What Are Your Thoughts On Networking Groups?

snciwz8

Aside from the relationship and networking opportunities, does belonging to these type of networking groups work? I understand it'll work for some and not others. but I'd like some kind of input. I going to a BNI meeting today and am curious how others feel about networking groups.

richard123

are you talking about advertising you brand on one of these??

woodmagman

soci kkk

SLSTech

It really depends on the makeup of the group, what you are looking for & have to offer

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rbsremodeling

Every successful person I know networks. It is the most effective marketing you can do Point blank.

Choosing what, who and how you network(s) is the hard part. But it is a must to become truly successful.

Not sure about groups like BNI and such but there are many means of networking with groups that are free or cost very little

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electricohio

I used to belong to BNI a few years back. I did meet many great people, the problem I had with the group was that everyone expected a price break on everything. As part of our group it was expected that you cut your price for other members. I had a hard time doing that. I only would do it for friends and family. I felt alot of people were in the group just to see what kind of deal they could get. Some would try and beat you up on price then still shop the price around. In an organization like that were it was expected that you will get a deal I felt that I should expect to get the job.
I didn't feel it was worth the time and headach

Matt

silvertree

I network like a Banshee, and I enjoy it. BNI did not work for me, but I have plenty of places to spread the fun. Did not advertise last year and got by on only networking. For 2009 it will be networking and website with some local homeshows. It helps if you like being around people. I also volunteer in my community, and although I don't look for work when I do this I have gotten leads from community involvement.

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SethHoldren

I like to network in groups that don't attract many (or any) of my peers or competitors.

The homebuilder's association is great. But if you had to choose where to spend time, wouldn't you rather meet a bunch of new people who aren't either selling to contractors, or contractors themselves?

Maybe joins a realtors' group, or join the chamber and go to meetings with a networking plan.

I like Meetup.com, but then in my area there are plenty of good business meet-ups to choose from. One Meetup.com group I'm in is the best networking group I've ever found. I haven't met a competitor yet! And I've yet to start going to the "non-business" groups in my town. Those will probably be chock full of potential clients.

Just find some group on a topic you're passionate about, and show up. Then stick it out, and you'll meet some prospects, or at least get referred.

I'm not super extroverted, in reality. But I "suit up" and go give 'em hell. It works.

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SLSTech

Dude - if your going to tell a story, you might want to know who you are talking about or at least read his title - MARKETING TO / FOR CONTRACTORS
No go back to bed before I have to tell your mommy your up

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Max Nomad

Like Sean with SLS said, it really does depend on the makeup of the group. Admittedly, I've never been to a networking function as a contractor, but in a past life I've gone to just over a dozen of them that were general-purpose mixers. In short, this is what I got out of it:

• People tried to get me to buy (or sell) cheap long distance.
• People tried to get me to buy (or sell) Pre-Paid Legal.
• People tried to get me to join Quixtar (Amway).
• Someone tried to sell me ad space in a local newspaper/magazine/cable show.
• There were entrepreneurs with homemade business cards that "owned" a bunch of different unrelated businesses -- and wanted to talk to me about all of them.
• There were one or two con artists looking for marks. Often they would gravitate toward the entrepreneurs. Nuff said.
• Occasionally there were "suits" who had brought along at least one attractive woman. By the way they interacted with one another it was easy to tell they were just co-workers. NOTE: after awhile there was a good chance that you'd hear these women from anywhere in the room because they had become the center of attention within a circle of men that were feeding them glass after glass of Chardonnay.
• Before the end of the evening I would have met over half a dozen people that either sold cars, insurance, real estate or some kind of financial services.
• And last but not least, the amount of cold sales calls and junk mail I started receiving a few days later always seemed to be directly proportional to the number of business cards I had given out.

On the bright side, at each event there were finger foods and the bars tended to be well-stocked for a cash-n-carry kind of scene.

Networking? Yeah... what a concept. Let me know how it goes.

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BuiltByMAC

61 posts in a day? Do you really feel you have that much to offer this forum? I can understand being eager to jump in and make yourself known but holy crap, dude, that's a lotta freakin' pixels...

I give you another day before people start hitting Ignore en masse...the third person thing was cute for about a second.

Regarding your comment on HBAs, they vary throughout the country. Generalizing isn't very helpful. The HBA here is exactly a networking resource - mine kept me ultra busy for all of '06 and '07. Don't know about business related knowledge, I get mine here and from magazine and internet articles, not from the HBA. It's good for providing a voice for contractors in gov't affairs - bills, resolutions, city fees, etc.

To the OP, I've been in a BNI group since early this year. I have yet to get a project from it. On the flip side, I haven't given a lot of referrals to the other members either. In my specific line of work (building decks solo), I don't have a lot of interaction with people so I'm not often in a position to pass along names...
I can see BNI working well for certain types of businesses, others...not so much. It also depends on the dynamic of the group you join. If there are multiple groups in your area, visit them all. See which one gives off the right "vibe."

Networking is just another weapon in the arsenal of gaining clients. It works well for some, not for others.

Mac

daArch

Not sure if this includes trade groups like PDCA and NGPP, but I know they work very well for both education and networking.

