultimately looking to join to make more contacts with people who may need staff for the areas I recruit within or can refer me to companies that could require my services in the future.
To also understand a bit more about sales techniques and business in general.

 

[10032012]

As with all these things, I think it depends on what you are expecting from it - and also who you want to meet. We went to a 4N meeting and a few other similar things locally and found that they weren't really for us as the sort of 'clients' we want to meet just weren't there, but on the other hand, I've recommended them to others in different industries (or targetting different groups).

They can be good for making contacts beyond simply immediate clients, too. It's a valid form of networking which typically pays off in the end if you keep your goals in mind - give it a go, worth the cost of breakfast to try!

I have had this problem before, but networking isn't about hard sales or necessarily direct relationship building. People know people. Family, friends, business contacts, work colleagues etc.

It is tricky to gauge whether its better to meet people at networking events who are directly beneficial or take time at networking events hoping that indirect participants can bring something to the table.

The worst indirect participants are newbies who never been networking before (or often) and despite being able to build up contacts outside of face-2-face networking, they generally have nothing to bring to the table. Those who regularly go networking are typically more useful. Even if in wrong industry etc

Apart from obvious uncomfortable body language, you don't really know this until you talk to them, which is what networking is all about.

PARTICIPANT
Family - their parents, brothers/sisters, their children, distant family, husband/wife
Friends - best friends, friends, friend of a friend, acquaintances, girlfriend/boyfriend
Professional - work colleagues, employees, business partners, contacts

No one is that open with networking, I generally find that if you are honest, respect others, are confident and enthusiastic people will open up more; otherwise everything is private. Helps if you give a lot away too (has to be honest, people can smell lies a mile off) but be careful what you give away.

Notice all those people branching off that one individual? it goes further, what about that persons husband's/wife's employer? brother/sisters other half? friends work colleague? etc.

The right indirect participant is better than a direct beneficial (excuse my technical terms btw) who isn't interested. Sometimes in networking, you just need to get your name and business known out there. Just not for the wrong reasons.

 

[eosdesign]

Just starting my business and never before been to any networking event. Just joined the page with free membership to check it. Do you think is worth to spend £200 on membership to try it?

 

[Paul Norman]

You can visit 4N up to 3 times, should you so wish, before you commit to buying membership. Different networking groups suit different people, but, of course, you could use your 3 visits to attend 3 different groups.

 

[Paul Baldwin]

I've been a 4N member for 5 years and one of my account execs goes too.
What I like about it is that there is no pressure to bring referrals, guests or even turn up!
Although for me this is a great positive it does mean that it can take a few months for you to get a decent return from it and to receive the much sought after "through the room" referrals....

 

[Geoff T]

Networking is - with doubt - the most cost effective way to get quality business referrals... we ALL do it - even without thinking about it... how many reliable people have you heard about in the pub for instance?

the organizations out there to do this "networking" thing though all differ in their approach, but the key to finding how it can work for YOU OP is to go along and decide for yourself... don't ever be moved by others for your business, because no-one knows your business (how it works, its plans, and how it will go forward) better than you...

so no matter what group it is... go along, try for yourself, and see if it "fits" with your business plans...just go - take it from there...

HTH

 

[HazelC]

My 2p's worth.....

All networking groups are as good as their members and it has to be understood that Networking can be a very slow burn approach.
If you are going in to sell to the entire group, networking will just not work for you.
I recommend attending and testing out the groups, getting a feel for the members and the types of business as well as how they do business.

Enjoy it.

I could not have worded it better myself!

Pop along to a BforB, 4N and BNI and see which suits you best - they are all reasonably similar in attendees (although claim to be nothing alike). But Emma is right - only as good as their members.
I have been going to Link4Growth coffee morning and drink evenings £3 a month for membership and it's working really well for me!

I recommend that you try loads of local networking and see how you get on - networking should be fun so find a group you like!