Forum members but not Passport members. Why?

Yes, and there are loads of networking groups which pre date 4N which work for others. If there was a paid for forum presence we would pay for that and it would be a good idea to run them, particularly in an area where there is no 4N group running. Plus, you really do need to consider how to use your time, depends on what you are providing and whether there are other ways to reach your target market. If there are, and you have a scaleable business then you need to consider how you use your time within your business, for some networking is great, for others its not the best and certainly not the only way to grow their businesses. Many online businesses only ever use online means to generate business and are very successful.

Interesting perspective and stance Neil.

QUOTE "If you can't invest £500 in yourself to be a passport member, why should someone invest in YOU?"

Can't or wont? Right now it is wont. Does that make me less worthy?

Question for you Neil.

Are you suggesting you can't sell yourself over the internet?

Interesting perspective Neil and one I kinda agree with. On the forums I am just one of hundreds of web developers, but in person, my personality and enthusiam for my business comes across, does this help me win work? Sure does. I always do a lot of my business online and gain work from that.

There are numerous reasons for not being a passporter which has been done numerous times on here.

On the other hand, I've made contacts through the forum and because we are in 4N and I've had the opportunity to make contact via PM, speak on the phone and work together to solve an issue, this has helped me form a judgement as to whether I would work with them on a paid basis, without ever meeting them. 

In addition, what about sites like www.fiverr.com - lots of people do very well solely via marketing themselves on the Internet.

There are loads of reasons why people don't/ won't/ can't attend the meetings.  If it wasn't for the forum, I wouldn't have come across Lee Rickler or Unleashed Andy.   On the other hand, I would like to see more passport members using the forum - but hey ho - no big deal.

You're just someone else if you make yourself "just someone else".

Stand out; the forum gives you the opportunity to reah a wider audience and if you use it correctly, it can translate to additional interest in 4Sights, too. 

The vast majority of business I have acquired through 4N has come as a result of participating on the forum (which has worked it's way into meets as well) and making my brand stand out - there's a place for both strategies (in fact I would say both are vital, rather than one or the other). 

Should also add that the forum is a superior tool for "continuity" marketing e.g. "Deconstructing 4Networking". 9 pages long and it's a thread that markets my abilities - it's also thousands upon thousands of views worth of publicity I wouldn't have received otherwise. 

Face-to-face is essential, but so too is getting your face seen on a regular basis (albeit in black and white and while adopting a "brooding" pose) - the forum is great for that. 

As if their ego's weren't big enough 

I'm currently on 'sabbatical' from the breakfasts although have every intention of returning in the new year.

I felt after 12 months of being a passporter that i was perhaps too dependent on 4N and hadn't really invested the time into expanding my marketing mix. The 6 months i've had off  have concentrated the mind and the money into other areas, a risk that has paid off fairly well.

Another factor was that i kept a spreadsheet of people i'd had 1-2-1's with (around 120 people) and i honestly couldn't remember who half of them were or what most of them actually did - the time off has afforded me the opportunity to go back over my tracks a bit and build on the relationships that had already started before heading off and meeting more people. 

Looking forward to returning to the fold though. 

I was wondering who did that...

It's an interesting question, but it's not really about £500 is it?

I had a passport for 18 months and at a time when I had changed my work situation (I'm an Independent Financial Adviser) and needed fresh clients, introducers and advocates, it was an excellent investment. It was a lot more than £500 though!

£500 - Passport

£1,000 - 2 meetings a week

£2,000 - Travel (5,000 miles @ 40ppm

£ ???  - My time (opportunity cost)

Now I am fully established again and have several good referral sources and collaborations for clients, the last bit "Time" is quite valuable. I believe full-on 4N again would cost me all in £12,000 + per annum. That's achievable, but remember £12K margin, not turnover, is just to break even.

As I have said elsewhere, for a "mature" business that has already committed 18 months time/money to 4N and grown through it, I would like to see a tier of membership that gave a "Premium" Forum Access (that might just amount to a Blue Peter Badge on your profile to be honest) but freedom to attend the odd 4N Breakfast when time and convenient travel allows.

Mark

Eeek! That sounds a lot doesn't it?  I try and think of it as an investment rather than a cost .  In my early days of  networking - I met a lady who said she was a dinner lady....and was interested in having a website.  It turned out that she was the Financial Director for the largest catering supplier in the not for profit industry in the country.  Ordered 3 huge websites,  and a marketing brainstorming session that I referred out to Paula Cohen of Action Coach and an SEO training course delivered by Gareth of Clickwork Media and Social Media training from Lee Brookes of Beacon For Business.   I have just set up on my own....and I do believe that I have to be in it to win it...it is a key part of my marketing strategy. 

Always interesting to meet online marketers/SEO experts who promise to unleash your business on the net (no need to leave the office)...Yet, they do!