I love networking, no one ever explained this while I was training to become an Architect, but the best way to get new business is to go out and press the flesh.
I am a member of two networking groups, three if you count the Friday Night Freelance Meetup (a pub-club for the self employed), the two serious groups I attend regularly are Bizini and the Property Network Scotland.
Bizini is a well run networking lunch, usually held at Gusto on George St. Edinburgh (it used to be Est Est Est.) It has a broad cross-section of the Edinburgh business community and is open to any organisation, though they limit the number of members from each trade or profession. So far, I am the only Architect and I am continually amazed at how many business professionals have never met an Architect, let alone worked with one. I can only suppose we are rarer than I had imagined. Or we do a great job of keeping to ourselves!
Bizini helps me meet a wide variety of people, some of whom I do business with and so far I have had one direct commission from another member.
For a more focused networking experience, I attend the Property Network Scotland every fortnight. This group grew out of a local BNI chapter and has been in the development stages for one year now, it went live for the first time today, 15th September 2009.
The group aims to have every property/construction trade, profession and service you could ever need under one roof. We have over 20 members and growing, I am the groups Architect and I anticipate great things from this. We work to provide referrals for other member of the group and to publicise its services to as wide an audience as possible.
Even though its still in its infancy, some very interesting deals are being done by the members. Watch this space.
1 comments:
Interesting post. I too am an Architect and agree that Networking is King! Tried BNI for the last year but it wasnt very fruitful. Perhaps just the downturn. Would be good to meet with you or chat on the phone?
kmartin@blockarchitects.co.uk
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