Thinking about joining a structured networking group to generate referrals. BNI is $700/year in my area, chamber of commerce is about $400, and Rotary is $500. Has anyone tried these and gotten utility audit clients from them?
Networking Groups: BNI, Chamber, Rotary - Which Works?
I was in BNI for 3 years. The forced referral system works but the quality varies. I got about 8 legitimate referrals per year, closed maybe 2-3 of them. The challenge is that most BNI members are small businesses - retail shops, restaurants, local services - which tend to have smaller utility bills. If you're targeting bigger commercial or industrial accounts, the contacts in BNI won't be the decision makers you need.
Chamber of commerce worked better for me. Less pressure than BNI and the events attract a broader mix of business sizes. I go to the monthly mixers and the annual business expo. Over 4 years I've gotten maybe 10 clients directly from chamber connections, including two property management companies that turned into recurring work.
Rotary is more about community involvement than lead generation, at least in my chapter. But I've built genuine friendships with business owners who eventually became clients or sent referrals. It's a very long game though - took 2 years before any business came from it.
All three can work depending on your market and personality. BNI is the most transactional, chamber is the most versatile, Rotary is the most relationship-driven. If I had to pick one, I'd go chamber of commerce. The events are flexible, the cost is low, and the mix of attendees gives you more chances to meet facility managers and property owners.