local small business referral group

[Canon 69]

So I went to a couple meetings of a small business referral group. Im not sure what I was expecting, but....i was SO friggin bored. Nothing there applied to me, or my business. Alot of reading from a book, talking about things that dont concern me. And theres a fee to join. Only $100. for a year, but i think thats money I could spend on say..advertising? I really need to look into getting a yellow page ad, seems to be working for others. Anyone else belong to some kind of community small business group?

 

[Drea]

I joined one in the spring. It took a while to get started but in the past few weeks I've gotten several new clients from the group. What really helped was actually getting the other members on my table. When they realized what I was all about, they started referring people like crazy.

In out group we have a mobile dry cleaner, a realtor, a mortgage broker, a florist, an insurance agent, a photographer, a baker, a hair salon, a landscaper, a Mary Kay rep, a financial planner, a web designer, a life and business coach and a naturopath (I'm sure I'm forgetting some). There's a huge variety of people but we all seem to mesh together pretty well. I have a friend who joined one in a different town and had no success with it at all. So I really think it depends on the group you find.

 

[Ashley Ireland]

BNI

You are correct, the group makes a difference. It also makes a difference the personality of the person in the MT shoes. I have heard from one female MT in BNI that gets a lot of biz from her group. I don't get much if any from mine. I've had a few of them on the table, some of them on the chair...but still not many referrals. They say it takes a year to make the relationships and trust, I've been in this group 9+months. Jan 1, they better shower me with referrals! J/K...

It could be up to you to liven up the group. Don't rule it out, unless you are already a good networker. Most MT's are not.

 

[Beautifully Broken]

I have looked into many refferal groups, and the top things that turn me off is #1 the cost #2 the strict rule #3 the early meeting (7am is ungodly, people!)
The best bargain I have found is my local chamber of commerce, they have the largest mix of people, a large vartiety of events, mixers, and socials. Also, its the best bang for the buck. For me, it was $30 to join and $230 a year, but the deduct $19 a month from my checking, and the free food and great advertising they do for me more than covers that $19. Plus they know everything about small business and the office staff is great!
Another great thing is small free marketing groups that other business owners have started. They usually limit it to 1 business per caeforum.xxxory, but I have yet to run into another MT in these. I know of 2 in my area, but the time frames don't work for me, so I am starting my own. Many of my clients have thier own small business (I found them through the chamber of commerce).

 

[Morgan]

thats a very good idea, thank you! i had thought a while back about getting involved w/ the commerce, maybe i need to get off my arse & do it! :}

 

[Dreamer :)]

BNI

You are correct, the group makes a difference. It also makes a difference the personality of the person in the MT shoes. I have heard from one female MT in BNI that gets a lot of biz from her group. I don't get much if any from mine. I've had a few of them on the table, some of them on the chair...but still not many referrals. They say it takes a year to make the relationships and trust, I've been in this group 9+months. Jan 1, they better shower me with referrals! J/K...

It could be up to you to liven up the group. Don't rule it out, unless you are already a good networker. Most MT's are not.

Hey StressSolutions.... how's it going? Any showers yet?

 

[Sami]

Hey stresssolutions,

How goes BNI??

 

[Cherry Blossom Tree]

How did I miss Tex's reply? Hmmmmm

No, no showers yet. BNI biz kinda comes and goes. I occasionally get some biz from being located in another member's building, a person will come in and wind up as a referral.

I gave a stack of the "give to get" cards to a couple 3 of the members that have been good clients so they could pass them out...a realtor, mortgage, and the insurance lady. So far the insurance lady has stirred up some interest. The Plumber sponsered the local baseball team with flush 'em out innings, so he bought 10 half hour GCs to give there.

A lot of the guys don't want another hairy guy rubbing on them for an hour, so they're out. Funny though, the plumber is one, but he's given his wife a gc and bought those others, so he's trying. The electrician is another, but one of his employees bought a gc for his wife. She never used it, but............

Guess I've been down lately, have not done much if any networking other than going to the meetings and chamber events.

 

[red-rose]

Mick,

How do you pay for BNI?? All in one lump?? Monthly? I also heard members all share in the cost of the meeting place every week plus food. I would expect some extra charges, besides, its a biz expence. Do they accept credit cards?

There is a new chapter forming in my area. When I went to look at that building again yesterday, the insurance agent next door told me about it. I was a bit excited about it because I had heard such good things about BNI.

Some of the bad points I have heard about BNI have been such things like: it is to expencive and they keep nickel and diming members and other members arent doing their job of refering clients to other members.

