So, you’ve got enough clients?
A couple of my friends have said recently that they don’t need to join Biznik because they’ve got enough work right now. My response to them has been that what better time to join Biznik than when you’re NOT hurting for business and referrals are not the focus of your attention. Unlike some of the mainstream business networking groups, Biznik is not just about referrals. We’re a community of indie professionals. And establishing yourself in a community takes time.
Hanging out with small business owners who are desperate for work is about as much fun as hanging out at a single’s event with a bunch of people who are desperate for a spouse.
In a discussion on Biz Talk the other day one Biznik said that until recently he had nicknamed the group Drinknik because he had been more successful at that endeavor than getting business. That’s changed for him – he’s getting business now – and it was just a matter of time. Solid business relationships are built on trust and trust takes time. Don’t underestimate the power of drinking with someone first to landing you a client later.
We’re a fun bunch to sit around and share a drink with on a sunny evening at a bar that spills out onto the sidewalk. But are people getting any business through Biznik? You bet they are! (A few as much of half of their new business, but that’s a different post.)
For those who don’t need business right now, what else does Biznik have to offer? How about the same thing an awesome group of friends has to offer a single person who’s not on the marriage hunt. We’re a community of cool indie business owners with resources, camaraderie and services you might need for yourself, for your clients or for your friends. And what happens to lots of single folks who spend a lot of time in a great community of like-minded people? When they’re ready, the next big relationship often comes from someone inside the group. And when you’re ready maybe the next big contract will come from someone inside THIS group.
July 9th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
Lara,
Just getting back from a weeks vacation and catching up on my blog reading…
What a great article. I too get more and more people tell me that they don’t want to visit another business networking group, physical or online, because they ‘have more work than they have time’.
I agree with you, since the beginning of time the tide of business always comes in further than expected and when it goes out it goes out further than expected. For these many, many business people who are experiencing the high tide of business they need to remember to keep cultivating new business relationships while the tide is high because it will lessen the effects when the tide starts to go out.
Here is a real example: I deal with a number of attorneys who want to effectively network their services. At the first of this year I took one of them to one of best business networking groups; they snag a few clients and got real busy. I come to him again in a few weeks to get him saddled up to go to anther group in a fresh market and I get ‘I am way too busy to take on more business’ remarks. OH, the high tides of business. I explained then that he needed to take a break, stay active in the market and take time to visit new groups when there is an opportunity. I still get the ‘Maybe Next Time’ comments.
Two months later I run into him on the golf course and he nearly runs me down to let me know things are getting really slow and he want to know if I know other groups he can attend. And, now the low tide of business.
Of course I take him out, introduce him to a new group, he snags a few more clients and he gets busy. Hopefully, he will catch on when I contact him to go to another group I found.
Since going ‘Indie’ (as you call it) I have learned that Consistency and Perseverance is the ticket to success. And yes, I have had many, many drinks during many, many gathers before it finally started to pay off for me.
Now, I take the time when I am busy (like right now) to reach out to people to offer my help or to go out and have a drink with a group, even though I need to be working on a project, because I feel it is very important that I keep in touch and help where I can…like providing my comment to your blog. It is all about keeping the relationships going and creating new ones..
Now it is back to work… Have a great evening…
July 10th, 2006 at 8:33 am
While plenty of businesses have made it big without Biznik, it never hurts to be a member of a group of socially active, creative individuals. Being social and meeting at bars, parks or anywhere else is a very healthy way to network and enjoy being human.
Biznik is really the only active social networking organization that I’m aware of and there’s no way your business or business idea could suffer by signing up. It’s free, only takes a few minutes and in the end gives you more options that you would had before signing up. I’m in the process of joining the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and it costs money as most other networking organizations do.
I’m one of the less active members do to growing business and a crazy work schedule, however, I am a member, and every Biznik member probably has a positive contribution to post. I know I’ve received business/profit simply through signing up…….. “free and painless.” Grand.
Ryan
July 15th, 2006 at 7:14 pm
I hope i never get that way when I talk about clients. “I’ve got too many, or “they’re annoying.”
Sometimes clients can get annoying when they make decisions that I don’t agree with, especially since they hired me to make their biz better.
I hope to always stay grateful.
Lawton Chiles
Black Bear Marketing
July 17th, 2006 at 1:55 am
My father has his own business and works hard to keep clients happy and referring. After years of high tides and low tides – thank you for the great metaphor – he’s teamed up with local ‘competition’ so that when his wife gets sick or he needs a break, they can swap out work/workload.
To trust someone with your clients like that requires knowing them and knowing that they are still phyically and mentally fit. (You don’t want to lend your clients to someone who is also on the brink of a nervous breakdown…) I think that hanging out together regularly (the pods sound like a great idea!) is a great way to keep an eye out for shared knowledge and uncommon opportunity.
I look forward to creating several ‘guilds’ this way.
Celebrating all tides and just plain showing up is part of being a biznik (said a girl who has yet to coincide with a biznik date – coincidence, i assure you)
July 17th, 2006 at 9:45 am
I’ll have to use your line, Bree, that being a part of Biznik even when you don’t need the work is a great way to, “keep an eye out for shared knowledge and uncommon opportunity.” Thanks for the comment!