BNI - does it work?

[Ed]

I've been approached to join this business referral network. Costs a fair bit to join - but probably less than a few ads in the local rag. Is anyone on the org a member, and if so does it work?

Ed

[Peter Henry]

They spread their wings far and wide that is for sure. I have 2 chapters trying to get me along to their meetings at the moment here in Spain. People who are members sing it's praise but not altogether sure how they have reached that decision.

It would appear that they select one particular company,in any given field as the named person for any chapter.

I am sure none of that helps but that is all I have. :?

[_Stretchie_]

Lets set up our own.... (maybe this could be a stickied thread with an appropriate subject name)

I work for the NHS as an IT trainer, at the moment I am in Weston General Hospital training staff on using the new system that is being put in for the patient records and clinical stuff.... Anyone linked to this in anyway???


Stretchie

[Ed]

They spread their wings far and wide that is for sure. I have 2 chapters trying to get me along to their meetings at the moment here in Spain. People who are members sing it's praise but not altogether sure how they have reached that decision.

It would appear that they select one particular company,in any given field as the named person for any chapter.

I am sure none of that helps but that is all I have. :?

I went along to a meeting this morning - 6.45!!!! and it all seemed quite impressive. The members were all committed - seemed positively messianic about it - but it's not that cheap. The previous lawyers in the chapter dropped out, so there's a vacancy - I suspect the previous lot went because they didn't get any work and the member mix I met would probably resist their fees anyway. Hmmm.

[Demonz]

If you are targeting via local advertising then i would say it probably would. I went along to check it out last year after being invited along. None of it fits with our target market so I didnt take it up but it was still worth a look to see what this network marketing stuff was about. if I was a new local business I would do it for sure.

At our local BNI there is no restrictions on types of businesses joining as it is very much word of mouth based on your service standards etc so individual businesses get out what they put in. If the new business gets a better reputation then they get the referrals and you can build it up from there.

From what I can see it would take a while to build up the reputation and then it must be maintained by attending the weekly meetings to pass and recieve referrals etc.