My Network Group Connect. Grow. Succeed.

The core product of IBN is our business networking experience. At present, the experience is not optimal and is a key problem in retaining members:

• Meetings are not consistent and do not convey a common message leading to lower guest to member conversion rates.
• Attendance information is not often transmitted to IBN leading to an inability of IBN to provide marketing support for Chapter Facilitators.
• No skills training is provided to new and existing members leading to a lack of referrals at the worst and a lack of comfort with networking at the best.
• People with unpaid dues or who have never paid dues to IBN regularly attend meetings leading to an erosion in value and revenues.

To address these issues, IBN will be rolling out three new components.

1. A net set of chapter meeting guidelines to help ensure more a more consistent experience for members, and to ensure that documentation and member status is handled.
2. A networking training program for new and existing members that is designed to make networking more enjoyable and effective for all members.
3. Compensation for Chapter Facilitators to ensure that an incentive is provided for growth and membership standards including dues are enforced.

Links

• IBN Chapter Meeting Guidelines
• IBN Training Program
• IBN Leadership Compensation Program

The key to making business networking effective is taking care of your network and constantly finding new additions to your network. The key to running a successful business networking organization is no different:

Retain existing members and always be adding new members.

Our marketing plan is built to do three things to help IBN Grow:

1. Recruit more members.
2. From our members, identify and empower those that want to lead IBN's growth with the tools and incentive to do so.
3. Create an environment where our members are welcome, empowered and satisfied with IBN's core networking product.

Here is how IBN is addressing each of these issues:

• Recruiting
• Leadership Opportunities
• Improved Networking Experience

Making far reaching changes will require some basic structure changes to IBN.  

• IBN Members and Chapter Facilitators (CFs) will have to sign appropriate agreements that outline the benefits and responsibilities of their roles.  Text will be made available when the agreements are completed by our attorney.
• Guests will be allowed to attend a chapter meeting once for free.  The second time, a $15 non-member fee will be charged and collected by the Chapter Facilitator.
• Chapter Facilitators will be compensated $4.50 per month (paid one month in arrears) for members in good standing that join through their chapter.  Facilitators will be paid $10 per paying guest to their chapter. Facilitators must maintain an average attendance of 15, be current on their member dues and follow IBN Chapter Meeting Guidelines to be compensated.
• A new Regional Manager (RM) position will be added.  RMs are responsible and compensated for forming new chapters and growing IBN.  Any IBN member may become a RM if they meet the criteria for the job and want to do so.
• Website users will be suspended when their membership expires or 60 days after joining the website and not joining and IBN chapter.