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CF Construction

Excuse my ignorance but what is a BNI group?

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SLSTech

Here you go - way to find local chapter & links for who & what
http://www.bni.com/Default.aspx?tabid=66

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woodmagman

[quote=[COLOR=black]the riff raff.[/COLOR]

mark the coach

Here is a post from thread on 10/9/08
They work if you find the right one and you are committed.
Before coaching, I was a design/build salesperson and below I share what it did for me.

Networking groups
Referral Groups

There are many types of networking groups. The most popular is BNI(Business Network International). You can also find groups at Chamber of Commerces, Toastmasters, Lions Clubs and many more.
These groups can be very productive producing referrals if you follow the basic principals of networking. A well known concept called giver's gain is a philosophy that will treat you well if you beleive in it and use it.
The philosophy is all about giving before you receive. The price and effort paid is well worth it.
When I first learned about networking groups I studied the successful networkers. I realized that if worked hard, I could generate great referral opportunities. It sure beat cold calling or yellow page leads. Learned that people who know, like and trust you will give you better consideration. So joined a BNI group and asked a veteran networker what was the best way to become successful and followed his advice. He said the best way to get alot of referrals was to give more referrals, help the group by joining the leadership team and help others get what they want first. So in a six year BNI career was president twice, vice president twice and membership team once. Also joined a commerce chamber group worked it real hard, passed tons of referrals and helped as many people as time allowed. Went to business after hours, breakfast meetings, business expos and any major event time would allow. When I walked in the door of a networking event I shed all thoughts of what I could get and focused on helping others get introduced to other networkers.
It is important that you visit a group before you join and find out if it is a group of givers or takers. If they are takers don't waste your time. Also you want to be in a group that is run like a business where there is committment to each other.
There are three basic tenets to a good group. If the members follow them the group does well.

1. Show up at the meeting on time and prepared.
2. Have one outside one on one with a member of the group weekly. Either lunch or coffee.
3. Pass one referral every week.
Keep track of your time in the group to make sure you are effective.

Results; from October 2006 to October 2007 from two groups
400 hours attending meetings, one on ones and networking events.
Referrals received and sold in that year was $1,030,000 in business. House tear down and rebuild, three kitchens, several baths, remodeling jobs, new roofs. It was great to be referred. For every hour spent networking I generated 2500.00 in business. Net income well over $100,000.

Total networking business over 6 years over 1.5 million. It was well worth the time invested.
Networking is like farming, first you must plant the seeds, tend to them, water them, let the sun shine on them, and if you have tended them well you reap the harvest. You must put in the time and effort to develop realtionships because people will only refer those who they know like and trust.

mark the coach

OGStilts

Very interesting Mark...thanks for sharing

javatom

The key to getting business from one of these groups is to be genuinly interested in helping them grow their businesses. Turn in leads and it will reciprocate. I have had mixed results with the group I'm in.

Publisher1

I think Mark and Seth have got this quite right, and will add some observations.

Association based networking is our primary source of sales leads. Since we sell adverising to people in the construction industry, not surprisingly we spend a lot of time and resources on construction-related associations. Even more clearly, we spend really major energies at SMPS -- The Society for Marketing Professional Services. (This is a real association name misnomer, as it should be the "Society for Architectural, Engineering and Construction Marketing...)

In some cases, the relevant associations make sense for you. If you are a subtrade or supplier, joining the local home builders association can make a lot of sense -- especially if the culture within the association is like the ones in Canada: "Be a member -- do business with a member". Here, they really live by that word -- you will get your foot in the door by joining.

But your biggest reward will come from associations and networking where your current and potential customers are -- and you can find the relevant associations by asking your clients for information on which ones are important to them. Schools, hospitals, public works, roads, everyone has relevant associations reflecting their interests. In the residential market, you have community and homeowners associations -- I can't think of anything smarter to support than these grassroots groups (in neighbourhoods with demographics matching your market interest.)

Then you need to put your selfish immediate needs aside and focus on long range relationships. If you go there expecting to 'sell' you will fail, if you go expecting to contribute and support, you will win. Engage the association with the your interests, activities, and skills. Example from SMPS: When I got involved there were no chapters operating within my Canadian market areas. Didn't matter, I focused on my natural talents -- writing -- and soon found myself on the editorial board of the association newsletter. (Resulting in great opportunities for high level networking). Did I see any business here? No, and I didn't care.

Then we were ready to re-open our publication in the metro Washington D.C. area, and suddenly all the association contacts and relationships started working. One key person preoffered a couple of very good referrals, and more are on the way. Our business is off to a great start. But I wouldn't get there if I didn't follow two rules: Focusing on the interests of the ohters within the association and, doing what I enjoy while engaging this focus.

So, get involved with associations relevant to your clients, and do stuff your eally like doing within these associations, and work for the long run. This is not the quick fix solution to marketing (in a crisis, you might need to go door to door canvassing) but is your long range cure for the recession. (The home builders association, in the height of the 1990s recession, offered me a contract to produce their internal newsletter. We are still producing it 18 years later -- and it is a money-maker!)

Ed the Roofer

Keep the organization lists coming guys.

This thread has some great and inexpensive ideas.

Ed

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