Networking

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Greg Swartz

Greg Swartz

Senior Member
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado
I believe that one of the major key components to every electrical contractor's success is networking.

To that end, how do you network?

Professional organization meetings? Chamber events? Trade shows? BBB? BNI? Leads groups? Wine & dine your contractors? Word of mouth?

What do you do that makes you successful?

(I know... do a good job... but to be able to do that job, you had to get it...)

Also, on the flip side, what do you NOT do that helps make you successful.

(I know that some things will work for some, and not for others.)

Thanks,
Greg
 
K

khixxx

Senior Member
Location
BF PA
My personality and work ethic has been key for me. Networking on some forums have helped me beyond my expectation.
 
ceknight

ceknight

Senior Member
Greg Swartz said:
To that end, how do you network?
Click to expand...

I network with my customers, mostly. Dinner parties, intermission at symphony concerts, the occasional lunch.

The intermissions are the worst, my wife refuses to join me in the lobby any more because my customers always manage to find me and introduce me to their friends. Gets embarrassing sometimes, but it's a great way to get good customers. :)
 
Greg Swartz

Greg Swartz

Senior Member
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Networking...

Networking...

I network at:

The local Chamber events (Business after hours, breakfasts, expos, etc...)

BNI (I am a member of 1 chapter, but attend many... Still get calls after 6 months of not visiting some. There are 17 chapters in my city, and 3 electricians... I am the only one that "travels" around)

BRAIN (Visited a few times)

Various Expos / Home Shows - I don't get a booth (although I will in January), I go for free, and pass cards to the contractors. It works!

Blue Book Trade Shows - This one is a little harder... But the contractors are there because they want to network...

Word of Mouth - obviously...

Various business groups - I visit them on occasion.


I tell you that networking works... last year, I had 2 part timers. This year, I have 8 employees (7 full, 1 part time).

Enjoy,
Greg
 
S

satcom

Senior Member
Greg Swartz said:
I network at:

The local Chamber events (Business after hours, breakfasts, expos, etc...)

BNI (I am a member of 1 chapter, but attend many... Still get calls after 6 months of not visiting some. There are 17 chapters in my city, and 3 electricians... I am the only one that "travels" around)

BRAIN (Visited a few times)

Various Expos / Home Shows - I don't get a booth (although I will in January), I go for free, and pass cards to the contractors. It works!

Blue Book Trade Shows - This one is a little harder... But the contractors are there because they want to network...

Word of Mouth - obviously...

Various business groups - I visit them on occasion.


I tell you that networking works... last year, I had 2 part timers. This year, I have 8 employees (7 full, 1 part time).

Enjoy,
Greg
Click to expand...

Over the years I found Networking, and Yellow Pages, were the most productive of all methods, the worst preformace dollar for dollar, was from referals, and direct marketing, with the expection of local newspapers, provided you have a large eniough space, and stay in the space, Not in and Out.
 
tesla fan

tesla fan

Member
We are members of BNI and we get lots of work through it. Ive attended the meetings once a week for the past 5 months and have had great success.
 
NolaTigaBait

NolaTigaBait

Senior Member
Location
New Orleans,LA
satcom said:
Over the years I found Networking, and Yellow Pages, were the most productive of all methods, the worst preformace dollar for dollar, was from referals, and direct marketing, with the expection of local newspapers, provided you have a large eniough space, and stay in the space, Not in and Out.
Click to expand...

i get all of my business from referrals...i have friends that do plumbing a/c , etc...ive never advertised in the yellow pages...(i haven't been at this too long either)
 
Fulthrotl

Fulthrotl

~Autocorrect is My Worst Enema.~
Location
HB, CA (19 Hrs. 22 Min. from Winged Horses)
Occupation
E
cadpoint said:
I know it's all "hip" to ya'll but what is BNI ?
Click to expand...

www.bni.com

i gave it a shot, and it didn't go where i wanted to go...
i got referrals, 90% of them i might as well have gotten
from craig's list. people wanted you to change a broken plug,
and you did, and that was it.

the last two bni referrals i got were a panel change, i scheduled
it, and when i showed up to do it, panel in hand, it was already
done... the guy got someone off craig's list to do it for $50 bucks
less, and didn't bother to call to cancel.

and a trouble call to a rental, from a BNI member. i've invoiced for
an hours labor twice, still haven't gotten paid.

however, a friend of mine is in bni about 30 miles away, and he pulled
$150k out of the network in billing in a year....

YMMV.
 
Greg Swartz

Greg Swartz

Senior Member
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado
cadpoint said:
I know it's all "hip" to ya'll but what is BNI ?
Click to expand...

BNI... funny you ask, it was on this forum about 1 1/2 years ago someone told ME...

Business Networking International. It is a referral group that meets once a week. You try to do business with the people in the group. The idea is that you meet people who need XXXXX service, and you tell them "Hey, I know someone that does that..." Basically you have 30 or so sales people telling people about you. Cost is about $450 a year... Catch is you gotta show up every week.... it's hard, but I think it is well worth it.

There is exclusivity in each group: Only 1 of each profession. In town, there are 17 groups. Only 3 have electrcians. I visit a lot of groups. None of the other sparkys do... I still get a lot of referrals from other groups.

I wrote my profile so that cabling guys cannot join the group... we handle Cat5 and Coax too...

About 1/3 of the BNI group is in the Chamber too... which makes for great networking...
 
bikeindy

bikeindy

Senior Member
Location
Indianapolis IN
Greg Swartz said:
BNI... funny you ask, it was on this forum about 1 1/2 years ago someone told ME...

Business Networking International. It is a referral group that meets once a week. You try to do business with the people in the group. The idea is that you meet people who need XXXXX service, and you tell them "Hey, I know someone that does that..." Basically you have 30 or so sales people telling people about you. Cost is about $450 a year... Catch is you gotta show up every week.... it's hard, but I think it is well worth it.

There is exclusivity in each group: Only 1 of each profession. In town, there are 17 groups. Only 3 have electrcians. I visit a lot of groups. None of the other sparkys do... I still get a lot of referrals from other groups.

I wrote my profile so that cabling guys cannot join the group... we handle Cat5 and Coax too...

About 1/3 of the BNI group is in the Chamber too... which makes for great networking...
Click to expand...


I think I am the Guy who told you about BNI. I dropped out about 6 months ago due to the high volume of work we have and the meetings became harder to get to every week. I still get referals from BNI members on a weekly basis due to the trust I have built there.
 
Greg Swartz

Greg Swartz

Senior Member
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado
bikeindy said:
I think I am the Guy who told you about BNI. I dropped out about 6 months ago due to the high volume of work we have and the meetings became harder to get to every week. I still get referals from BNI members on a weekly basis due to the trust I have built there.
Click to expand...

Indeed you are the referrer... just found the thread...
http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=86748


I guess you need to put an outside referral for me...
 
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