pegleg31 Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Today I've been invited to join a "network group" consisting of about 20 people of all professions all meeting up once a week to try and promote each other's business and generate more business. There's a subscription fee a annual fee and a monthly fee. What I was wondering is if anyone else does a similar thing and does it work?. It sounds great but all good salesmen make their product sound good, do you think it's legit or a con? Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Hi Russ, I don't know of any builder who does this kind of thing, I would think advertising should be the only thing you should pay for. sounds a bit suspect to me, but i'm happy to be proved wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Surely you can do lots of Social Networking for FREE ? Things like Linked In, Facebook groups, Your own web site/page, Google ads etc etc etc Round Table (age restricted) Rotary group(s) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegleg31 Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Funny thing is the job I'm on the guy who im working for is a graphic designer and web designer he's part of it and he's had a builder there opening up a chimney who's also in it and reckons he gets a load of work from it. The only thing is they only allow one member to be from anyone back ground so I couldn't join as a general builder and they want me to join as a joiner which is my trade up I'm fed up with it. Surely you can do lots of Social Networking for FREE ? Things like Linked In, Facebook groups, Your own web site/page, Google ads etc etc etc Round Table (age restricted) Rotary group(s) The three I've met so far are all in there forties, a builder, a graphic designer and an insurance loss adjuster It sounds to good to be true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 how much money are we talking here? can you afford to write it off if it doesn't pan out? and whose pocket does this money end up in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 on the other hand, if this lot are on the up and up it could well be the making of you, they could give some genuine good feed back and act as references to your work, there are loads of shysters on sites like fb, one chap I had the pleasure of working with once got me the boot and took photos of my work to pass off as his own on "my space" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fielddweller Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Today I've been invited to join a "network group" consisting of about 20 people of all professions all meeting up once a week to try and promote each other's business and generate more business. There's a subscription fee a annual fee and a monthly fee. What I was wondering is if anyone else does a similar thing and does it work?. It sounds great but all good salesmen make their product sound good, do you think it's legit or a con? Russ Went along to meeting last year and I don't think its a con,consists of many trades,skills,sellers,lawyers all sorts.My pal who invited me is a plumber and has done very well out of it,it was not for me as I like to TRY to keep my work very very local. Atb Fielddweller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie092 Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Hi Russ. Was it the BNI? I and my girlfriend are both members of a couple of chapters down in Kent and we really rate it. Yes, you have to pay a fee every year, yes, you put a lot of time and effort into it but it now equates to about 40% of our business and we have only been members for 6 months. (Graphic designers) Am happy to pm my phone number if you want to chat in more detail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegleg31 Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Yeah Richie it's BNI. Out of interest what do you charge to design a logo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie092 Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 lol, a very topical question. We charge £200. It really is worth giving it a try in my opinion. It's a slow starter but after 3 or 4 months you will be right into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegleg31 Posted February 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 So when you say you have to put a lot of work into it what do you mean?. They told me they meet once a week or it could of been a month, have a breakfast and promote each other?. Is this how it works?. PM me if you like. Russ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pegasus bridge Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 I went to a bni intro meeting on behalf of a largish business and to be honest it was a waste of time, it takes a large amount of time up per week (2 hrs) , which IMHO time could be better spent. They did a bit where 4 members each took a few minutes to say a bit, and then list the companies they wanted to get into. Afterwards I asked one of the guys what he'd done to try and get in to this company before and he said nothing ! His entire effort was attending the meeting and hoping someone could just open a door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richie092 Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 As has just been said above, as well as the weekly meeting I would estimate another 2 hours a week on top for one to one's with fellow members and the free training courses they send you on. You kind of get out what you put in. I know it sounds corny but if you are self employed and you don't have the maximum amount of work that you can handle then you should give some serious thought to joining. The best thing to do would be go as a guest for 2 or 3 weeks and see for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Who gets the cash ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andypaint Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 Sounds a bit like the freemasons, could be very costly when a fellow is on hard times and your asked to donate, and virtually impossible to get out of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted February 25, 2015 Report Share Posted February 25, 2015 In a previous firm I was