Welcome to Business Friends Lincs

Simply put, Business Friends Lincs is a group of like minded sole-traders, business owners and company representatives who, after becoming disillusioned with their franchised network meetings, formed their own networking group.

We felt that our time and money could be better spent doing what we do: business.

Networking and referrals are the key to growth for many small businesses, so we are slowly and steadily growing our numbers with like minded guests and new members. This way the group can naturally evolve into a core of regional business people that trust and refer to each other in their daily business and personal affairs.

We feel that, although there are many groups that practice a networking and referral system, ours is unique in that we are not built on a franchise structure.

But why is this a big deal?

Well, the main advantages are:

• We all work for ourselves - we do not need to be co-erced into working to recruit for the network
• No annual membership fee - small businesses need to keep their outgoings to a minimum so our subscription is based fortnightly
• Equal members - no one individual has total authority; we work on trust and on the basis that we want to to work together
• Not for profit - subscriptions are cost based (venue hire, breakfast, main events)

In short, we are 'friends that do business' and our aim is to increase each members growth and profitability, not by suffocating them with referral and guest 'targets', but rather allowing a natural growth of members and business to business relationships.

60 Second Introduction

This is an elevator pitch to let people know who you are, what you do and, most importantly, what your specific targets are at the moment. These could be:

• Sectors
• Areas of town
• Specific Companies or organisations

This way, everyone in the group can get a feel for what referrals to look out for.

Top Tip: keep it brief and plan ahead – 60 seconds is not as long as you think!

5 Minute Presentation

A little more in depth; this is your opportunity to raise awareness of your business and give the group a more detailed insight into what you do. This will build greater trust with your fellow members, as you will demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in your chosen field; they'll then be able to give stronger referrals, which will ultimately lead to more business. There is also the added benefit of sharpening your presentation skills – vital when pitching to larger businesses.

In planning your presentation, consider the following:

• Why are you in your particular line of business?
• What makes you different/better than your competitors (your 'Unique Selling Point' or 'USP)
• Why should people buy your products/services (What's in it for them)?

You can use a wide range of equipment to support your presentation: Powerpoint slides; flipcharts; props etc etc. Choose wisely and, especially with Powerpoint, keep the slides simple and try to avoid simply reading the text – it's better to have nothing than to just say what's on the slide!

Above all, relax! Your fellow group members are interested; they want to know about your business and they want to help build your success. No-one wants you to fail! Remember to smile, maintain eye contact and pause for breath; turn the volume up a notch so as to project your voice (no need to just shout though – this is aggressive and will scare people!).

Top Tip: Adrenaline is your friend – it makes you think and react faster. Remember that you know your subject better than anyone; this is your chance to 'show off' – enjoy it!

Referrals play an important part in building the network of business friends and, in turn, trust is key when referring our personal contacts to members of the group. We realise that referrals may take some time to come through depending on the nature of each member's business.

Members of Business Friends Lincs will as time goes by learn more about each others businesses and develop the trust in each other through the following:

• Regular 1 to 1 meetings to find out in more depth about the sort of business you are looking for and what your business actually does.

This will lead to the giving of referrals which can be categorsied as one of the following:

• Referrals of the immediate variety , where someone needs your services now and is expecting your call.

Referrals where someone will possibly need your services in the future and would welcome a meeting to find out how you can help them and perhaps most importantly Introductions to their best contacts and clients who maybe will never need a member's services BUT are willing to meet and find out more about your business . Hopefully, after meeting with you, they just might want to refer you on to their clients, thus expanding your contacts

Fresco Café at e-factor's Enterprise Village, on Prince Albert Gardens, in Grimsby, and can be reached from the King Edward Street side of the Cleethorpe Road flyover.

We would prefer you to come to one of our fornightly events, so you can introduce yourself and ensure you get on with the rest of the buisness friends. To get yourself booked onto the next fortnighly meeting head onto our events page and book online from there, alterntively please ring our phone number on 01472 898570.

We are currently looking for fellow friends under the following trades

• 06:45 to 7:00 am - Sign in and get a coffee
• 07:15 am - Breakfast
• 07:40 am - Member and Visitor, 60 second business introduction
• 08:00 am - Presentations – 10 minute guest or member 5 minute presentation
• 08:10 am - Meeting closure – members provided with the opportunity to make requests and thank you for business
• 08:30 am - Member Mingle, meeting officially closed, ideal opportunity for networking to stay for one on ones!!