[wecando.biz]

We are working on some new developments on our online business network and I am really keen to hear from anyone on here who runs offline networking events.

I am looking for organisations who run these on a membership basis across the year, with in excess of 100 total members.

The reason is we'll be adding some new site features which will allow your networking group to easily network, pass leads and referrals online. We just need to know what popular networking groups exist and talk to the people who run them about doing this, so we don't step on any toes by referencing your group.

Networking gurus feel welcome to contact me by PM!

My thanks in advance.

IH

[Indizine]

Hi Ian, forgive me as I do have a headache at the moment, but I didntreally understand what you meant in the last paragraph did you mean you want to avoid certain netwroking groups?

[wecando.biz]

Sandra

We are happy to work with any networking groups, but we would like to ensure they have 100+ paid up members for our concept to work.

Hope this clarifies things.

Regards

IH

[OldWelshGuy]

ian, one potential stumbling block you may hit is that most networking groups offline offer exclusivity in profession. IE 1 of each trade/profession in the ntetwork. This is what makes the network strong, the 'cartel' system.

Introducing a network such as that to a wider network could (would in my opinion), kill it dead in the water, as tye loyalty to 'the group' is diluted by the introduction of new members in compteition wioth existing members.

Just my thoughts!

I am not involved in offline networking, oddly enough for the very reasons above I think it is wrong to reccommend a business purely becuase you have a relationship with them. In effect, even though no actual money changes hands, 'consideration' changes hands as the favour will be returned by the other businesses that are reccommending you.

It all appears a little too incestuous for my liking, as I prefer to recommend a business on its own merit rather than because they have the same colour apron

[wecando.biz]

Very good point OWG. The only thing that I would add to that if you take a national presence then there will be many, say, accountants, as each chapter has its own but they all add up to a sum. I know if there is a native accountants in one regional group, it isn't unusual for an accountant to then start frequenting a neighboruing group.

To be honest, I am not sure this matters for what I have in mind. We just want to enable the "group" (however boardly they operate) an easy method of listing all thei rmembers together online with a view to encouraging trade. I am quite sure that if there is "cross-chapter" trade then no-one will mind, as one can benefit as much as one can be victim of it.

IH