forced to go to some BNI meetings - absolute waste of time, it was stacked full of sales people all selling and no one even remotely interested in buying. If you want to be sold a website, a phone system, a photocopier then go mad and knock yourself out. In all seriousness any construction based trade willing to travel wants to get themselves down to the South East. All the local trades are in such demand the prices have gone mental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psyxologos Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Today I've been invited to join a "network group" consisting of about 20 people of all professions all meeting up once a week to try and promote each other's business and generate more business. There's a subscription fee a annual fee and a monthly fee. What I was wondering is if anyone else does a similar thing and does it work?. It sounds great but all good salesmen make their product sound good, do you think it's legit or a con? Russ It can work well. If you have one in your area, look for the 'Ethical Small Traders Association'. It is free to join and the whole point is to help each other by pointing people their direction. Simple really. Say you are a painter and decorator and someone asks for a roofer, you send them to one of your Ethical Small Traders Association buddies. Likewise, a car mechanic sends trade your way etc. Google it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabhui Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 My wife runs her own business and a couple of years back attended BNI meetings for possibly close to a year. It ate into her time a lot and nothing of benefit ever came from being a member of the group. For her it was a complete waste of time and money but for you it could be completely different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pheasant Feeder Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 I was invited to attend a few years ago, I enjoyed the breakfast, and was invited to join but in all honesty I was too busy to find the time to attend. 7 am I was usually busy getting my employees briefed on their work for the day. The industry I was in (specialist contractor to the construction industry) I got more work by working with suppliers reps, and having a guy in the office who could sell snow to Eskimo's Perhaps my business was too specialised to be of everday interest to others in the chapter, but I felt it was a group for people who couldn't sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuji Shooter Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 I went to a local meet after I got invited by someone. All the people there seemed a bit desperate and gullible to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet dodger Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 I went to three or four meetings but it didnt really work for me. Its a system of refererals, other members were simply looking for what I could bring to the table. The group was desperate for new members. Dont forget BNI is a multi national business itself and wants to get lots of new members to boost its revenue. As already said , try it for a couple of weeks and see if it suits you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
100milesaway Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 (edited) This was a very popular sales aid 15 years ago, again it had the breakfast theme, so in effect a couple of hours per week. During breakfast the assembled group distributed the leads they had picked up that week and then all the members had a couple of minutes to introduce themselves to new members. I took on a temporary membership of a month to see if it was workable for my company. ( I was an independent travel agency) My company was highly respected with a turnover of a million £'s a year.but.It was a complete waste of time as I didn't get one single booking from it as everyone booked on the web. I think it depends on your type of business. from Auntie. Edited February 26, 2015 by 100milesaway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 A friend is a member and has been for quite a while, and he swears by it. By nature its success or failure depends on the members and their commitment to the scheme, this in turn is/should be governed by the organiser. So I think it's worth giving it a go, if you hit on a good group it may work out for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 I was in a BNI group or groups for 9 years and whilst it could work very well for a smaller business or a one-man-band sort of thing, it wasn't where my job was taking me so I left. Still get work from contacts I made during that time. You only got out what you could put in, and it only works when you know like & trust the others in the group to do a good job for people you refer them to. When it became impossible to refer to people in the group because I simply didn't know anyone who needed the good ones and wouldn't let the indifferent ones anywhere near anyone I liked, it was time to go. It's not about selling to those in the room. It is about enabling and motivating them to refer people they meet to you. I find it more effective to refer to people who I already know like & trust & who feel the same about my firm, and to make an effort to stay in touch with them & keep them happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 I've been a guest at a few. To be honest if you sell a product that could be useful to a person in BOTH their personal life and professional capacity (such as an energy switcheroo company) then I can see the point as you have a potential double hit for each person present. If you're an accountant specialising in one-man bands and you're the only one in the 'chapter' then OK, I see the point, but if you're serious B2B then I'm not so sure. I find networking takes a back seat as soon as you're making money anyway. But as has been said, each to their own. BNI particularly seemed a bit cultish, like one of those 80's Amway conferences. Some of the people there had a funny look in their eyes. I didn't like it. You pays your money etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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