Hi! I don't envy you the snow...I only use my Jeep for the desert!

About your event...I publish the Seattle Business Networking Guide and the Washington Networking Guide...Post your event for FREE and see if we can get NEW people for Biznik. San Diego Biznikers use us. (Workshops/ Masterminds/presentations are a small fee).

We are everywhere Biznik is...plus Australia... http://NetworkingEventFinders.com

Hi Aimee, I can't make it, but you'll enjoy meeting Rick..Nice guy! ...Mindy

Rick, wonderful article and so "spot on"! I have always enjoyed your keen insights and see many ways where I have dropped the ball over the years...some have been corrected. I'm actively working on others for the important part is implementation! So often, as you point out, we get so caught up in the daily working of the business that we do not work ON the business...We may even realize that we need to set up a follow-up drip marketing system...It is on the to-do list...someday.... Someday is NOT a day on the calendar!

I love your Quote Actions...never stop!

Yes! We only had 2 no-shows...It was a gorgeous evening in the Gaslamp. Nearby Comic-Con participants...many in costume... flooded the sidewalks as the evening progressed providing people-watching at its finest. And I forgot my camera! Thanks, Aimee for hosting this, and welcome to San Diego! Mindy

Hi Cindy, I wish I had found Biznik sooner as I woud have loved to connect with you when I was in NYC last May. I did a workshop in Long Island and spent a few days in the city. I have friend with an apt. that I can use. My favorite place in the Flatiron Dist. is The Cutting Room. I saw Joan Rivers there. I LOVE NY!

I like to utilize Biznik by posting articles. I've had good responses from only two so far, and I plan on more.

Happy networking! Mindy

I'm glad to be of service. You can email me direct at MindyS at TheLinkSystem.com and we can talk some more.

Mindy

Congratulations for wanting to put a group together. It can be a lot of work but also very rewarding. My initial thought was...What is the purpose of the group? Is it for lead generation...or for mastermind, education & support? Those are two very different structures and I have been in both. I'm thinking that you are leaning towards the mastermind type of format since you did not have "referrals" on your list and you said "light networking".

Regardless of the format, the policies, procedures, and purpose must be clear and meetings run professionally. The #1 reason guests do not join a group they visited was they felt that the group was too casual, to "cliqueish" and/or the value to them was not evident.

If you already have a core group, poll them for their preferences regarding time of day & day of the week. I guarantee you will NOT get a consensus! You can never find a time that works for all.

The once-a-week exclusive categery model is almost becoming a dinasour as busy people find that schedule too much of a committment. Thus the every-other-week model is gaining popularity. Thursdays is the most popular day for networking events (at least here in San Diego)

The fee would be dependant upon your member base. There is a balance between high enough to "have something at stake", and outpricing them. Is your intent to have this as a revenue-generating business or just covering your costs? I know of one group who uses their fees to hire a consultant to observe their procedures and suggest ways to improve the performance of their leaders and to hire trainers to come in once a month to give one-hour trainings on various business-related topics.

Lastly...Visit every group you can and determine what you like and do not like about them...they all have something you can learn. Then you can structure the type of group that you envision! Good luck... I hope this helps

Mindy