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Post Info TOPIC: Local Networking Groups - Worth it?


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Local Networking Groups - Worth it?
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I went to a local networking meeting today with about 20 other people and it was pretty cool, people seemed to be all about helping each other, but the cost was $465 the first year and $365 every year after. The group was called, "Business Network International."

Anyone involved in any local networks, and are they worth the time and money? Anything I should be looking for when choosing one?

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Extreme Cleaning Solutions (410) 980-1053
Phil Rogers
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I network for free! Other roof washers, other contractors, that do something different. Swapped work.

You are on a diff level now. Become a quick judge of charachter. Even still ya might get burnt. Time.

You will make good friends. The old fashioned way.

HEY! Chit!!! All you got to do is pay? To get in? This sounds like the BBB and I may be denouncing them this year! lol!!!

You are recomending work, to a networker, That just paid the fee to get in to network?

We are networking here. If I get overloaded with work again like I did for the first time last year. I anticipate worse.

I sold the jobs, thats my favorite part of the job! I gave jobs away.

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240-355-1110

From up on the Roof cleaning, Gutter cleaning, to down on the Concrete cleaning...

All pressure washing services in between!

Serving  PG, Charles, St Marys and Calvert county Maryland

Cleaning service 




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Networking groups are great but there are free ones available. I've been in and around several BNI groups and to me they're more a PITA than they're worth.

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Matthew C Perry
General Manager
Callahan Pro Wash
Professional Exterior Cleaning Services
Roof Cleaning, Pressure Washing, Paver Cleaning and Restoration
813-727-5161
callahanprowash.gmail.com



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I am a member of my local chamber's networking group. Cost is 120/year plus 300 chamber dues. I have booked over 6K in business from this group over the past year.

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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website
Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
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Serving Tallahassee, FL, The Big Bend
and SW Georgia
http://www.spray-wash.com
 


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Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD wrote:

I went to a local networking meeting today with about 20 other people and it was pretty cool, people seemed to be all about helping each other, but the cost was $465 the first year and $365 every year after. The group was called, "Business Network International."

Anyone involved in any local networks, and are they worth the time and money? Anything I should be looking for when choosing one?



It all depends on how much you involve yourself in the network. Joining won't do much, but joining and working the Membership of the network will.

You get out of it what you put into it.

Point is to "Get Out There And Get Visible"

I just spent $600.00 on bandit signs, $300.00 on BBB Membership, $300.00 on Property Management Assciation...And So On.

Work it for a year and see how it goes. $400.00 is cheap if you ask me.

Just stay away from BNI not to good from what I've heard.

 



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Pressure Kleen
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Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina
Power Washing Fayetteville NC
Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring
Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake,
Wilmington NC.


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Thats a lot of bandit signs Guy!

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Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaning Specialist

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I'm just speaking from my experience, all the money I wasted! lol!!! Thanks for chiming in with yours.

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240-355-1110

From up on the Roof cleaning, Gutter cleaning, to down on the Concrete cleaning...

All pressure washing services in between!

Serving  PG, Charles, St Marys and Calvert county Maryland

Cleaning service 




Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaning Specialist

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Bandit signs could work too!!! lol!!!!

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240-355-1110

From up on the Roof cleaning, Gutter cleaning, to down on the Concrete cleaning...

All pressure washing services in between!

Serving  PG, Charles, St Marys and Calvert county Maryland

Cleaning service 




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gutterdog wrote:

I'm just speaking from my experience, all the money I wasted! lol!!! Thanks for chiming in with yours.



So am I. I'm not saying that everything or group or whatever made money for our Company. Marketing is a Gamble, if you play you may win, if you don't play you never will.

Your Welcome!

 



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Pressure Kleen
Roof Cleaning And Power Washing Service
910-876-1594
Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina
Power Washing Fayetteville NC
Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring
Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake,
Wilmington NC.


Premium Member Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Certified Roof Cleaning Specialist

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Ya gotta see what works and what dont in your area. I'll stand behind that.

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240-355-1110

From up on the Roof cleaning, Gutter cleaning, to down on the Concrete cleaning...

All pressure washing services in between!

Serving  PG, Charles, St Marys and Calvert county Maryland

Cleaning service 




Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

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Networking is key. Any business group will pay in the end.

