Got canned by a long-time client ...How to tell he'll be back

[timeshifter]

BNI is more concerned with you bringing guests and those guests becoming members themselves so the franchise gets more $$$,

So it's the MLM that promotes MLMs.

 

[nlinecomputers]

BNI groups are great when they work but more often than not they really don't have the proper connections. The group I was in about 10 years ago self-destructed and finally was disbanded. I've visited other groups but as you pointed out they were heavy with MLM programs and startups and no one that I felt could be a good power group. Not worth the time.

 

[Markverhyden]

On the continued remote access, etc. If I'm the new tech first thing I do is scan each machine, uninstall any of that type of software, change passwords, etc.

 

[AndrewFergus]

Im really surprised by all your BNI experiences. It may be that im in a small town with only one group and we all have to do business with one another, but my business would not be where it is without BNI.
In the last 12 months of BNI I have recorded $100,000 of business from referrals!
When I moved to the area three years ago to start the business I knew no one. I joined BNI after six months and was put in contact with all the important business owners and business started booming.

 

[Porthos]

It may be that im in a small town with only one group

There it is. Small town and one group.

 

[bdoggman]

I say f*#% them! There’s plenty of clients in sea!

 

[TAPtech]

BNI groups are usually between 10-50 members. So as you might imagine, it really, really, really matters who those members are and who they know. Some chapters are really good and drumming up business for each other and some are not. I have to say, my experience with BNI echoes the other posts here. Usually the IT spots are filled, so you don't have a lot of choice in the group you join. My group was new, and wasn't in a good city for business. Initially the members seemed OK. After a few weeks, the serious members left. After I did one-on-one's with all of the members, I found that a handful of them were just trying to sell their MLM products. I think that is against BNI rules but our chapter was new and needed more members. A lot of the people there I would not have felt right in referring. They're struggling to start out.

Also, I only serve business clients and despite presenting as soon as possible, and using every damn tactic I could to say that I only support businesses "of 5 to 50 employees." They would ask me to repair their broken laptop. They would send referrals of a residential user that had a broken laptop!

You also have to put in a lot of time. So if anyone is interested in BNI... do your homework first and be a skeptic. It is certainly very pyramid schemey in itself.

 

[HCHTech]

So as you might imagine, it really, really, really matters who those members are and who they know.

Usually the IT spots are filled, so you don't have a lot of choice in the group you join.

Yes indeed to both of these. If you are looking to join, do you homework, the membership is public so you can find out who is in the groups. If you see a group with no IT and yes with a cabling company or security or web design company, then that one would have much more value. Also, if you know of a business in your area you'd like to do more work for, look to see if they are represented in a BNI group and then check to see if that group already has an IT company.

I was in a small chapter that grew to about 37 members, then shrank back to 15 in the 5 years I was a member. I got a lot of good training out of BNI, and it certainly helped me and my business. I didn't get a lot of clients from BNI, so not much real money (not zero, but certainly nothing memorable). What I DID get, was an introduction to the retiring owner of another IT company in my area, who I clicked with immediately and ultimately purchased his business - effectively doubling my business' revenue. The regional director did the intro, so it wasn't even directly through my chapter, but it wouldn't have happened had I not been in BNI. This one transaction made my 5-years participation worthwhile. The group has since dissolved, and I wouldn't do it again. It was a ton of work and getting up so damned early for every weekly meeting was not my favorite thing.

 

[callthatgirl]

I've been relieved by many "I have a tech in the same building now where I office" and it's just part of doing business. I fired my old bookkeeper because of 2 reasons...she overlooked a $5000 write off and I found a new gal in the town I was living. Sadly...new gal really messed up but that lead me to the bookeeper I've had 5 years now. I have room for new clients so just move on.

 

[fastremotehelp.com]

So I get an email from a client to discontinue his Managed Services through me which are billed annually. He said he got a new computer guy from BNI who is handling this now.



Can't wait to welcome this client back with open arms when he comes crawling.

I do wish I knew why he decided to transition after being a client for 7 years though ... seems strange to me.

My first thought is that those networking groups are useless. I've been to a couple of free meetings and they just seemed sad and pointless, so I never joined. SUDDEN FLASH OF INSIGHT: I just realized what's wrong with trying to fish clients out of one of those groups! Those groups represent the OPPOSITE of what I consider a great client. A great client to me is someone who is so busy trying to run his business and get things done that the last thing he has time for is a "networking group".

• A great client is short on time, not on money.
• A great client needs me to help him today and keep him on track tomorrow.
• A great client is someone who when you suggest an upgrade, something that will help him, says "let's get it installed right away."
• A great client has a working business and needs me to help him run it better via better technology.

These networking groups, as you accurately described, are composed of starving business people without clients or income. Eeeew. Just Eeewww.

As for your client wanting to try another provider, I've had that happen several times. I always try to look at it as a good and natural thing, he's just seeing if he can get a better deal with another vendor. Remove all your software and remind him gently about the startup fee for re-installing all that and putting him back on a plan when he comes back. Wish him luck, and whatever happens, that's fine.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I haven't "lost a lot"..so not much experience in pulling out of clients. I'd be concerned about having my remote tools there, so as soon as I was notified..I'd send an email to the "new IT guy"...CC'ing the soon to be ex client...to transition services. This way the client is not exposed. (like..removing A/V). I'd still want to pull my remote tools. And then line up any/all other tools, backup, email filtering, email itself, DNS control panel, domain registrar, etc etc.

Re: BNI...we owe a huge part of our success to BNI...my colleague has been in it for over 15 years, and for over 10 years I was in a different chapter, culminating in my final year I was chapter president. The chapter I was in, started out around 18 members..when I left were were hovering 30. There's a large chapter close to me that averages about 75..biggest in our state. Their long time IT guy stopped his "consulting job" and took a job heading up the VoIP installs for an ISP in the area. You can bet we cozied up good with him..got a TON of his clients. I'm still making money from MSP clients I've picked up via BNI, I easily pulling in way more per year than BNI cost....multiplies more. Getting your annual investment of ~$1k back each year should be cake walk, should be getting 5 digits of sales via BNI.

A lot of people make the mistake of assuming all BNI groups are the same and just join the first one they find. Or they've been to 1....and think that's it. Chapters are made up of people. People vary. Some chapters are..not as good of a fit, others are better, others are great. You also need to seek out chapters which have really strong people in the specifically good types of business (sphere of influence) that can help you the most.

Can't be the quiet type to sit in the back and be an uninvolved bore. It's not for the "socially challenged" types (which..a lot of stereotypical IT people are). Success in BNI involves being an active member, getting involved with other members, getting up there and giving those 30 second commercial with personality, and giving really entertaining/engaging 10 minute presentations. And doing things with other members outside of BNI, getting to know them, getting involved in community events with them. Every group has members who you learn will give great 10 minutes presentations and you look forward to those and those members who are boring and giving 10 minute presentations where everyone is yawning and nodding off. Which do you want to be?

I headed up several community events when I was BNI prez, one was a huge fund raiser for a local services shelter, raised a lot of money, got the event in the paper..including a picture. Lots of successful business people get involved in various local business organization such as BNI and local business Chamber groups. And remain involved with them throughout their career. I know plenty of very successful biz owners that still go to them all...does't mean desperate or starving...it means they enjoy being involved with other biz owners and with the community. For some it's a way to have a scheduled "outside of work" social hour that normally you'd not carve out for yourself. Nice to have a break once a week where you don't dive into work at 0530...