Is the BNI worth the time, effort and expense?

[BusyVids]

Are there any BNI members on this forum? I keep getting invitations to come along to one of their bleary eyed, droopy tailed, early breakfast meetups. Is this organisation all they are cracked up to be? Would I get tons of referrals like they say I would? Is the world really round? I need answers please...

 

[Faevilangel]

BNI is old school and dying imho, you have the following rules:

- Need to pass 3 leads to other members, each meeting
- Need to be at every meeting (if you can't make it, you need a sub)
- You are only ever allowed to visit your own group.

If you don't do the above, they will and do kick members out, plus there is only one member from any industry in each group e.g. one web designer, one plumber etc.

BNI has it's benefits as it's early enough to catch the service businesses.

I am a member of an alternative group called 4Networking which breaks the BNI rules into small pieces e.g.

- No mandatory referrals, pass leads when you want
- Turn up for any meeting, any time (they have 300 groups across the UK and Australia)
- 8am start
- more than one person per industry (I get a lot of my work from other webby's so works well for me)

I personally like the freedom of going when I want, to how many I want (4N has meetings, lunches and evenings, so you could potentially do 15 meetings a week), I also get to network with other webby's, who pass me work they can't or don't want to do.

It's down to choice but BNI is like being at school in my opinion.

 

[Steve Sellers]

BNI works similar to a pyramid scheme in my opinion.

The fact that they will invite anyone in, without knowing anything about them, kind of sums them up. They just want to get your membership money.

Expect people to now comment on how good the BNI are. There is a good chance those people are saying so because they have vested interested (bni chapters are run as franchises), or they are still under the BNI sales patter.

 

[garyk]

It *is* a pyramid scheme simple as Steve, chapters pass money to areas who pass money to regions who pass money to countries who pass it to mr misner.

It can and does work for alot of businesses but has flaws.

Gary

 

[businessfunding]

Are there any BNI members on this forum? I keep getting invitations to come along to one of their bleary eyed, droopy tailed, early breakfast meetups. Is this organisation all they are cracked up to be? Would I get tons of referrals like they say I would? Is the world really round? I need answers please...

BNI has its merits, but you need to decide whether their way works for you.

They rely on quite strict disciplines (apparently some members have even been reprimanded for not wearing ties) which works for some but not for others.

there are several spin-of organisaions such as BOB, BRE BRX etc which relax the protocols slightly.

There are also numerous organisations, both membership-based or otherwise - do a search under 'business networking' in your area.

To call it a pyramid scheme is patently nonsense - find out what it costs then, compare it with other groups and decide whether that is how you want to spend your budget.

 

[Talay]

I can't imagine the reception some old codger would get if he tried to reprimand me for not having my tie pin straight enough some winter morning with -10c on the barometer whilst still dark with hours to go until sunlight some winter morning when I should really be back in bed.

As to it not being a pyramid scheme then I wouldn't know how else to describe some pyramidal structure with member passing money up a chain of command where the supreme wizard grand poobah gets most of the dosh for doing very little.

Is it a kindergarden for wannabee masons ?

 

[roydmoorian]

Is the BNI worth the time, effort and expense?

No.

 

[businessfunding]

I can't imagine the reception some old codger would get if he tried to reprimand me for not having my tie pin straight enough some winter morning with -10c on the barometer whilst still dark with hours to go until sunlight some winter morning when I should really be back in bed.

As to it not being a pyramid scheme then I wouldn't know how else to describe some pyramidal structure with member passing money up a chain of command where the supreme wizard grand poobah gets most of the dosh for doing very little.

Is it a kindergarden for wannabee masons ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme

A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves promising participants payment or services, primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, rather than supplying any real investment or sale of products or services to the public.[1][2]

 

[DavidWH]

I'm in my second year in BNI...

It does have it's flaws. I get work from it, but I'm not gaining a growing client base. I'm not 'tapping' into other members customer bases.

It brings me enough money in, but I've not compared it to other marketing techniques, and will be trying the direct mail route this year to see if I can create a greater return on my spend.

 

[Talay]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme

A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves promising participants payment or services, primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, rather than supplying any real investment or sale of products or services to the public.[1][2]

I didn't say ponzi.

 

[S-Marketing]

Networking events are fundamentally flawed from a marketing perspective. Anyone who finds networking events to be a good idea for their business is doing their marketing wrong.

