What Networking Group? Part 2

Continuing looking at the networking groups available in the Falkirk area, this post is for 4Networking. So let's get to it.

4Networking

The groups meets fortnightly and the format is the same every week.

Starts at 7.30am for 8am.

Breakfast is served at 8.

During breakfast there is the 40 second slot, going round the room you get 40 seconds to introduce yourself, say what 4Networking has done for you or announce any other bit of information you have.

Coffee break and you arrange 3 1-2-1 meetings for after the 10 minute speaking slot.

The 10 minute 4Sight slot is used to give an insight into a specialised area, it is not to be a sales pitch but give the member of the group something valuable to walk away with.

Finally there is the 1-2-1's. Each person get's to have 3 10 minute 1-2-1's with someone else in the group that they want introduced to or to reacquaint themselves with. (It's kind of like speed dating).

Meeting finishes 10am sharp.

Membership is a about £400 a year + VAT.

Breakfast fees are about £10 a meeting.

There are a few options for membership deals for your first meeting that, and a loyalty payment scheme which allows you to pay gradually.

Other things about the meetings;

You can go as often as you wish to your group with out having to get a stand in if you can't make it.

There is no exclusion for people in the same field, so everyone can come to the group.

You can attend any of the UK wide groups.

There is the option of going to 4 meetings a week if you are a passport member.

Non passport membership is cheaper.

My thoughts on 4Networking

I like the relaxed feel about the meetings, they are kept to strict timing but you don't notice this. The flexibility to miss a meeting if something comes up makes things stress free because you're not having to find a substitute at the last minute.

BNI or 4Networking?

I have found a lot of people from these groups generally attend both meetings or have tried one or the other. It's down to preference and what works best for you. BNI requires a heavy commitment but the returns can be rewarding if you are able to put a lot of referals through the group, as this gives you credibility in the group. 4Networking is a more mellow place to meet and is a good place to go for someone that may be starting out.

BNI's weekly meetings mean you get to know people in the group quickly and you get business return just as quick. 4Networking you really need to work at getting to people as they may not go to every fortnightly meeting and you may not get the chance to meet them every meeting. Business return could be slow due to this as people want to know that they can trust you and you them. So I would recommend making an extra special effort to get to know the group and don't try to hard sell.

So which is it, BNI or 4Networking? Well for me at this moment I'm going with 4Networking because I want the flexibility that it gives me. I miss the weekly business I would get from the BNI but I feel I'm getting my name known which in the long run is more important.

I'll let you know in 6 months how I feel about them and if my thoughts have changed, but i recommend you try both to see which suits you. Each group welcomes visitors although you are limited by how many times you can go before you need to become a member, but it's worth looking in to which suits, and be wary for anyone that tries to give you a sales pitch about the meetings, if it's not for you then there are plenty of fish in the sea.