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Serving The Greater MidWest For All Your Cedar Roof Cleaning



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Roof Cleaning Little Rock Arkansas wrote:

Thats a lot of bandit signs Guy!



I've put out about 25 of 100. Picked them up Monday, paid for themselves today.  :)

 



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Pressure Kleen
Roof Cleaning And Power Washing Service
910-876-1594
Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina
Power Washing Fayetteville NC
Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring
Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake,
Wilmington NC.


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gutterdog wrote:

Ya gotta see what works and what dont in your area. I'll stand behind that.




I Totally Agree.



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Pressure Kleen
Roof Cleaning And Power Washing Service
910-876-1594
Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina
Power Washing Fayetteville NC
Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring
Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake,
Wilmington NC.


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Guy B wrote:

Roof Cleaning Little Rock Arkansas wrote:

Thats a lot of bandit signs Guy!



I've put out about 25 of 100. Picked them up Monday, paid for themselves today.  :)

 



Thats great. I think I remember you saying that you were redesigning yours.... Did you get it done?

 



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I was, but these seem to be working pretty good. I do have a re-design for next month though, that's a 100 more.

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Pressure Kleen
Roof Cleaning And Power Washing Service
910-876-1594
Roof Cleaning Tar Heel North Carolina
Power Washing Fayetteville NC
Serving Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring
Lake, Raeford, Lumberton, Whiteville, White Lake,
Wilmington NC.


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I like that Guy: "You Gotta Pay To Play!" That is so true, and when you've been in business a while you discover that what "payed off like crazy" yesterday may coool off tomorrow. When I am networking that's the one thing I always ask someone: What are your advertising in? Alot of publications, newsletters, etc. I don't even know about till someone tells me. Then I can check it out and know i've got a new avenue!

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Ryan Freidline
A Team Roof Cleaning Northern Virginia
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Roof Cleaning Piedmont Northern Virginia

Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince
William, Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax,
Chantilly, Annandale, Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Woodbridge,



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Those networking groups are like Jehovah witness. When I first heard about years ago it sounded great. I was lured to one of their meetings. It shouldn't cost THAT much to network.

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Woodbridge N.J.

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guest

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Hey Guy, where are key locations to place the bandit signs?

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Phil Rogers
Click Here to View Our Website
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Roof Cleaning and Pressure Washing in Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland


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Have a little insomnia and more time to write now, so I thought I's expand on my networking group ideas a little more.

You've got to give referrals to get referrals typically in these groups. However its not a problem, as you tend to meet great professionals who you enjoy working with. Its a great place to forge lasting friendships and biz dealings. Mot of the time you'll get the opportunity to do a presentation every so often to really show off your stuff.

Learn form other businesses in the group, see what they are doing.

Make sure your group is exclusive in nature, only one cleaner allowed, only one handi-man allowed, etc.

I would make sure I didn't limit myself to just roof cleaning. I'd offer exterior cleaning services.

I have been involved in a couple of groups that got "polluted" with a bunch of MLM vendors and they went downhill from there. Its important to hang out with professionals. MY group right now has the following members (partial list): Chiropractor, Banker, Home inspector, Sign Printer, Travel agent, Handy Man, Realtor, Computer guy, etc.

The Home Inspector referred me a $1700 church...and a ton of other stuff
The Sign Printer swapped out my yard signs for washing her house/roof
The Handy Man and I swap leads almost weekly.
I could go on, but you get the picture!!!!!

I'm actually looking for a second group to join, but hard to find one that fits into my schedule. I pretty much have to do a breakfast meeting. Can't take the time to stop, clean up , do lunch meeting then go back to work.

Your local chamber of commerce likely sponsors networking/leads meetings too.





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Ray Burke
Spray Wash Exterior Cleaning
850.528.3226
visit our website
Soft Washing and Pressure Washing
Licensed & Insured
Serving Tallahassee, FL, The Big Bend
and SW Georgia
http://www.spray-wash.com
 


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I took a chance and joined BNI the first week of Nov. and I am glad that I did I am now getting referrals every week from people that i never woukd have known before joining and they will not let anybody else in the group that does my type of work. It does cost money but I made it back on the first week, I might just be lucky but I would have to reccomend this group. Pat C.

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Patrick Carder
President
Vantage Point Home Services
www.vphs.biz
301-392-3911
Maryland's only licensed roof inspector/cleaner MHIC#97865 MHI#30280

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