When did you feel good that you joined Biznik?

When I realized how useful Biznik is. [And being a compulsive buyer that I am..., before anyone stopped me, I sighed up as a supporting member! So far... its one of the best business choices I've so far made!]

Thanks Biznik,

-Andrey

The first event I attended was great but I felt a bit like a fish out of water. At the second event, I talked to far more people and really "clicked" with most everyone I met, so I instantly knew this was an amazing group. Those of us in Seattle are really reaping the benefits of this group more than anyone because we actually meet each other. I hope that Biznik takes off enough in other cities for members to host and attend a variety of events b/c I feel the greatest benefit is in actually meeting...not just connecting within this online community forum.

Andrey, nice to see an actual picture of you...and to have the trusted little penguin in the corner, too! Funny!

Nancy

(http://www.hoptosignaroo.com)

I felt good about joining biznik when I attended my first event and met Nancy. I knew then that I had found one of the best biz networking groups around.

for those of you that haven't gotten to know anita, i've talked with her at length. she is very knowledgeable in her field and also very easy to converse with. when i first connected with her here i had an OMG moment because i realized just how powerful this Biznik tool could be..i can reach across the globe and do business with another independant business owner in India..before outsourcing was only for big business.

meeting all of you here locally especially nancy(wink wink) has been very exhilirating.

i think i had my first OMG this really is cool when i met with Danny Bronski..i was in a legal crisis..and didnt know who to turn to. He single handedly saved my business from getting shoved out into the street. that's when i realized that this is a really great place to meet people who are good at what they do right here.

But personally i still wasnt that active..but then i went to an alt crowd event with Tim Wu..booked a wedding with Karen Johansen.. booked another wedding from someone who found me here..

i started realizing i was getting clients and not even trying..i asked myself what if i became a supporting member..made myself more active and visible..what did i really have to lose? nothing!

i made the choice to go full bore with Biznik..it's not like i've met overnight success..instant millions..but then i started realizing that that's not how it works anyway..successes are incremental..they take time and work to accumulate..

i truly love every one of you so much..if it's going to take time and work, i'd rather do it with you..my fellow Bizniks who understand where i am coming from..i feel very fortunate to have found Biznik.

Yes, Anita is a very valuable member. As soon as I get my ideas on paper I'll be doing business with her.

Biznik is friends helping friends!

We are all here to help each other. [Even if there is a cost] For the most part... our masks are off. The types of connections/services/transactions that take place here are: Business to Business, Friend to Business, and Friend to Friend.

Where else can you get this? Pssst... Biznik! =]

-Andrey

I agree with Andrey that becoming a Supporting Member of Biznik makes networking on the site more productive. Aside from that, once I began to reach outside of the computers limited parameters and began to meet people, Biznik offered deeper networking opportunities. I am looking forward to exploring some of the new features of Biznik with this fancy dancy new website.

It is like this...ENERGY BEGETS ENERGY Not until I started putting the time & positive energy into my photography career including into Biznik have I started to see reward of the opportunities that networking through BIZNIK can offer..... I look forward to this growing in Portland OR

I have only been on biznik a short time, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the openness and professionalism displayed in the discussions. It is a refreshing change to be able to participate in an internet discussion that is not anonymous.

Biznik events are hosted by members, Anita. I'm not too familiar with the culture of India, nor do I now much about the geography of the cities there, but I do know that there a number of members in your country, only you know how many are near enough to you. Do you have an interest in hosting a Biznik networking event near you?

In the States, a simple networking event is very easy and requires very little planning. We do not recommend renting out spaces, hiring caterers, or supplying refreshments. For the social networking events that we refer to as "Happy Hour" events, an event host needs only to locate a bar or cocktail lounge on a day that is typically slow between 5:30 and 8:30pm. We recommend you approach the bar manager, let them know that you'd like to suggest to 20-30 people that they come to the bar during that slow time on a slow night for a networking event, and stress that the patrons would each be responsible for their own bar tab. Then all the bar manager has to do is make sure he has an extra wait person on hand in case it gets too busy.

Most bars here in Seattle love it when Bizniks come by between 5:30 and 8:30pm on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday night and will even offer Biznik members wearing a Biznik name tag, reduced prices on drinks and food.

Great! That's a start. We recommend that the first step be to contact those near you who are on Biznik, meet for coffee and talk about ways you can work together to build a thriving Biznik community in your area.

Most likely you each know 3-5 other small business owners who's benefit from this community too. If you threw together a small networking event that they could all come to, that's a great start.