Creative Marketing Agency
Photo by Zach Ramelan on Unsplash
To BNI or not BNI… That is the question?
There I was at 5 AM, questioning all my life choices while brewing extra-strong coffee. Why? Because I’d been invited to attend a BNI (Business Network International) meeting over a solid hour plus drive away. (The meeting starts at 7:30am.)
The woman who invited me, who I had taken to quickly from another networking group, was out of town. Well, no biggie. I am a big girl, and an explanation of how this new networking wilderness operates will be explained by another member…
The promise of “amazing connections” and “plenty of referrals” was enough to get me out of my cozy bed at an hour when even roosters are hitting snooze.
The “$1,398 Question” Nobody Could Answer
BNI membership costs $1398. That’s not pocket change for a small business owner. That’s my entire marketing budget. That’s my winter utilities. That’s a LOT.
When I politely inquired what exactly this hefty sum includes, I received the same rehearsed answer on repeat: “You’ll get a lot of referrals!” “You’ll get a return on your investment!”
Cool, but… how? When? From whom? Through what magical process? The vagueness was almost impressive. I’ve gotten clearer answers from fortune cookies.
For $1,398, I expected at least a laminated handbook, a sheet with statistics? Or maybe a secret handshake… Instead, I got promises that felt about as solid as a paper umbrella in one of our monumental snowstorms. (I know: mountain people don’t even really use umbrellas, but you get the idea.)
The promise of “amazing connections” and “plenty of referrals” was enough to get me out of my cozy bed at an hour when even roosters are hitting snooze.
The “$1,398 Question” Nobody Could Answer
BNI membership costs $1398. That’s not pocket change for a small business owner. That’s my entire marketing budget. That’s my winter utilities. That’s a LOT.
When I politely inquired what exactly this hefty sum includes, I received the same rehearsed answer on repeat: “You’ll get a lot of referrals!” “You’ll get a return on your investment!”
Cool, but… how? When? From whom? Through what magical process? The vagueness was almost impressive. I’ve gotten clearer answers from fortune cookies.
For $1,398, I expected at least a laminated handbook, a sheet with statistics? Or maybe a secret handshake… Instead, I got promises that felt about as solid as a paper umbrella in one of our monumental snowstorms. (I know: mountain people don’t even really use umbrellas, but you get the idea.)
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
The (Invisible) Welcome Wagon
There were approximately 15 people in this chapter. Guess how many introduced themselves to me? Maybe half. The other half seemed to exist in their own mini groups…
[Which, fine. I’m not in high school, but if you “need” a writer in your group, wouldn’t that be a priority to say hi?]
Meanwhile, another visitor — a photographer — received almost five specific examples of how members could use her services.
Me? Crickets. When I pitched an idea about blogging collaborations and SEO improvements during the breakout session, I was met with polite nods and zero engagement.
Call me old-fashioned, but isn’t the whole point of networking to, you know, network? With everyone? Especially the new person you’re trying to recruit?
The Hidden Costs (Because $1,398 Apparently Doesn’t Cover Lunch)
Just as I was wrapping my head around the financial commitment, they passed around a collection for an additional $30. For lunch. Because apparently, the $1,398 membership fee doesn’t include a simple sando.
I almost laughed out loud. It felt like buying a first-class airline ticket and then being charged to rent the plush seat with extra leg room.
The Mysterious Workings of BNI (Still a Mystery)
Throughout the entire meeting, no one thought to give a quick overview of how BNI actually functions. There were vague mentions of “1:1 meetings” and “coffee dates” and “walks,” but zero explanation of what these entail or how they generate business.
I was also reassured that now I would have 15 sales people working for me.
Ok… So, does that mean I have to reciprocate and BE the salesperson for all 15 of the other people?
I left with more questions than I arrived with, which is impressive considering I showed up pretty confused to begin with.
There were approximately 15 people in this chapter. Guess how many introduced themselves to me? Maybe half. The other half seemed to exist in their own mini groups…
[Which, fine. I’m not in high school, but if you “need” a writer in your group, wouldn’t that be a priority to say hi?]
Meanwhile, another visitor — a photographer — received almost five specific examples of how members could use her services.
Me? Crickets. When I pitched an idea about blogging collaborations and SEO improvements during the breakout session, I was met with polite nods and zero engagement.
Call me old-fashioned, but isn’t the whole point of networking to, you know, network? With everyone? Especially the new person you’re trying to recruit?
The Hidden Costs (Because $1,398 Apparently Doesn’t Cover Lunch)
Just as I was wrapping my head around the financial commitment, they passed around a collection for an additional $30. For lunch. Because apparently, the $1,398 membership fee doesn’t include a simple sando.
I almost laughed out loud. It felt like buying a first-class airline ticket and then being charged to rent the plush seat with extra leg room.
The Mysterious Workings of BNI (Still a Mystery)
Throughout the entire meeting, no one thought to give a quick overview of how BNI actually functions. There were vague mentions of “1:1 meetings” and “coffee dates” and “walks,” but zero explanation of what these entail or how they generate business.
I was also reassured that now I would have 15 sales people working for me.
Ok… So, does that mean I have to reciprocate and BE the salesperson for all 15 of the other people?
