BNI Networking

rino1494

I was recently invited to attend a business networking meeting. What it is, is a organization comprised of local businesses in various fields. They meet every week to pass around referrals for each other. Once they let your trade in, they will not allow any of your competitors in. Therefore, I have a group of around 40 people that will refer our company to others. I highly suggest looking into this and attending one of their meetings.

http://www.bni.com/

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dakzaag

Yea it sounds good til they tell you that they meet every wed at noon and you can only miss two meetings a year.

How can you lose the heart of the day once a week. My luck is it won't rain on Wed. for the next decade.

The gal recruiting me last year is now begging me to be a sub for her so she can get away. Its a trap and you have to knaw your leg off to get out.

Just my humble opinion. If you live and die by daily referalls and need a new stream of customers weekly this is your game. I just can't see going every week. Plus its in a town 25 minutes away and I go other directions all the time. Maybe it is just a bad fit for me.

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D K & Sons
The maintenance schedule for brick
1. Stand back and say "man that looks nice!"
2. Repeat as often as needed.

GregS

I just joined one. It will take some getting used to. Meetings for mine are Wednesday mornings at 6:45am. It takes me almost an hour to get there.

There are a lot of rules, but apparently they are geared towards getting results. I'd figure I would try it for a while and see how it works out.

You can also go as a visitor a couple of times and as a substitute for another member for as many times as you want.

rino1494

Our meetings are Thursdays at 7:00 AM. My mother is my substitute. It is worth a shot. If it doesn't work out, then I'll get out.

__________________
Life is hard. It is harder when you are stupid

Uncle Sam wants YOU....to speak ENGLISH

dakzaag

The group I looked at you had to attend, or someone in the company more than an employee. Ie. partner, active spouse or similar capacity. I didn't get the impression that my mom would work, not that it was an option so...

You could get a sub who could be anyone with a business but I think there was a limit to how many subs a quarter or year or something like that. Like I said, the $500 membership fee, plus taking time out of the best part of my day in a location that I don't always frequent added up to no sale for me.

Might wish I had, I still can but not tempted at the moment.

It has helped me look to advertise in different ways. Whenever I see business cards laying out or posted on a bulletin board, I take names and numbers of someone who might need my services. I send them some info via email with web site, and introduction. Cheap and simple, my basic business model.

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D K & Sons
The maintenance schedule for brick
1. Stand back and say "man that looks nice!"
2. Repeat as often as needed.

Greg Di

Unless there are other people you can DIRECTLY network with (ie, builders, plumbers, tradespeople) forget it.

You will waste your money. How often does your average dopey homeowner need an excavator. Take a typical street in a typical neighborhood and think about how sparse it is to see an excavator working frequently.

You are in a niche trade and TRUST ME, your time and money will be wasted in one of these groups. You will get bullshlt referrals if you are lucky because the other members will feel obligated to throw things your way BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO.

I was a member for a long time and it was OK, but I am not in a niche trade like you are.

Join your local NAHB chapter and go to the meetings. You'll be better off.

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ProWallGuy

I wholeheartedly agree with the above. First off, I work out-of-town a lot. I generally don't have or know of anyone who could substitute for me. The annual fee wasn't a deal-breaker, as I think it goes towards the renting on the meeting room and the breakfast they have.

My biggest problem was that most of the other professionals were not even close to my trade. I can't see any of my customers asking me if I know of a good mortgage broker or dentist. I got 3 leads the first time I was a visitor, and they were all dead ends. Like Greg said, these people will throw you leads, not because they are good qualified leads, but because they feel obligated to.

It could work for some, but I didn't see it working for me. I have been toying with an idea about setting up my own referral network, but only having people in the construction type trades. I DO get a lot of customers asking if I know a good drywaller, or plumber. The hard part would be finding quality tradesmen to join in. Don't want to be referring just anyone. But this whole idea is for another thread.

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dakzaag

Now that is what I am thinking about also. Been sending out feelers to anyone and everyone that could use a brickie.

__________________
D K & Sons
The maintenance schedule for brick
1. Stand back and say "man that looks nice!"
2. Repeat as often as needed.

ebeye

The concept is great but implementing it is not as simple as it seems. I will look into it because it is worth it even if you only get one lead out of it.

tnmtn

i am in a bni group. we meet every wednesday morning early. i do have to schedule around it but it hasn't been a problem so far. i am also a member of the local nahb. also involved with 2 committees and go to meetings. i have gotten more jobs through bni than the nahb membership. we have a builder in the bni group but so far no work from him. i have been refered jobs by a realtor in the group. all of the bni jobs have been small but better than nothing. the nahb membership has been more time consuming, same expense, and less results for me. i will probably not rejoin either group after this year.
good luck,