.-= Kristen’s last blog .. Magnavox MDR513H F7 =-.

Before joining collecting relevant information is must. So do that before becoming a part of any networking group or company.

Thanks,
Mar

There were printers, tyre fitters, photocopy suppliers, office stationers – all the usuals but I have to say it worked for us, maybe it changed now but for 2 years we went each week to BNI meetings and also to some larger network evenings.

As an Essex based start up we had immediate business, nothing huge and nothing that lasted more than a year or so but it was a steady drip of cashflow.

After 18 months we grew out of it as our company expanded and price points moved up but it was a friendly network and very cheap to join. Maybe in the US its franchised more aggresively??
.-= Essex ´s last blog ..Movement for SEO Essex =-.

It was also very “clique-like.” For those who did not fit the mold of the group, few referrals were received.

And the intentional design of making people feel bad for not having a lead at the meeting was most unnecessary and unprofessional and slightly belittling. Several times I received bogus leads – probably because people felt they had to give something. One woman even referred herself and 2 relatives. Of course, nothing became of them but a waste of my time. People were dropping out of our group like crazy.

If you join BNI and it really works for you, then you will be very fortunate. I hear the stories of the people who got great results. But from what I saw with my own eyes and from what I have heard, great success is not the norm.

It also gave me the impression that it bordered on being a scam like the ones I’ve seen all over Europe. I’m referring to the one where you’re walking down the street and you see someone celebrating that they just won a lot of money from a guy running a shell game on the sidewalk but if you stick around long enough, you discover that half the crowd is in on the scam and within 10 minutes you can clearly see who they are as they con unsuspecting passers-by who of course never win when they give it a try.

How does this relate? I know that this was not the case but there were always the same few people who spoke about how great the group was while everyone else never or rarely had anything positive to say. It was like they were in on all of us being scammed. Of course that’s not the case but it’s how I felt.

I do agree with the statement that business networking groups can easily prey on unsuspecting, well-intentioned business people.

For me, this one for the “chalk it up to experience because it was actually a complete waste otherwise” situations.

My beef with BNI is it arrogantly and deceitfully would have you believe any and all businesses can benefit. That is an outright lie and the management and franchisee’s of this company should be ashamed of themselves for trying to promote this falsehood. But then again when you think about it, the few businesses that do benefit need “fresh meat” to devour and so on and on it goes.

If a person is in a business where their prospects are anyone who can fog a mirror or suck air (like carpet cleaners, car insurance agents, advertising specialties, lawn mowing companies) etc. You can get your investment back. For those of us who despise being used and have more sophisticated businesses and who are looking for a different profile of customer, I am afraid you will be very disappointed.

I have to agree with Mark on this: It does prey on the best intentions of small business people. In fact they have refined it to an art form.