BoB members - if you have had a good referral - tell the others how you got it and what it was worth to you.

The greatest benefit of being a member of BoB is that I am able to offer my family, friends, clients and other contacts the services of 30 other different businesses. OK, it takes a while to get to know new members and to understand and trust their work. However having this wealth of trusted colleagues (and golfing partners) is an asset that most business people never have. 

I believe that the advantage of BoB over other weekly networking groups are:

• Low membership fee
• Excellent venue with separate eating and meeting areas.
• A committed committee willing to put in the time to make it work
• Occasional social events which include our partners
• Our own membership brochure to give to prospective clients
• Few if any ‘rubbish’ referrals
• No aggressive monitoring of attendance
• Being able to offer guests a free breakfast
• Holding regular ‘guest’ and training days
• We care about and support the community

 If you have not had a referral in the last 3 months take this 5 point test 

1. Have you attended regularly or sent a substitute? .............
2. Have you attended referral training? ...................................
3. Is your message clear? .......................................................
4. Are you specific in your requests? ...................................
5. Do you train your sales team? …………………………….

 Our next 3-2-3 event is in shown on the 'Meetings' page.  Use this time to train new members and help each other to gain referrals. Prepare to spread yourselves around the hotel in groups of 3 at 7.30AM

Each in turn take 5 minutes to inform the others of:

• your life history (if you wish, as this helps to get the session flowing)
• how you got into your business and what you did before
• why you like your business and what you do not like
• what your typical clients ask for and what they really need

Each then spend the next 1 minute giving your 60 second presentation. Then spend 10 minutes offering advice and guidance to the others to help improve their presentation.

At 8.15 return to the lounge area for Referrals and Notices

A networking story   Some time ago in a networking group a kitchen sales guy had started to attend but he felt like he was not getting any business after 7 months sp his attendance grew less frequent. The committee gave him an "alarm call" and he came to the next meeting. There a visiting property developer was so taken with his 60 seconds that he gave a referral which resulted in 50 kitchens at £10k each from that meeting. He never missed another!

Referral business grows from momentum, committing to the group, building understanding and trust and self-belief. Be professional, plan your weekly meeting, prepare for your 60 seconds to train your sales team.