HOUSTON BUSINESS REVIEW

Words to Build a Network and a Life: How to Start Your Own Business Networking Group
By Ken Marsh

Ken Marsh, the Houston Business Show Contributor for Business Networking, provides weekly information on how to build your business. We are excited to have the assistance of Mr. Marsh, an authority on this subject and author of the book Fearless Networking , as a part of our team.

“God measures your greatness by the number of people you serve, not by the number of people that serve you.”
-- Rick Warren, author of best selling “A Purpose Driven Life”

My first recommendation to you, the reader, is for you to try and find a business networking group with an opening for your classification. You don’t need to re-invent the wheel. In my list of favorite groups there may be a group looking for a member with your classification. For example, out of the nearly 40 Business Networking International (BNI) chapters in the Houston area, as of this writing, there may be one with an open position in your classification. Secondly, once you have recruited a minimum of 12 different classifications you may contact Kathy Mathy, Executive Director of BNI Houston-West and tell her of your interest in forming your own BNI group. The BNI organization is a well-run, efficient and very effective networking organization founded by the Networking Guru, Ivan Misner. BNI has a strong foundation of rules, regulations and leadership training. If you still wish to invest the time in starting your own business networking group, following are some suggestions that may prove helpful:

1. Decide on what type of business networking group you would like to start. For example, business to business, business to consumer, consumer to consumer, or a C-level salespeople-only group to name a few.
2. Visit several networking groups that meet your type criteria before recruiting your team.
3. Doing your visits, take note of the agenda format, type officers (most groups have a president, vice president, secretary/treasurer, membership chair, and education coordinator), Officers reports, attendance report, quantity and quality of referrals, and dollar amount of referrals given for the previous week.
4. Consider having only one representative per classification only, unless you are choosing a natural alliance-type group (CPAs, attorneys, bankers, financial planners). Most networking groups allow several from the same classification, as long as, each specialize in different areas of their profession, for example, you could have 4 different attorneys, one specializing in wills & probate, one in EEOC, one in business contracts, one in patents. 
5. Place an ad in a local suburban type paper letting others know that you are starting a new business networking group. A simple ad that reads: New Business Networking Group Forming. Call Mike at 555-5555 will suffice for a networking group with a general mix of classifications. If you are looking for an alliance, for instance, of real estate related classifications, an ad that reads: New Business Networking Group Forming with Real Estate Related Classifications from Agent to Remodeling. Call Jill @ 333-3333.
6. When you have at least six interested potential members, decide on day and time of meetings. Mornings before the beginning of the work day, seems to be a popular time for networking groups to meet. The first meeting could be at the office of one of the six.
7. Also, decide on how frequently the group will meet. Meeting no less than twice a month is recommended. Most groups meet weekly.
8. Once you have a minimum of 10 to 12 members, begin the officer selection process. Collect dues for the first six months. Seventy-five dollars in dues per member is adequate to cover card holders, Be My Guest business cards, tri-fold brochures, attendance sheets, referral slips in triplicate, and membership applications including a background/reference check form. Later you can increase dues and collect dues annually to meet expenses.
9. Decide on a regular meeting location. Restaurants with an enclosed meeting room like LaMadeline’s are perfect for holding meetings. Most motor inns require a minimum number of breakfasts to be purchased to cover the cost of a meeting room.
10. The most successful networking groups have rules that cover absences & tardiness, a required minimum number of monthly referrals by each member & timely payment of dues.

NOTE: Order Fearless Networking – 2nd edition books for each new member and bring Ken Marsh in on a quarterly basis to teach members how to dramatically boost the number of referrals given. Go to www.fearlessnetworkers.com to order books and book Ken Marsh quarterly.