What Networking Group? Part 1

As you may have guessed from a few of my posts, i'm a big fan of networking. I think all small businesses should give it a try. It's helps you get to know other businesses in the area that may not necessarily come to directly. Also other businesses that know you and can refer your name on to their contacts is always a bonus for you.

So, it's your first time networking and you've heard folks talking about a few different groups, which one do you try? Well here's an unbiased, sales pitch free opinion on 2 of the more well known breakfast group in Falkirk.

BNI - Business Networking International
The groups meets weekly and the format is the same every week.
Starts at 6.30am for 7am.
Breakfast is served at 7.
Once breakfast is finished everyone get's 60 seconds to introduce themselves, their business and tell the group if they are looking for any specific introductions, leads or any other relevant information.
A member of the group will then do a 10 minute presentation about their business.
Then they go round the group and each person get's to give 'positive' in put about what they have done in the last week ie. 1-2-1's, they also get to pass referrals, and tell the group of any business that has taken place and to what value it was.
After this they close the meeting and you can stay and chat while things close down or head of to work.
Meeting finishes 8.30am sharp.

Membership is a about £500/£600 a year + £100 joining fee + VAT.
Breakfast fees are about £30 a month.
You need to go to a training session when you join to be able to do your 10 minutes presentation.

Other things about the meetings;
If you are sick or are going to miss a meeting you are required to get a substitute to stand in for you, if you have more than 6 (this might be wrong) absences in any 6 month period, with no sub then you may get removed from the group.
You will be the only person in your group from your industry, but there may be folks that join who go under another sector that may over lap what you do, ie graphic designer joins and there's a printing company that offers graphic design services, the printer will not be allowed to talk about the graphic design side of their business.
Meetings are very formal and are run to strict timings.
Meeting your group every week allows you to form very good relationships with the members, this allows you to promote each others businesses to the fullest potential and make solid contacts with in the group.
You can attend other BNI meetings but if there is someone there in the same industry as you, you will not be allowed to promote your business.

My thoughts on BNI
I like it in general. My first year in business for myself I joined BNI and it worked very well for me. I didn't need to do any other advertising and it got me off to a good start. I liked most of the folks in the group and the ones i got on with best, we still do business and refer business to each other, even though i am no longer a member. Going to the meetings every week gave me confidence about how to pitch my business with in 60 seconds to the group, this has been a very valuable tool to have learned. In the end the renewal was a lot of money to pay in one lump sum and I felt I wanted to try something else. I don't like the strict nature of being part of the group, for the money you pay there is on give or take. If you can't make it due to business commitments then that should be up to you, I became self employed to have a bit of flexibility about my working day and this did not fit in to that. I believe each group will be different and have a different atmosphere, but it is very dependant on the other members of the group.

Next post is about 4Networking.