Networking groups (eg BNI) - are they any good?

[BobK]

Hi,

I've decided I need to get out more and was thinking of joining a local networking group such as BNI. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience of them or any other similar organisations, and whether they're all they're cracked up to be.

The BNI meetings start at 6:45am on Friday mornings which, being an owl rather than a lark, will be torture for me. But if that's what it takes....

Cheers,

Bob.

 

[barringtonfreight]

BNI can be a bit serious and pressurised.

I belonged to an independent networking group and I got a few referrals. You can never know too many people. If you are going to try it you must give it time. Remember that you arent selling to the people round the table but you are educating them so they can spot opportunities with their contacts / clients for you.

I think that if your business had general appeal it can really work (by general appeal I mean the type of business that everyone uses like accountant, solicitor, printer etc)

 

[Julies bookkeeping]

I joined my local bni a few weeks ago, still new but for others it has worked, there are a few referrals being passed around every week.

I think you need to go for a while before the benefit kicks in as most will want to get to know you 1st, (this is what I am hoping).

As well as the networking I am hoping it will help me with my marketing in general, I am useless at it, you get a minute each week and I never know what to say, I have it in my head then when it is my turn I go blank, I am dreading the 10 mins presentation. I do enjoy the meetings and watching others give their speeches certainly helps me.

Most chapters will let you go for a couple of weeks to get an idea I would suggest you try it.

 

[Minuteman Press]

Much more effective marketing tool than BNI and the like. Word of mouth and client recommendation are by far the best. As is leafleting and web marketing.

I have an ethical issue with being required to recommend the services of individuals who I have never hired; not to mention having to pay for the pleasure of doing so.

Think hard before you get involved in these diversions. Unless you wish to meet therapists or people who 'introduce people to people for a small fee'.

 

[Deleted member 27344]

With BNI you need to attend every week or you get kicked out. Considering how much it costs I think I should attend when I can, not when they say.

 

[Minuteman Press]

I have received several projects from meetings where I have attended as a guest. In each case the client was literally scared that full members of the group would find out - explaining that they were obliged to go with less competent and vastly more expensive members (even though a members discount had been applied).

Membership fee, attendance fee, overpriced products.

Tempting?

 

[garyk]

Think hard before you get involved in these diversions. Unless you wish to meet therapists or people who 'introduce people to people for a small fee'.

Completely agree and that is the biggest downfall. OK so if someone provides poor service to another member in the group its doubtful they would get much more work but there is always that first time. The fact that you can only have 1 person from each trade is no guarantee of quality at all.

On the other hand its very successful for many people and some swear by it for getting new business. I always say to people go as a visitor and get to know people, offer to be a sub (to cover them when they are on holiday etc) and you can get a good feel for your local BNI without actually joining.

The only other point I would raise is that there is alot of pressure to give referrals which can mean the quality of those referrals is poor.

Gary

 

[Findermonkey]

I went to a BNI meeting as a guest. I didn't really enjoy the experience and the fact that you HAD to attend was just weird surely thats my choice!? Apparently not, it really wasn't for me and I could think of lots of other ways to get business in. The members seemed quite pushy and generally speaking, a bit weird! Almost desperate for me to join. Got a nice breakfast out of it though!

 

[HSLS]

I wouldn't join BNI, as I can't go every week. We have a Business Club in Lincoln, which is good, with no pressure to attend regularly, although it obviously to your benefit if you do. There are also some informal networking organisations around.
I was also told to go to as many business link type events/ breakfast meetings etc as possible (anything that's free!) as there is always the occasion to swap business cards and talk to people.
If you have a look at your local chamber of commerce and business link, they will have a list of events near you.

 

[BobK]

Thanks for all the replies! Your comments are all very helpful and tend to confirm my suspicions. It doesn't sound like BNI is the thing for me but I'll probably go along as a guest just for the experience.

I've begun to realise that my marketing strategy needs a kick-start and so I'm trying to look at the options. Marketing is not my strong point! I'm sure there are already lots of posts on the forum covering the efficacy of different methods so I'll do a search, but would be very interested to hear what works for you, if you haven't already mentioned it above.

I definitely feel I need to get out and meet more people rather than staring at my pc all day, as most of my work so far has come through personal contact and referrals from existing clients.

Bob.

 

[CKG]

I too found the members 'a bit weird' when I went as a guest. I'm a bit too no nonsense for things like that.

Though I don't deny it's a great thing to get into if your that way inclined.

 

[barringtonfreight]

I have a friend who is Sales Director for a Factoring company, he gets 70% of his business through referrals on the networking circuit. He does breaksfasts, lunches and some evenings. Like many things, you get out what you put in. He is quite extrovert and doesnt think twice about introducing himself to people. I am a little more reserved and find the BNI's especially a bit cheesey.

 

[Original]

I wouldn't join BNI, as I can't go every week. We have a Business Club in Lincoln, which is good, with no pressure to attend regularly, although it obviously to your benefit if you do. There are also some informal networking organisations around.
I was also told to go to as many business link type events/ breakfast meetings etc as possible (anything that's free!) as there is always the occasion to swap business cards and talk to people.
If you have a look at your local chamber of commerce and business link, they will have a list of events near you.

Which is the one in Lincoln?

 

[HSLS]

Which is the one in Lincoln?

http://www.lincolnbusinessclub.co.uk/

 

[gingerdad]

Just to put a positive note on this, I was a member of BNI for 2 years when I worked for printers.

You don't have to recommend anyone’s service you wouldn't use, but I found it a great way to sell add-ons to my product range and mainly referred to the Sign writer, Web Design, Web hosting, T-shirt Printing, CD Printing, Marketing Company and not a number of the others.

We managed to secure some great contract by getting into certain clients through the side door.

3 years later it still work with a number of the people I met during my time with BNI.

But it is about putting the time in, getting to know the other members seeing their service. Not just about random referring to people you don't know.

And it was for the company I worked for far more effective than leafleting and other methods, but we did these as well.

But it is all about the members, who they are and what they can bring, if the group is allot of one man bands that are newish start ups it won't work as well.

We had a good mix of sme's most of whom where already established.

Why am I not a member now? The customer base for what we do is fairly limited and we already deal with or speak to most of them. I’m sure I could get plenty of referrals but not so sure I would get many back.

But as I said, I still refer business to a number of the people I met at BNI.

We were a small printer turning over 280-300k per year; at least 10% was generated from BNI, leading to some very good long term business not just the first referral.

I cost us about 1k per year for about 28-30k return I think that is fairly good.

But it won’t work for every business and works better if there are lots of complementary businesses there

 

[BobK]

Since posting my original question back in May (doesn't time fly!) I've been to a few free Business Link seminars and also some Chambers of Commerce events and would highly recommend both.

 

[Original]

We have been an SME for over 10 years so do not need new business briefings. We don't provide business to business as we are retail so are not interested in business card swapping. However, it can be really useful to socialise with like minded individuals and it is amazing how much useful business information you can swap.

The Business Link run fantastic courses and breakfast briefings. However, we recently moved from Leicester (where we had great contacts) to Lincoln (feeling a bit lost!).

So thanks to HSLS - may take you up on a visit!