Comments on: Planning Your Local Networking Activities http://organizedassistant.com/2009/06/04/planning-your-local-networking-activities/ Virtual Partner to Your Organizing Business Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:02:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Janet Barclay http://organizedassistant.com/2009/06/04/planning-your-local-networking-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-4689 Janet Barclay Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:00:28 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=335#comment-4689 I do like the sound of that, Curt. I find that "referral networks" work well for the types of businesses that anyone can use, such as florists, but aren't so great for more specialized services. I do like the sound of that, Curt. I find that “referral networks” work well for the types of businesses that anyone can use, such as florists, but aren’t so great for more specialized services.
Read Janet Barclay’s post: It’s a New Year – Time to Fire Up Your Business!

]]> By: Curt Kowalski http://organizedassistant.com/2009/06/04/planning-your-local-networking-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-4688 Curt Kowalski Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:26:42 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=335#comment-4688 relationships are built through <a href="http://www.teamnetwork.com" rel="nofollow">networking and groups</a> like Team Network whose concept is "networking business with pleasure" builds those relationships faster since there is no forced referrals required at their meetings relationships are built through networking and groups like Team Network whose concept is “networking business with pleasure” builds those relationships faster since there is no forced referrals required at their meetings

]]> By: Janet Barclay http://organizedassistant.com/2009/06/04/planning-your-local-networking-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-83 Janet Barclay Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:25:42 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=335#comment-83 Elinor, thanks so much for sharing this information about BNI. I've met many people who, like yourself, have experienced great success with this group, as well as a few that didn't find it a right fit. Since your results will depend in part on the other members, I recommend attending as a guest before making a commitment to join a BNI chapter or any other networking group, to ensure that it will be a good fit for you and your business. .-= Janet Barclay´s last blog ..<a href="http://organizing-business.com/2009/06/22/getting-to-know-you/" rel="nofollow">Getting to Know You…</a> =-. Elinor, thanks so much for sharing this information about BNI. I’ve met many people who, like yourself, have experienced great success with this group, as well as a few that didn’t find it a right fit.

Since your results will depend in part on the other members, I recommend attending as a guest before making a commitment to join a BNI chapter or any other networking group, to ensure that it will be a good fit for you and your business.
.-= Janet Barclay´s last blog ..Getting to Know You… =-.

]]> By: Elinor Warkentin http://organizedassistant.com/2009/06/04/planning-your-local-networking-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-82 Elinor Warkentin Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:15:20 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=335#comment-82 Hi Janet, Just wanted to give some quick feedback on your article about BNI and other networking groups. I belong to the Big Tsunami chapter of BNI in Vancouver. It is the largest in BC with 53 members and one of the 4 largest in Canada. More than 50% of my income last year came to me via referrals from my chapter members. To clarify, as a guest to BNI, you are allowed to visit only twice. Then, if your business category is not taken in the chapter, you can submit an application. Members make a commitment to attend weekly and this is very important to the success of the member and group. I believe, you are only allowed to miss about 3 meetings every 6 months. You can send a sub if you can't make it but sending a sub regularly isn't the best for you, and again affects the success of the chapter. BNI is very well organized and it's systems are part of its success. On my travels, I have visited BNI chapters in Berlin and Winnipeg, and it was great fun to mix business networking with travel. There are a lot of details about BNI that can be helpful in making a decision and I am happy to answer questions about BNI if you ever come across an organizer who wants to learn more about it. I am also happy to host guests at my chapter meeting, whether they are PO's or not. You can check out my chapter at www.thebigtsunami.ca Hi Janet,

Just wanted to give some quick feedback on your article about BNI and other networking groups. I belong to the Big Tsunami chapter of BNI in Vancouver. It is the largest in BC with 53 members and one of the 4 largest in Canada. More than 50% of my income last year came to me via referrals from my chapter members.

To clarify, as a guest to BNI, you are allowed to visit only twice. Then, if your business category is not taken in the chapter, you can submit an application.

Members make a commitment to attend weekly and this is very important to the success of the member and group. I believe, you are only allowed to miss about 3 meetings every 6 months. You can send a sub if you can’t make it but sending a sub regularly isn’t the best for you, and again affects the success of the chapter.

BNI is very well organized and it’s systems are part of its success. On my travels, I have visited BNI chapters in Berlin and Winnipeg, and it was great fun to mix business networking with travel.

There are a lot of details about BNI that can be helpful in making a decision and I am happy to answer questions about BNI if you ever come across an organizer who wants to learn more about it.
I am also happy to host guests at my chapter meeting, whether they are PO’s or not.

You can check out my chapter at http://www.thebigtsunami.ca

]]> By: Janet Barclay http://organizedassistant.com/2009/06/04/planning-your-local-networking-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Janet Barclay Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:45:52 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=335#comment-81 That is so true, Cristina! Last year <strong>40%</strong> of my new clients were people I'd met at live networking events. That is so true, Cristina! Last year 40% of my new clients were people I’d met at live networking events.

]]> By: Cristina Favreau :: The Brainstormist http://organizedassistant.com/2009/06/04/planning-your-local-networking-activities/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Cristina Favreau :: The Brainstormist Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:21:48 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=335#comment-80 Thanks for recommending my guidebook, Janet. With more people starting home businesses, and families getting busier all the time I believe the need for professional organizers has and will continue to increase in the years to come. Networking, when done right, is one of the best ways to grow your business. It's a marketing strategy that will increase your "Know, Like and Trust Factor" so that you gain front of mind awareness from those in your network and get referrals. When you approach networking (online or off) with the goal to help others first, you will find your nervousness and hesitation ease. Thanks for recommending my guidebook, Janet.

With more people starting home businesses, and families getting busier all the time I believe the need for professional organizers has and will continue to increase in the years to come.

Networking, when done right, is one of the best ways to grow your business.

It’s a marketing strategy that will increase your “Know, Like and Trust Factor” so that you gain front of mind awareness from those in your network and get referrals.

When you approach networking (online or off) with the goal to help others first, you will find your nervousness and hesitation ease.

]]>