Just thought I would try and pass on what happened to me last week, and hope that it may help others.
A friend of mine, a builder, invited me to a meeting of her chapter of the BNI. Every month, the chapter allows members to invite guests for the weekly breakfast. It costs £10.
I went really, to support her - and for the experience. I came away with three new clients.
There were more than forty business people there - large companies through to one man bands.
You have to do a one minute introduction talk. I kept mine very short, very simple. I said who I was and repeated three times in the minute - I am a bookkeeper. I wanted to get that in people's brains. When you listen to over forty one minute speeches, short and to the point is key.
At the end, three people gave me 'referrals'. All of them are signed up. All of them want me to 'catch up' from the beginning of the year, and then carry on. A lot of businesses are desperate for bookkeepers, but do not want to trust their livelihood to just anyone. Meeting a bookkeeper at one of these meetings, means that the bookkeeper is at the very least recommended by the host.
If you know of anyone who is a member - try and get an invite!
I have been to many a breakfast club for networking and I have to say all of them had accountants within them so I was not allowed to 'sell' my services as a bookkeeper but had to go under my other interests. Thye usually only allow 1 of any profession so you must have been lucky in that group.
Well done! Networking is what its all about and word of mouth is so much better.
There was an accountant there. In fact he took my details as well, and said he would be in touch as I was just what he was looking for (his words, not mine!). He wanted someone to do the bookkeeping for some of his clients, then I would invoice him and he would invoice them.
I guess different chapters have different rules, but certainly they did not class me as an accountant, and would be very happy if a bookkeeper joined.
You are so right. After this one visit, I agree that networking is what it is all about.
I was helped in that I had a 'host' who invited me, and therefore someone to talk to - as I am absolutely rubbish at networking. And the fact that I had to stand up and introduce myself, and explain what I did to everyone, meant that I was in effect, networking, without actually networking!
Good for you. I did enjoy going to the breakfasts, meeting new people etc but did not want to pay the high fees to join, so kept going to different ones in the area. At that time, they were not good for me and it seemed some people did well and others did nothing. Builders, plumbers etc always do well and accountants do well too.
I just thought it was a great way of getting your name out to actual businesses. I agree with P - I wouldn't want to pay the large fees - or get up at 6am every Friday. But for £10 now and again, you get a great breakfast and an introduction to lots of contacts.
My tip is - take lots and lots of business cards. Everyone takes one off each person. Even if they don't need a bookkeeper, they will pass on your details to anyone who does.
And of course - another perk, is that you get the details of electricians, plumbers etc, who are recommended by the group.
Now of course, I am panicking as they all want their books brought up to date. It's seems to be either feast or famine............
