Networking business events.

[Ginge R]

Market town sized stuff.. after work/grip and grins/canapes type of thing - waste of time or does anyone rate them? Any tips (apart from 'don't go' )?

[sider]

Good question.

I've been invited to one too.

Thought initially a good idea, but not so sure to be honest thinking about it. My brother in law has a small electrical contracting business with about 4-5 guys working for him - he swears by these events and has had a lot of work as a result. he even took up golf for the sole reason of speaking to people with businesses who may use his service!

[StevieBee]

Some are better than others and lot depends upon the organisers. It's not unusual to be in a room with a load of people selling stuff but nobody buying.

[the prescotts]

I was invited to one about 6 months ago and did not for one minute think it would be of any benefit whatsoever. How wrong could I have been as network meetings are already equating to over 60% of our new business.
It has already been said, there are good ones and bad ones and what works for my business does not mean it will work for yours but give it a try and remember, you will only get out what you put in.

[Andrew[MG]]

All the ones that i've been to have been full of people trying to sell their goods or services. I guess that depending on what type of business you are in then it might be really useful. If you are the only electrician that goes along regularly then you'll probably pick up plenty of business just from chatting to people. If you are going along trying to sell your web design services then there will be another 20 people there doing the same thing.

[S1M VP]

Been to many of these. Most are crap, but the one arranged by BNI was pretty good, providing you are a small business. Only one of each trader/sector. Wasn't good for me but mates swear by it.