comments

I really wish I could make it to this event! The new Biznik Innovators Series is bringing some amazing people to town and into our community! Lara, thanks for making this happen! I'll check out the Innovator events in 2010!

Laila, I taught a hands-on event like that in Austin, TX and people loved it. From that event Austin grew by the hundreds in a few short months as the group who attended that event became more fluent in using biznik themselves as well as sharing it with others.

I'd love to host more events like that, although because of my time and expertise, this would not be a free event. I've had many requests to teach more events like this locally and via the web.

Part of what I taught in Austin were the features and functions of biznik and part of what I taught was based on my expertise as a consultant to small business, so my version of this would be more than just what can you do with biznik, but how you can do it better and smarter and with far greater impact which might even be the crux of the matter on this thread:

Some people are not seeing the value of the higher levels of membership because they are not understanding how to cause their membership here to BE valuable, and honestly a lot of people have profiles that are not at all effective and that's not biznik's fault--it's not about just about posting a profile and viola, you're done!

Free members who are waiting to see the value are really just waiting in vain, in my opinion, because the value comes when you actively learn how to utilize what's here on deeper level and that includes utilizing the highest level of membership where the most value and visibility are offered.

I would love to share more about how to reap greater rewards from your biznik membership while doing it with authenticity and proficiency. But it's more than I can fit into a comment on a thread or a brief article. It's a full-blown hands-on workshop. I can let you know when I get one on the calendar if you are interested.

Last time Viola hosted a free Tai Chi class I attended and it was really a great way to start the weekend. Looking forward to more learning more from Viola. She's a very grounded soul who makes it easy for everyone to explore their own energy and the energy around them. Come join us!

Karrie

You make great points about the back and forth problem, Brad, but it's usually because people don't know how to schedule effectively through email. I do typically schedule--even with new clients--via email and it is very easy and saves us both a lot of time.

What differs from your approach above is that I don't offer "blocks of time" but rather a handful of specific appointment times and ask the client to respond asap with their top two in case something fills in the meantime. I reply to confirm one. That's it.

I might offer some times for the following week as well--especially if there are many inquiries getting back to me at the same time. By having clients respond with their top two times, I can curb the double booking problem.

I also do this same process by phone if I leave a message and ask clients to reply with their top two times in a phone or email message.

An even easier way is to simply add a scheduling program to your website. There are lots of them out there...http://www.bookfresh.com/ and many others. There are downsides to automating as well, but it's an option for those who really have a hard time scheduling.

Glad you bring this point! Thanks!

Sorry to miss it, Mimi. Looks like a lot of fun--who doesn't love to ride a boat in the summertime? Let me know if you do it again, this summer or next. I just had way too much going on!

Karrie

Mimi, are you sure this is the right address for meeting at Daniel's Broiler? There is no water near that spot. I looked it up and I think you meant http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&address=809%2BFairview%2BPlace%2BN&city=Seattle&state=WA&zipcode=98109&homesubmit.x=31&homesubmit.y=5 809 Fairview Pl N Right?

I am trying to work things out so I can make it. Sounds like a great way to enjoy the last days of summer in Seattle!

I love Benjamin's idea to send a welcome email from the founders. I think it would be even better to include a link in that email to a video message from the founders. A video that makes it feel that Dan and Lara are talking to the new member directly and informally, as though they are on a chat or skype with the new member. I've been a member for so long now that I actually assumed they were doing something like this already! In the video and intro. email, suggest things the new member can do to get more involved.

The other idea from Benjamin that I LOVE is the matching of people in your local area. I think this should be an option that people can check when they sign up or at any time they can toggle it on or off on their profile account page. It should be promoted as a new way to connect in your local area.

You'll have to find a creative way to match people or you could simply match them randomly and each week you get a new person in your mailbox. Or members could choose if they want to be matched daily, weekly or monthly.

It reminds me of a little project in Seattle called NoonHat in which people sign up to have lunch with strangers. The site matches you with people in your area and you meet up for lunch. On biznik it could simply be a note both parties receive and they can choose to email, talk, meet or ignore the introduction. Of course it's also a lot like the dating sites. It would be good to look to other arenas where people get matched and see how they are doing it and what you can learn from them.

I also echo Benjamin about biznik utilizing more affiliate marketing opportunities as well as product sales. The little biznik store could be so much more and you'd be surprised by how much it would get used if there was more there to shop for. When a store is full and robust it sells more.

What a great community we have here! It's so refreshing to check back and see what people are saying and hear all the great ideas brewing.

And Bill, definitely look into the Ambassador program on biznik. I am the Austin Ambassador and have loved it. Sounds like you'd be a great person to grow biznik in Kensington and the surrounding area.

Karrie

I hope you'll post another walk and talk some time, Sarah! It might take a few times but eventually you'll have some regulars! I'll look for you on the wnt boards!

Karrie

Yay! You are a shining example of how a consistent event time makes these walk and talks grow. I am so happy to see this!

Enjoy the walks. And the talks!

Karrie

Money for stars. Just got inspired to support biznik with more than words as I've received so much from being a gold star member here...http://biznik.com/members/karrie-kohlhaas/promotions/one-hundred-dollars-for-gold-star-biznik-members

You really have packed a lot of extras in for paying members! Thanks! Love these new features!

I would pay more than $24 per month for the value, clients, friendships, community, information, reputation, exposure, SEO, connection, and slew of features and benefits that I get from biznik. Frankly, biznik is one of the lowest costing, truly valuable business building tools out there. There are many groups that charge FAR more than biznik and offer far less in value.

When you compare biznik to other free online social networking, the others just can't hold a stick to biznik. Have you ever tried to give feedback to Facebook or LinkedIn? Good luck. When you offer suggestions or post on biztalk, you often hear back personally from co-founders, Lara or Dan. That is worth a lot to me.

And compared to the traditional networking groups, I think many of us are here because we don't want to be there! Can you talk personally with the owners of BNI or LeTip? Will they respond? Will they make changes based on member suggestions? Can you host your own events with them outside of their rigid rule system? I don't think you can. But you can host any event you want via biznik! Biznik encourages you to be empowered in your experience here.

As a business consultant, I look at biznik and am amazed at how much they accomplish with such a small staff and on a tiny budget. We are not talking about a big corporate entity with deep-pocketed investors. We are talking about a home-grown business, run by people with heart, trying to do things true to their original vision.

How does biznik perpetuate? It costs time and money and expertise to keep this thing going. Like any business, you really don't know all that it entails to keep this organization alive unless you are inside of it. That's a good thing to keep in mind when you get disgruntled with free services you've been enjoying. Someone has to pay for those services and without that revenue stream, the service cannot perpetuate.

Great to see people are finding your regular walk and talks, Teresa! Way to go! I knew it would catch on if you just kept posting them. I see Nancy is coming to this time. I think you two will hit it off!

Bravo.

I have a client who did not believe a year ago that she could "make it" if she focused on, yes, underwater photography! Now brides and grooms looking for unusual photography that is water related call one person. She gets calls from outside the country as well.

Funny that you used a similar example and mentioned that "maybe this goes to far." I find that in both creating a niche and in pricing, you know you are "there" only when it feels terribly uncomfortable (at first anyway, until you normalize it). The vast majority of people play it way to safe with both pricing and narrowing their niche.

Great article!