I think part of the problem with not getting members to refer may be that other members do not know how to market other businesses besides there own. Have you offered steep discounts to your BNI group just to get them in your door to experience massage? Because you know how that goes! After they get a massage they tell everyone!

 

[Enma Ai]

here is my input about bni. i didn't like it. it's very political ~ boo...

also, you've really got to be in the right group. what's the right group you ask? good luck finding it. you'll know once you've attended enough meetings. of course by that point, you'll learn you're in the wrong group but already paid your money so you're stuck.

the way i see bni is different than others. i don't want people giving me referrals because they HAVE to, i want them giving me referrals because they WANT to. that's the thing. bni members, if you're lucky, will come to visit you and may give you an occasional referral because they feel like they should. but know what happens when they're or you're not in that group anymore? ~ no more business and no more referrals. i don't want to do business with people like this. that's the main reason i didn't like it. it's a relationship that lasts as long as your membership and that's if you have one at all with those in your group.

people are in bni to GET business, not to GIVE it. sure you may get some business from it but it's a lot of money and a lot of time that i feel isn't well spent.

 

[Stef Von B]

I belong to a breakfast networking group that is great to belong to and yes, 7am is awfully early. I get some good referrals but we have a lot of fun anyway. They are a nice group of people and it is pleasant to get together with other people who are also in business for themselves.

Also, we have a lawyer, a moreforum.xxxe broker, a realtor and a tax accountant among the membership, so guess who I can turn to for free advice?!

Our group is $100 for the first year, then $25 for renewal, and breakfast only costs about $6.00 (Canadian) a week.

I find it is worth it.

Here is a link to the group's website. (We also have a web designer!) I think a good website is really important.

http://businessbyreferral.ca/

Often, in a group like this, they want to see if you are going to refer to THEM before they atart referring to you. I offer trial massages (or myo-fascial release) and that really got the ball rolling.

I think BNI is very expensive, and has a lot of rules and restrictions. There are alternatives.

Marion

 

[isl247]

Well, you have to pay the initial fee at first, and they do take c/c. There will be a weekly fee, usually paid monthly or quarterly. Ours is lunch, and it is $10/week. (Lousy lunch). There is a required training, now $15. Once per year for that, usually, unless you miss more than 3 meetings in a 6 month period, then the class will deduct an absense.

I offer 20% discount to Bni members and family. It is a far greater discount than any other bni member offers in my chapter. Most don't offer anything.

 

[shefali b]

wowzers.. i guess you're right, you do have to be in the right group.

i finally stumbled on one that i decided to go ahead and join. i can tell you that even if i don't get another referral (the ones i've gotten in 2 weeks have already paid for my membership), i have learned so much about networking and expressing myself. i guess i lucked out.

i'm not sure about all of the rules yet - haven't had the chance to look over them, etc, but i thought i'd give it a shot for a year, especially since i'm expanding this month and i really want to get some new clients in.

i do some of the chamber events too, but again i've gotten more of a response from the BNI group than from the chamber people i've met so far. but i feel that in time that will pay off too. it's all about your intention, i think. if you have the time and energy to *work* it, it will work.. i just hope i can keep the energy up! and 7am is the only time that i really have , well, actually it's 7:45, but still i wouldn't be able to fit it in elsewhere.

anyway, just my very fresh experience..
amanda

 

[Guido McInsideYou]

I joined the "West Valley Business Connections". It costs $60 a year. I think it has been great for my business. And, I have used several services of the other businesses in the group. Everyone so far has been really nice and I feel like i've even made a few new friends. So, it has been a positive experience for me.

 

[anwen55]

I joined my local BNI yesterday. Yes, it is a commitment, but I think I can handle it. Plus, it is lunch, which I do anyway, this way it is a tax deduction. We are in the forming seforum.xxxe right now, so we need to get more members. We should have our official kick off within 6 to 8 weeks, that will draw in more members as well.

 

[Merry]

hey, christine, how's your BNI experience going?

i'm still very happy with my membership. still getting (and giving) referrals, the members really helped and backed me during my grand opening, and tuesday is my first 10 minute presentation.

in fact, i've gotten a business coach thru my group and he's helping me so much.

i'm so glad i got a good group. they've really helped me take my business to another level. anxious to hear how yours is working out.
amanda

 

[fishmoo]

hey, christine, how's your BNI experience going?

Yeah, that...

Slow. We are not a full fledged group yet. Still in the "core" seforum.xxxe. We are still required to attend weekly, and it is starting to wear on a lot of us in the group. We are trying hard to get new members at the same time another group is. Our group would be the 2nd in this area. The first group is a year old. Our director said we may just start attending every other week because she can tell we are getting a bit burned out.