 

[Jim2k]

Can you elaborate Stretchy?

 

[Mitchells Bristol]

Networking events are fundamentally flawed from a marketing perspective. Anyone who finds networking events to be a good idea for their business is doing their marketing wrong.

A sweeping generalisation, which I would completely disagree with. Networking is crucial in my industry (accountancy) to build relationships with:

a) the local community; and
b) intermediary work referrers (solicitors, bank managers, IFAs)

I would say that at least 20% of my new business comes through the above intermediaries, most of which have been met through local networking events and relationships developed from there. They also tend to be the best quality referrals.

Having said that, I have twice given BNI a chance with a few taster sessions and decided the cost of membership (more in time commitment that physically cash outlay) would outweigh any benefit. The only cross-referral of work in the sessions I attended seemed to be between creative types (i.e. graphic designers to web developers to sign writers).

But just because BNI is not for me - that does not translate to "all networking events" being a bad idea for my business.

 

[Steve Sellers]

A sweeping generalisation, which I would completely disagree with. Networking is crucial in my industry (accountancy) to build relationships with:

He said networking events, not networking. There is a big difference imo.

 

[S-Marketing]

He said networking events, not networking. There is a big difference imo.

Exactly.

Networking is a fantastic way to set up your marketing for exponential growth.

Networking events, however, are a great way to waste your valuable time talking to a bunch of wallys. Time that if concentrated elsewhere, would bring you far better results.

 

[businessfunding]

Networking Networking events can add value in a number of ways - and I always recommend that start-ups attend some and potentially commit to one or 2.

I agree that they will typically sit on the edge of a marketing strategy, but they can be valuable sources of information, contacts and, frankly, an excuse to get out of the office.

Most of all, they are a soft introduction to selling for those who fear contact.

 

[Steve Sellers]

Networking events, however, are a great way to waste your valuable time talking to a bunch of wallys. Time that if concentrated elsewhere, would bring you far better results.

That's exactly how I think. I view it with real derision. It's just a bunch of 'desperates' scrabbling around for leads and trying to sell to each other. Why can't people realise "networking" is about building relationships with people in a natural way. Oh I know why, because the people who peddle "networking events" are in it for the money.....

 

[S-Marketing]

Networking Networking events can add value in a number of ways - and I always recommend that start-ups attend some and potentially commit to one or 2.

I agree that they will typically sit on the edge of a marketing strategy, but they can be valuable sources of information, contacts and, frankly, an excuse to get out of the office.

Most of all, they are a soft introduction to selling for those who fear contact.

Actually yes, I do agree with that. If you are new to business, or are of a nervous disposition, attending a few networking events may be a great way to dip your toe in the water as it were. I know a few members on this forum (Faevilangel in particular) who have used networking to help build confidence.

Apart from that though, I completely agree with Steve. There are much better people to network with, than the majority of those who attend events.

 

[Storage King]

Networking has always been a vital part of our business development.

We have visited a couple of BNI meeting and could see lots of business being passed around, and in particular the tradesmen were doing extremely well.

However there was huge pressure to join, and I believe membership was around £600 yr.

As with a lot of things in life, it may be a case of 'you get out of it what you put in'

We eventually chose not to join because we could not commit to the regular attendance.

 

[CKG]

I was coerced into attending a handful of networking events once. A friend set up his own event so I offered my support and got sucked into various other networks - I even subbed for someone at a BNI.

It's just a bunch of 'desperates' scrabbling around for leads and trying to sell to each other.

a great way to waste your valuable time talking to a bunch of wallys

I think these comments sum up my whole networking experience pretty well. Plenty of useful people to get to know no doubt. But the whole episode just made my skin crawl.

It was like being circled by sharks and a little bit incestuous.

 

[DotNetWebs]

I was coerced into attending a handful of networking events once...

...It was like being circled by sharks and a little bit incestuous.

I had pretty much the same experience. There are only so many Utility Warehouse reps you can be polite to in one night.

I much prefer to network 'organically'.

Regards

Dotty

 

[S-Marketing]

I had pretty much the same experience. There are only so many Utility Warehouse reps you can be polite to in one night.

I much prefer to network 'organically'.

Regards

Dotty

Organic networking, that describes it perfectly.

As opposed to false, genetically modified networking where you need to use vast amounts of 'pesticide' to survive.