Has 4N Opened More Meeting In Your Area Have Numbers Dropped Off

2 more groups opened in my area numbers in other groups seem to be droping.

What is happening in your area.

In my area more groups have opened, Banbury Evening and Milton Keynes evening particularly.

The benefit of these to the breakfast meets has been noticeable to, with people attending both. A new launch always creates more energy in an area and, of course, brings more members and passporters in to the network at large.

The great thing about 4N is that no one has to attend. So if you have something more important to do, holidays, kids, real work, then people do that.

We as members cant have it both ways and the nature of the passport always means the thing is in flux.

A venue change, a new team, a 4sighter, can all make a group numbers jump or drop.. Same goes for holiday season.

I've come to not worry about it over these last few years, knowing if a group isn't working, we take the brave step of closing it, if there is capacity, we open up others.

Are you implying networking's not real work then Brad? 

Brad I am sorry, that was not my point.

Do you think 4N is growing to fast in some areas where there are already a few groups and watering the membership down in that area.

I have read and get your points, Hope you can understand what I am tring to say.

Thing is it is all about the teams in any given group.

We don't have a national map of planned launches, it is completely driven by the people in that area, as is the success of any particular group. Groups very often wax and wane as teams and people come and go. An answer to membership being watered down is for each group to have a sensible number of visitors at each meeting, thus there is constantly a flow of new people.

 

Then may be that is it then lack of vistors.

But to my pee brain, I would say it is watering down, Just what I feel.

What is then an average number for meetings at 4N lets just say mornings.

Average is 23 across the UK.

 

In my time in 4N the successes of the different groups in the area have fluctuated - one will be the most popular for a while, then it switches to another, then a different one and then back to the first again. Bank holiday weeks, school holidays and whatever else inevitably affect attendances whilst the launch of a new group or a venue change at an existing one will inevitably draw people to it for an initial period.

While I think there can be a danger of saturation with too many groups competing for passporters in the same area, the flip side is that there's another group team working to attract new members. If the teams are all working effectively you've got to have a fair number of groups in a small area before the saturation point is in danger of being reached.

Hi Martin,

I absolutely understand your feelings and I have had the fear of "watering down" groups discussion with a number of members throughout my region when planning the launch of new groups.

There is only a risk of watering down attendance at a nearby group if the launch process does not go according to plan. The launch process/period for a new group (i.e. the first 3 meetings) is designed to see an influx of visitors resulting in new members which should only benefit nearby groups. However, and I have to be honest here, the Bedford Evening group launch period has not been the success that we planned for or expected and that group is experiencing lower numbers than we would hope for. So YES, you are quite right when you say it is a lack of visitors and the team including myself have to take reponsibility for this and work harder to build it and get it right. BUT, interestingly prior to, and during the Bedford Evening Group launch period we have seen the Bedford Breakfast group continue to grow to consistently 20 plus attendees. St Neots hasn't suffered as a direct result of the new group in Bedford but only in that it has not had the energy or focus that it needs. You will now see team changes and a new focus here which will culminate in another successful group in the area for you to visit.

Thanks for your comments, I look forward to seeing you again soon.

 

Chris

The meeting last night at Bedford was very enjoyable good 4sight.

The down side 14 people all of which I know a I think i am right in saying no visitors.

I have been to 3 meetings at this group.

Bedford mornings as you may know is what I call my home group.

I like it so much I go all the time to it, but as there are 3 IT Guys there 2 having been members for a long time, they pick up all the IT work. (and so they should)

I get on with both of them very well and knew both of them before jioning 4N.

I pass work to one of them (one job passed today) and the other has passed a little work my way.

But this group I think will just turn into a social group for me.

I will try see if MK  can work better for me.

St Neots nice people but 8 people a bit on the low side.

Martin

I can see your line of thinking.  If there are five meetings a week in your immediate vicinity then you are most likely to go to the one that most suits you rather than there just being one a fortnight and that is made an important date in your diary.  However, on the flip side of that it does also mean that by having more options of days then there is the wider market who could attend.

Regards

David

Hi Martin

St Neots has stabilised at around the 14 - 16 mark at the moment; but we have a new GL starting there very soon and I am optimistic that, as with Bedford breakfast, a new GL will bring a fresh injection of energy to the group...

One of the issues for me with the Evening group is that it is about targeting those who are unable to attend breakfast meetings and whilst Bedford has been the only group in the area, there has been a lack of choice for people - which does mean that we haven't really had many options for those wanting to exercise a passport membership - which is one of the biggest selling points of 4N. The launch of MK and Cambridge evening groups in the area gives that choice and so again, I am optimistic that this group will grow over the next few weeks too...

Without sounding too big-headed; when I took over Bedford breakfast it was very like St Neots is now... and look what's happened there...!!!

Watch this space... ;-)

Hi Helen, sound big headed never.

Good 1-2-1 with you last night I like the 4sight.

Were there any visitors last night.

Not big headed just true...

No Martin, no visitors last time, but as I have already said we as the team must address that, and will.