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Anyone Have Any Advice on Starting a Networking or Tip Club?

Does anyone here on Active Rain have any advice, tips, or suggestions on starting a networking or tips club? I have been thinking about starting one here locally. I assume most of these are started on the fly - with a few rules, such as only one real estate agent, one attorney, one CPA, etc. Any suggestions on the "rules" or how to get started? What's the best size for the club to be? Where should the meetings be held? And how often? Anything else that I should consider?

Posted by George Photographer on 03/03/2008 09:23 AM

Comments (5)

5 Comments on Anyone Have Any Advice on Starting a Networking or Tip Club?

MAR

2008

I have been thinking about this as well. I was part of a BNI club and I rally thought it was a waste of time, but I think there is a value there, but make it more of a book club or something like that

George:

I recommend reading a recent blog by Uniqca Powell On How I Started a Business Network. The blog was great.

You can start your own online social network at http://www.ning.com Hope that helps.

Overland Park Real Estate

George, I recently looked at BNI and spoke to the regional director about starting one up myself. Try their site at http://www.bni.com to find contact people in your area and the groups in your area. I'm planning on attending one to see how it all goes, basically I think they're a good organization, however it's important to know that it's a franchise system, so it also depends on the local franchise owners for your area. They are there, though, to help you set up new groups and get you started.

I have never had a good experience with these...and I have been in nearly a dozen over the course of time. They are either just social or, in the case of my BNI experiences, the required leads were just "people I met this week"...not productive. I'd spend the time focused on your farm.

Be of service! The rewards will come!

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