Has anyone used BNI? Or heard of them? They are a networking organisation.

[moodlumthehoodlum]

You join, apparently, and then they only have one of each profession, and automatically refer business that comes up in your area, to you only, IYSWIM.

But it costs £500

and apparently its all very america and all about 60 second pitches etc.

Anyone?

Sorry that was meant to be American rather than just america which would make no sense at all..

I think it really depends on 4 things:

1. what type of business are you in and would this network help to develop your business? e.g. if you are a writer and publicist could you offer services to those in your "chapter" and to their other contacts.

2. Are you looking for help and support in your business and could the businesses in your local group offer that (you would have to pay them).

3. Are you a "network-y" type of person? If you are desperately shy and have trouble with your marketing pitch or your "elevator speech", then this might be well out of your comfort zone.

4. What is your local group like? Are they active? are they welcoming? Are they good networkers themselves? Some groups will invite you as a guest to a meeting.

In my (limited) experience, the businesses that do best out of this are trades (office cleaners, removal firms, electricians) or specialist services (H&S, lean, six sigma etc). And those that do least well are "life-style businesses".

And it helps if you can tolerate misogynists!

Thanks notsoclever, that is wise advice. I am, as it happens a freelance PR & copywriter, so in that sense, I suppose I could be easily referred around the network. I'm not a huge fan of having to network, but I suppose its different when that's the only reason for being there IYSWIM.

Now I just have to work out exactly what it is I do..

thank you!

I was involved a few years ago and we did recieve some promising referals from it, as it happens only a few of them worked out and Im still trying to decide if it was worth it.

Its hard work though as you have to provide one definate referal each week (no excuses)
You pay the 500 pounds but then you have to pay a monthly sum on top of that for rent of the room and breakfast and this is compulsory but they dont tell you about it until you have joined (thats what happened to us)

That seems a lot - there are local beakfast meetings organised by small business link and I found one that cost £10 per person - try to find one in your area

Also consider chamber of commerce they have different grades of membership and this would give you access to local/regional or natinal depending on what you pay for and you would get access to a list of members and more opportunties to network

Thanks all. This is really helpful. I've come to the conclusion that I'm not ready for it, and certainly not networking enough elsewhere to be able to provide on definite referral a week. How terrifying. It would be like being back in a PR agency again and those horrible new business meetings.

Isn't mumsnet brilliant? This is the kind of info I really need right now, and I can't think of where else I would get it.

HI there, sorry to join the conversation late!
My Mum and brother are both members of BNI, and my brother gets about 80% of his business from networking there. However, his business (landscape gardening) is quite a general sector, where pretty much anyone could be regarded as a potential customer for him - after all, the majority of us have gardens, or know someone who has, or have a commercial business with some sort of gardening required. I think as someone else mentioned, it depends on what type of business you are in, as to how successful BNI might be for you. I recently launched a new business, and have found Linkedin.com to be very useful. If you aren't already on there, set up a profile asap!

Is there an Athena network near you? We do a lot of networking at work, but I don't know of anything that is £500 to join, apart from a gym.

Not the same Tiger as Tigerbear by the way!

I have guested at some BNI groups and know quite a few people as members. I think what others have said are right - if you are in a trade that can be used by anyone, business or personal, then you stand a lot better chance of getting work from them.
I have found that if you are a hard selling type then it suits you, because you not only have to do your own normal selling of your business, but you are trying to sell all the other members services as well - to get the 1 lead per week for them.
I have come across BNI members at other things, like Chamber do's and they'll say 'oh I have a friend who might be interested in what you do, can I get him to give you a call his name is....' so of course you say yes.
BUT that person isn't going to call you, and isn't interested in what you do - its a BNI fiddle. The rule is that they have to bring one hot lead, ie one person EXPECTING YOU TO RING THEM. So the person taking my number isn't passing a lead for work to their fellow member, they are just playing the rule, ie turning up with the details of someone (me) expecting a call from them.
I have also met people who've been going to a BNI group for over a year and not had one bit of work for it. Yet each week they turn up at 6.45 am having slaved all week to find leads for the other members. If they complain about not getting any leads they are told that it takes time to build up relationships with the others in the group, to get their trust to be passed leads.
I interpret this as - most of the others in the group already have a contact who does what you do but they don't have to declare this at the group.
Attendance is seriously strict - once a week at 6.45, no leaving early or arriving late, and you are only allowed to miss two in something like 6 months before your place will be given to someone else.
BNI is in itself a business. The group leaders buy the franchise or some other paying method of getting to use the business model. So they don't really care how much work YOU get from it, they just want more members. So if a member can't make it for 3 weeks its tough shit you lose your place and the next (insert your type of business) gets a call and coughs up his £500.
The meetings are all at hotels and stuff, the groups I went to charge £10 per meeting (40 a month by standing order) with about 20 people there so the organisers are making some serious money on top of your membership.

I've tried a few networking groups, some work some don't. The best work and leads I've had have been from people I've met and made friends with as I've gone along, whether I was in a group with them or not.