BNI in Longford/Roscommon

pd2006

A number of businesses are getting together to start a new BNI Chapter to meet in Longford/Roscommon. BNI is a business networking organisation that provides a structured system to get businesses together to build relationships so that we can help one another via referral business. We meet for a breakfast meeting once a week.

It's early days yet and we are looking for more members to make the chapter viable. If anyone is interested in coming to one of the next meetings to get more information about BNI and how it can help you and your business, send me a PM and I will get you all the details

Darragh29

Maybe you should throw up a list of vacant occupations, as BNI only allow one trade/profession per chapter.

Sonnenblumen

IMO the BNI concept is flawed any I would suggest that prospective member companies carefully consider/establish:

- can I afford to attend a 90 minute meeting every week, more than 3 no shows and member will be asked to leave group
- evaluate the actual v perceived value of leads generated. Of course, business will be referred, but how much and what cost (time). Recently I discovered the value of transactions in a large (20+ members) Dublin chapter averaged < € 15k /member over a 6 month period.
- check the fees, AFAIK, they are not modest.

IMO, I found the meetings swamped with banter, trivia, and repetitiveness, and although the concept of cross referral appears useful, I've yet to see an efficient, practical but effective example.

joolsveer

I have been a member of a chapter for well over a year now and I am doubtful of the advantages of being a member. The amount of business I have got since I joined does not justify the effort in time and money that I have put into the organisation.

The motto is "givers gain".

Don't forget that it is a franchised business and the focus is on growing the BNI business not yours.

Darragh29

Sonnenblumen wrote: »

IMO the BNI concept is flawed any I would suggest that prospective member companies carefully consider/establish:

- can I afford to attend a 90 minute meeting every week, more than 3 no shows and member will be asked to leave group
- evaluate the actual v perceived value of leads generated. Of course, business will be referred, but how much and what cost (time). Recently I discovered the value of transactions in a large (20+ members) Dublin chapter averaged < € 15k /member over a 6 month period.
- check the fees, AFAIK, they are not modest.

IMO, I found the meetings swamped with banter, trivia, and repetitiveness, and although the concept of cross referral appears useful, I've yet to see an efficient, practical but effective example.

I have to agree with this. I went to a few meetings a while ago but left after I found that there was too much, what I could only called brainwashing... When I was at a meeting, a director was brought in from another chapter, who was completely brainwashed into the "BNI" way of life and tried to brainwash people who had turned up at the meeting... It was obvious to me that BNI directors are financially incentivised to be involved with BNI. I have no problem with this if it is made clear to people who are paying around 700 Euro to join BNI but this wasn't the case when I was attending.

pd2006

Thanks guys for the feed back, its noted and appreciated.

The BNI in Longford is only in the early stages and if there is sufficent demand a chapter will be formed. Afew people have expressed an interest so far, so hopefully it will take off, if not we are hoping that the people who have expressed an interest will meet up anyway and try an help each other out. We are all after the same goal of getting our name out there.

The hardest part for any business is getting its name out there and networking hopefully will help us do that. From my own experience I have tried advertising in local papers, websites, flyers and even some cold calling and nothing came of it. The only way we seem to be getting business is from referrals. We ran an ad in three local papers for 8 weeks that costs us 700 euro and all we got was two phone calls. I take on board what you are saying about the price and time issue but what else is a small business to do if advertising in papers etc isnt getting your name out there.

As mention early thank you all for your feedback as its good to hear peoples opinion on the subject.

Darragh29

pd2006 wrote: »

Thanks guys for the feed back, its noted and appreciated.

The BNI in Longford is only in the early stages and if there is sufficent demand a chapter will be formed. Afew people have expressed an interest so far, so hopefully it will take off, if not we are hoping that the people who have expressed an interest will meet up anyway and try an help each other out. We are all after the same goal of getting our name out there.

The hardest part for any business is getting its name out there and networking hopefully will help us do that. From my own experience I have tried advertising in local papers, websites, flyers and even some cold calling and nothing came of it. The only way we seem to be getting business is from referrals. We ran an ad in three local papers for 8 weeks that costs us 700 euro and all we got was two phone calls. I take on board what you are saying about the price and time issue but what else is a small business to do if advertising in papers etc isnt getting your name out there.

As mention early thank you all for your feedback as its good to hear peoples opinion on the subject.

Can you give us a broad idea of what line of business you are in???

Sonnenblumen

joolsveer wrote: »

I have been a member of a chapter for well over a year now and I am doubtful of the advantages of being a member. The amount of business I have got since I joined does not justify the effort in time and money that I have put into the organisation.

The motto is "givers gain".

Don't forget that it is a franchised business and the focus is on growing the BNI business not yours.

Agree, when I hear the word BNI, I always have this image of an inverted pyramid in my head!

Sonnenblumen

pd2006 wrote: »

Thanks guys for the feed back, its noted and appreciated.

The BNI in Longford is only in the early stages and if there is sufficent demand a chapter will be formed. Afew people have expressed an interest so far, so hopefully it will take off, if not we are hoping that the people who have expressed an interest will meet up anyway and try an help each other out. We are all after the same goal of getting our name out there.

The hardest part for any business is getting its name out there and networking hopefully will help us do that. From my own experience I have tried advertising in local papers, websites, flyers and even some cold calling and nothing came of it. The only way we seem to be getting business is from referrals. We ran an ad in three local papers for 8 weeks that costs us 700 euro and all we got was two phone calls. I take on board what you are saying about the price and time issue but what else is a small business to do if advertising in papers etc isnt getting your name out there.

As mention early thank you all for your feedback as its good to hear peoples opinion on the subject.

have you tried pooling your resources (ie advertising spends) and approaching the local media to do a group feature under the umbrella of new local entreneurship. Local media are also suffering during current climate and I would always insist on some advertorial coverage in return for any ads placed. By pooling you should as a group get more bang etc.

You should also contact the local Co Enterprise Board, Chamber of Commerce etc to see if it might be financially feasible to join, but not knowing the nature of the business it's difficult to be more specific.

Do you have a website? If not , this should be a priority, more so than joining a Trade / Business group.