Choose Your Business Group Wisely

Small business owners are told that networking can grow their company. However, owners have too many choices of business groups and do not know which ones are right for them. That’s OK. Trying some different types for a test period can help owners narrow down the choices to the ones that make the most sense. Then, they can eliminate the rest.

What Are the Options?

1. Referral-based groups – These are the groups that require members to pass referrals to each other or they recommend referrals. The referrals might not be good for business owners. Often, these are expensive and work for certain industries but not others. However, they can give you additional business to increase your revenues. They also are structured, which might appeal to some business owners.
2. Mastermind groups – These are designed to solve problems for business owners. They are structured and focus less on referrals and more on improving businesses overall system or systems. Often, business owners will go to these groups and referral-based groups to get the best of both worlds. They can be ineffective for some people.
3. Free networking groups – The free networking groups are there for those business owners who have no money to join other groups. They give some referrals, but giving referrals is not a requirement. Often, they meet for lunch or after hours. Business owners meet a few people, but they don’t get many benefits. Having one-to-ones with members is often part of the routine, but again, there are no requirements to help the other members.
4. Paid networking groups – These networking groups require a fee to belong to the group. They have a routine. They require one-to-ones with others, but they don’t require members to pass referrals. Like the referral-based groups, these referrals might not be good. They might just pass along names without any context or warm introduction.
5. Business relationship groups – Small business owners who join business relationship groups are interested in building a relationship with others that will eventually lead to new revenue down the road. These owners meet weekly, monthly or some other regular method and don’t expect sales to increase. They want to get to know fellow members and help them grow their business. Once they get to know their fellow members, then they can find out how to help them. These are effective for long-term strategy and brand awareness.

Where Does BOSS Academy Fit?

BOSS Academy and its Phoenix Fridays Leadership Power Hour falls into the business relationship group category. However, it provides more than relationship-building. Members are given marketing support, such as ProVideo Pages that provides a marketing video to members or press releases that get attraction for your brand; coaching support, such as getting advice about a website, marketing language or presentations; business tips, such as branding or vision; and health support, such as health tips or empathy when business owners are going through something.

Phoenix Fridays Leadership Power Hour is the launch pad for membership benefits. They can attend the meetings and access community page where so many more benefits exist, but they do not have to do that. What they take from BOSS Academy is up to the small business owners. They can use as many benefits or as few as they wish that work for their business. This model has kept interest in the group alive. Some members have shared their knowledge and experience to others for years. And, revenues have increased for members because of the model.

Members can have access to:

1. Marketing videos
2. Health information and slides
3. Resources
4. The Yes! Test that allows owners to determine whether they are using correct language in their marketing.
5. Challenges to grow their businesses
6. Help from others in the group
7. Discounts on press releases and coaching
8. Presentations from leaders in various industries
9. Environmental activism through tree planting
10. Option to be on hot seat to resolve a problem in their company

Visit bossacademy.com to find out more about the group. Paul Kirch, founder and group leader, will talk with you and give you an invitation to check out the meetings.