Networking Events
Discussion
Right, I've been invitved to a Business Networking Event local to me this evening and it's the first time I've ever been, where apparantly 'up to 120 local businesses will be there for me to meet'... So, I'm wondering...
Does the PH collective have any experience of these sort of events? Horror stories? Recommendations?
Does the PH collective have any experience of these sort of events? Horror stories? Recommendations?
Jasper Gilder said:
They can be quite useful, but it's a mix between a one night stand and speed dating. The worst one I went to had about 25 people all trying to sell something to the one guy who might be a buyer - most unpleasent!
Edited by Jasper Gilder on Thursday 30th November 19:56
Think of it like speeddating!
I have attended a number of these types of meeting organized by www.ecademy.com. Where I live the local ecademy "reps" set these things up every month or so. Meeting the people was nice and informative but they started to invite speakers. I realized after a few meetings that the topics where always delivered by motivational speakers who don't actually live local or actually do anything else but try to motivate (us buying their books). Until these guys showed up - I thought it was very worthwhile mixing with the local community. After that I gave up.
Doesn't diminish ecademy though. I think that's a great network!
Doesn't diminish ecademy though. I think that's a great network!
From that I seem to conclude that you don't like ecademy much :-)
I agree the ecademy events fall into that category (except for the one in London every month or so where you get free beer!) but I have to admit that I've made some great contacts through ecademy. The biggest problem I found is the cost of it. If you want to talk to > 20 contacts - you need to be a PowerNetwork and that costs (at least) £100 a year. A bit much I think.
I agree the ecademy events fall into that category (except for the one in London every month or so where you get free beer!) but I have to admit that I've made some great contacts through ecademy. The biggest problem I found is the cost of it. If you want to talk to > 20 contacts - you need to be a PowerNetwork and that costs (at least) £100 a year. A bit much I think.
I used to do the local networking group at the business link breakfast meetings. Found a couple of supplier but never got any bsiiess,proabbly beacsue I have a niche business and they had a more general one lots of people might buy from (printers, car dealers, marketing, HR outsourcing). Best for generalists I think. We all tended to be quite small too, wghen my target group was larger companies. They set un a CEO group but it never really got off the ground (busy people).
I got taken to a BNI the other day by my new boss. The basic premise was 40 business men sat around a table, all from different industries/sectors, each having a one minute pitch saying what they do and what they need. They then all pass pass referrals around.
Before it I thought it would be a complete waste of time but over 60 leads were passed between members and the week before over £20K in new business was done. Only problem was it started at 6.30 am and it cost £8 for breakfast, of which I only had one cold croissant.
Before it I thought it would be a complete waste of time but over 60 leads were passed between members and the week before over £20K in new business was done. Only problem was it started at 6.30 am and it cost £8 for breakfast, of which I only had one cold croissant.
I went to a series of BNI meetings to see what it was like. I realised that the types of business there were unlikely to be ideal customers, or even to know ideal customers for me.
I thought it was very regimented and scripted, so decided it wasn't the right networking for the business.
I thought it was very regimented and scripted, so decided it wasn't the right networking for the business.
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