I left with more questions than I arrived with, which is impressive considering I showed up pretty confused to begin with.
Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash
The Recruitment Game (With Bonus Prizes!)
Here’s where it gets interesting. Apparently, my friend who couldn’t make it that day, received $100 for inviting me. And presumably another $100 for inviting the photographer. Suddenly, the enthusiasm for new members made more sense.
Is BNI a networking group or a recruitment game with prizes? The line seemed blurrier by the minute.
Time Is Money (And This Requires Both)
After doing some post-meeting research (because information wasn’t forthcoming at the actual meeting), I discovered that getting “real value” from BNI requires 6–8 hours of work weekly.
Let’s do the math:
For someone based across the lake, that’s a significant investment of time and money with no proposed return and a hefty price tag.
Not All Businesses Are Created Equal (In BNI Land)
Further research revealed something nobody mentioned: BNI works best for specific industries — real estate, insurance, financial services, home improvement, legal services, hair stylists & photographers. Essentially, businesses that rely heavily on local referrals.
Digital services and niche businesses (exactly what I offer) aren’t typically BNI success stories. This critical information was conspicuously absent from all conversations.
Trust Your Gut
I left the meeting with a strange feeling in my stomach that wasn’t just from the early morning coffee. Something didn’t feel right. The combination of high cost, vague promises, and the recruitment aspect triggered my internal warning system.
While I genuinely liked many of the people I met (especially the woman who I originally connected with me through Alignable), the organization itself felt like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Apparently, my friend who couldn’t make it that day, received $100 for inviting me. And presumably another $100 for inviting the photographer. Suddenly, the enthusiasm for new members made more sense.
Is BNI a networking group or a recruitment game with prizes? The line seemed blurrier by the minute.
Time Is Money (And This Requires Both)
After doing some post-meeting research (because information wasn’t forthcoming at the actual meeting), I discovered that getting “real value” from BNI requires 6–8 hours of work weekly.
Let’s do the math:
- $1,398 membership
- 6–8 hours weekly commitment
- 5 AM wake-up calls once a month
- 1+ hour commute each way especially if I were to participate on the “walks” or “coffee 1:1's”
- Additional costs for coffees, lunches, etc.
For someone based across the lake, that’s a significant investment of time and money with no proposed return and a hefty price tag.
Not All Businesses Are Created Equal (In BNI Land)
Further research revealed something nobody mentioned: BNI works best for specific industries — real estate, insurance, financial services, home improvement, legal services, hair stylists & photographers. Essentially, businesses that rely heavily on local referrals.
Digital services and niche businesses (exactly what I offer) aren’t typically BNI success stories. This critical information was conspicuously absent from all conversations.
Trust Your Gut
I left the meeting with a strange feeling in my stomach that wasn’t just from the early morning coffee. Something didn’t feel right. The combination of high cost, vague promises, and the recruitment aspect triggered my internal warning system.
While I genuinely liked many of the people I met (especially the woman who I originally connected with me through Alignable), the organization itself felt like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Where Should Your Marketing Dollars Go?
For small business owners, every marketing dollar needs to work hard. The promise (from my solo research) of “you get out what you put into it” isn’t particularly reassuring — that’s true of literally everything in life.
I’d rather invest in marketing strategies with more predictable outcomes than hope that 15 strangers will suddenly become my sales team — especially when half of them couldn’t even say hello.
Plus, the part that I would have to be a salesperson for them did not seem appealing.
For now, my $1,398 (and my precious early morning hours and snow tires) will be invested elsewhere. And I’ll be sleeping a little easier knowing I made the right choice for my business.
#BNI (Business Network International) #Networking #Small business #Membership fees #ROI (Return on Investment) #Earlymorningmeetings #Businessreferrals Marketingbudget #Digitalservices #First-time-visitor #Recruitmentincentives #Timecommitment #Networkingeffectiveness #Businessrelationships #Marketingstrategy#Copywriter #Copywriting Services #Brand Strategist #Conversion Copywriter #Copywriter#Lake Tahoe Copywriter
For small business owners, every marketing dollar needs to work hard. The promise (from my solo research) of “you get out what you put into it” isn’t particularly reassuring — that’s true of literally everything in life.
I’d rather invest in marketing strategies with more predictable outcomes than hope that 15 strangers will suddenly become my sales team — especially when half of them couldn’t even say hello.
Plus, the part that I would have to be a salesperson for them did not seem appealing.
For now, my $1,398 (and my precious early morning hours and snow tires) will be invested elsewhere. And I’ll be sleeping a little easier knowing I made the right choice for my business.
#BNI (Business Network International) #Networking #Small business #Membership fees #ROI (Return on Investment) #Earlymorningmeetings #Businessreferrals Marketingbudget #Digitalservices #First-time-visitor #Recruitmentincentives #Timecommitment #Networkingeffectiveness #Businessrelationships #Marketingstrategy#Copywriter #Copywriting Services #Brand Strategist #Conversion Copywriter #Copywriter#Lake Tahoe Copywriter
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What about you? Have you had experiences with networking groups that justify their cost? I’d love to hear your thoughts!