What is a Business Club?
I saw this term pop up in a Google Search and wondered what it was all about. So, I started investigating.
Business Club…what a straightforward phrase and a brilliant concept.
Leave it to the Business Club of London to develop the term ‘Business Club’ and creating a straightforward approach to business networking…or is it business networking?
When someone here in the states uses the term ‘Business Networking’, in reference to a gathering of business people, there are always at least three basic reactions.
- Over 65% of business people who hear the mention of a ‘Business Networking’ function get a nauseating feeling rushing through their body from the memories of their previous experiences attending these gathers where they spent precious time listening to mind-numbing elevator speeches that told them nothing of what they want to know about a person’s business.
- 25% of business people who hear the term ‘Business Networking’ will take an interest. This is due to this group of business people use ‘Hope’ as their marketing strategy and feed off their feeling that their attempt to present themselves as an ‘Expert’ to a group of total strangers will ‘Hopefully’ generate business leads.
- The remaining 10% are part of a growing group of younger professionals who interpret the term ‘Business Networking’ as being computer systems and programs that assist businesses. This is due to their lack of experience in the business world and either has not attended a Business Networking’ function or they are more entune to having other interests outside what a gathering of business people offer, like looking for a job.
Business Club Possibilities
However, when you hear the phrase…Business Club. It stands on it’s on.
The word ‘Club’ says it all, especially for people who have experienced the benefits associated with private club membership. Club’s memberships usually are Open but to Invitation Only.
Club’s usually have a screening process focused on ensuring the membership is filled with likeminded people.
Rules Are Good
The term ‘Club’ generally means there are rules and structure involved. Successful business people strive on having rules and structure.
The two words put together…Business Club, just rings loudly of being a productive form of marketing.
Challenges
Of course, there are those who do not work well with rules and structure. Or, they are not cut out to obeying rules and structure. Kinda like the business people who set up their office at Starbucks and complain to EVERYONE about how their business is not being taken seriously. These will be the people who will create the undertow of social media the Club will have to endure.
Solopernuers generally have serious problems with clubs because clubs gather other more experienced Solopernuers who would be in direct competition. This produces the naysayers of the value of a business club.
And of course, there will be those who are not invited to join the club who will attempt to create a ‘Darkside’ to being a member of a business club through their public outcry that the business club is an ‘elitist gathering’.
Advantages Abound
Granted, Business Clubs of any type are not for everyone, but for the business people who understand the benefits associated with being in a Club, the sky seems to be the limit in generating solid sales leads from other club members.
If managed correctly, a business club should be a safe cohesive environment where members know there is someone looking out for their wellbeing and safeguarding their professional image by keeping the membership filled with other concerning business executives.
Loyalty seems to breed well in a club environment.
There just seems to be a tremendous value to being a member of a Business Club over attending traditional business networking function open to the world of unknown.
The feel of a Business Club is similar to a Golf Club where you stop by to visit with the other members in the search for someone to play a round of golf. A visit to a Business Club would be like stopping by to visit with other members of the club in the search for business referrals. Has a good ring to it.
I’m working with SyncLab Media’s executive staff to look into the possibilities of forming a Business Club for Dallas. If you in Dallas and are interested…ping me.
Then, let me know how I can help.
