From all the years in the sign biz and hanging around in Letterville, we have learned that we get way more work when people tell their buddies about us, than we ever get from the phone book, mailers and cold sales calls.

I got invited by my insurance agent to go to a BNI meeting. (Business Network Int'l)

This organization comes into a community, sets up a group of 25 to 45 business who interact with each other, do business with each other, and by word of mouth, tell everybody they do business with about YOU!

Of course, for it to work, you need to talk to you sign customers about THEM and THEIR services as well.

So, I go to this "Luncheon" and we eat while we talk and listen. One by one the members stand up and introduce themselves and have 60 seconds to tell the group what they are looking for. Example, the insurance guy stood up and said he needed to specifically find parents with 15-16 year old kids who need car insurance, and he can save those families a lot of money. The next guy was a VISA/Mastercard rep that sets business up with credit card acceptance. The next was a lady representing an Internet Service Provider and WEB hosting. On and On

Even I got to get up an tell them about me.

Then It reverses: One by one we stand up and tell the group where we think we could help them find business prospects. We are given slips of papers to fill out and give to each other who we think could use their services.

A dental group with 5 locations around the midwest wanted me to stop in and see them about signs they needed, banners and displays.

Another lady in investments gave me a card that said her husband was in the automotive supply business and needed magnetic signs for his trucks.
She told me to check with him because he wasn't sure where to have them made and was searching on the Internet for them.

Word of mouth works, and it really works when 25 to 45 people are out their selling for you.

One of the points made at the meeting was mailers will NOT work right now....people are scared to open mail thinking some "powder" is going to be inside. I agreed. My business is moving and I have to send out mailers...they advised me to send a postcard because it doesn't need to be opened. Good advice!

So I joined for $240 bucks.....and I think I will get that money back just from the contacts I made at the first meeting.

What is so neat is that only 1 sign shop can join this group, 1 cellular phone sales co, and only 1 carpetcleaning business, and only 1 realtor, and only 1 house builder, and so on.

When the group fills up....a new group is started.
This is Bloomington Normal Group #4.

I wish I had known about this earlier. One of the franchise sign shops joined group #3 and as a result increased their sales 200%. And they make the very worst of signs. So it works...even for quicky sticky smucks who are still using brush script unconnected all capitals red letters and black drop shadow on chrome vinyl .......arrrrrrgh!

Here is a phone number to call to see if this type of organization has sprung roots in your neck of the woods.

I was actually quite impressed by the idea. BUT..the weekly meeting I was going to have to attend EVERY week, in order to remain a member, was held at 6:30 am. In the winter time around here the snow plows haven't gone though at that hour!

I ended up declining the offer.

While doing a job recently, the wife of the customer asked if I had gone to one of the meetings. When I said yes she informed me that I was wise to have saved the $350 membership fee, since the whole thing fell apart about a month after my one time visit!

I have been a member of BNI for three years. It was great going for the first couple of years. But after a couple of years you have exhausted all of your leads for others and you experience a slowdown. Others in the group will begin to have the same problem finding referrals as you and unless there is a lot of annual turnaround then the business produced will slow down.
Some people use this as their only marketing tool believing that this is the only way to advertise and end up trapping themselves in this group.
The other problem is that you may refer a customer to someone that is incompetent. You could lose a customer so be careful to whom you refer your customer. (Just because he bought some signs doesn't mean that he is a good dentist)
My advice is to get in, stay in for a bit and then move on. You aren't there to make friends (you might!) You are there to make your business grow.

Good Luck! Let us know how it works.

[ October 19, 2001: Message edited by: Samazon ]

Congratulations on your new group! I hope it doesn't fall apart as some do.

I'm with Kevin too! Most of the word of mouth I got was from workin on a window, etc when they were the busiest with their customer flow. Cards came off my set up right and left and the message machine was jammed with new customers when I got home!

Only prob? That commitment (hate those) to every week, and early (way too early time, I'm too lazy to get up that early)

Her suggestion: Come to the first two (free) meetings, hand out cards and let it go at that!

Good idea I think. Havn't done it yet.

A (too lazy to finish spelling my name)

Heehee, Sam!

[ October 19, 2001: Message edited by: AdrienneMorgan ]

Over the years I have made signs for almost every member of the group and 10 to 12 companies that have been provided as leads. It works great for us. I do one or two jobs a month for group members. They do tend to be smaller sized jobs (usually in the $75 to $200 range) but I have done several $2000 to $4000 jobs through the group.

We also spend time on improving each others business and have guest speakers talk about some aspect of business or community issues. The fees are low ($50 a year) and $50 every three months to cover the costs of breakfast. We meet every other Wednesday 7:30 to 9:00 AM (this is much more civilized than the times mentioned by others). Also the every 2nd week is easier on the time commitment.

Welcome to BNI. I have been a member for almost 2 years, and our group has about 30 members.

The philosophy is simply: givers gain. My business has really benefited from the BNI associations I have built.

We have a regular turnover, it seems, but I still do business with those people that leave the group.

It is a commitment, every week at 7:00 AM. But I leave the meeting charged to do a good days work--and to work off the donuts!