Comments for BNI Embarcadero

Comment on Scam: Compliance Annual Minutes Board by Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:19:15 +0000

Here’s another bogus company to add to the list of those in California:

Compliance Services
P.O. Box 1265
Studio City, CA 91614-0265

They call their mock form a “Annual Minutes Requirement Statement / Directors and Shareholders”. They ask you to complete the form and send it with a check for $125, payable to COMPLIANCE SERVICES. Sure, the form does state in fine print “you can engage an attorney to prepare them, prepare them yourself, use some other service company, or use our services.” And they say they’re not a government agency and so on. But at first glance the form looks like a government form, very official, says time-sensitive, etc.

Comment on Scam: Compliance Annual Minutes Board by Dick

Dick — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:38:49 +0000

Your attorney(s) should be handling all “annual minutes”. Note small print on bottom of form says participation is voluntary.

Comment on The Case for the Old Guys by Gil Zeimer

Gil Zeimer — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:55:47 +0000

Phil:

This is an excellent article and an outstanding point of view for us elder statesman in the communications business.

Thanks,
Gil

Comment on What is a referral? by Gil Zeimer

Gil Zeimer — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:27:36 +0000

I would say that #1 is a lead because you didn’t give the friend or Shianne a name and contact info.

#2 is a referral — but only if you also tell the plumber the name of the person who needs a plumber.

#3 is a referral — again, you should also give Susan the friend’s contact info.

#4 is a referral — but only if you give John the person’s name so he can follow up.

Thanks,
Gil

Comment on What is a referral? by Mike Hack

Mike Hack — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:25:11 +0000

I’d say it varies depending on what the referree (is that a word?) asks for. E.g., Kate Antonini states that she would like names (and locations) of restaurants that are opening. No introduction required there. Just a drive-by sighting. Attorneys (and myself) need to have the referral contact us. Bart may just need the name and information of a decision-maker in a firm that the referring person is familiar with. Therefore it’s important that one specifies what they consider a good referral in their 30-second infomercials and presentations. Naturally, the best referrals are always when the referring person can personally connect the two parties together.

Comment on What is a referral? by Kenji Oshima

Kenji Oshima — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:33:00 +0000

Just thought for the pot ‘o discussion:

— A computer client asks me to help him transfer bookkeeping data. Doing his own books is
not a new issue with us. This time I email to assist him and to send Cindy’s contact info.
He’s says he’ll contact her. I will follow up with him to ask if I may give out his.

— Seth asks for contacts at Wells Fargo. I know an assistant branch manager personally.
I will give Seth’s card to him and ask who Seth may contact at that branch.

— At the member training they tell us that referring someone to our BNI group is a referral.

Comment on What is a referral? by Jerry Becerra

Jerry Becerra — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:31:37 +0000

Unless the member asking for the referral says differently, I consider a referral to be an actual introduction. To me that means I have put the two people in touch with each other. #1 is a cold call unless the friend who wants to lose weight actually says he will accept a telephone call from the trainer and nutritionist. #2 is a hot lead, but the plumber should be given the person’s contact information to follow up. #3 is an actual referral. #4 is a referral if you take the person’s information and give it to John Kalin.

I agree with Bob that some referrals are leads and leads are valuable too. Sometimes it isn’t possible to give the perfect referral but if the lead looks worthwhile I would rather receive it than receive nothing. Often a warm lead turns out to be good, but the closing ratio is going to be much lower.

Just my thoughts.

Comment on What is a referral? by Julia Ten Eyck

Julia Ten Eyck — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:30:51 +0000

I would concur with Bob. I consider examples 1-3 to be referrals. If someone we know, or someone who contacts us, expresses a need or interest in a particular service, and we pass along a recommended contact, that is a referral, is it not? In the case of legal referrals, it is entirely up to the potential client to follow through.

Thanks for raising the question, Dennis!

Comment on What is a referral? by Robert Gates

Robert Gates — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:28:55 +0000

To me, all except maybe #4 are referrals. #4 might be a referral, but there is no prior relationship and may be some ethical issues in making the “referral.” Some “referrals” can be “leads;” they just need to be understood that way. When in doubt, “more is more.”

Comment on Larson Shores Architects by Growing Older: Aging in place options and timing | BNI Embarcadero

Growing Older: Aging in place options and timing | BNI Embarcadero — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:09:22 +0000

[...] Larson Shores Architects in article in Oakland Tribune. [...]