You know you like to count your money

Some people look at the ChapterTracker.com program and say, “We wouldn’t use that. Tracking numbers isn’t fun.” 

Nonsense!  Here are three reasons why… 

1. Please…Don’t tell me you hate to see your investments increase in value.  If your next portfolio summary shows a 50% increase, you’d probably break into tears while falling on your knees and thanking God.  Right?  When you’re making money, it’s fun to count it. 

2. Many of us truly enjoy analyzing numbers.  Aren’t you glad your CPA, financial planner, IT guys, etc. like numbers?  So…instead of ignoring the benefit of tracking your chapter’s performance, encourage your “numbers people” to jump in and do the tracking.  If they’re good at what they do, they’ve probably already assumed this task.  Tell them about ChapterTracker. 

3. Even if you insist that tracking numbers isn’t fun…and for some reason you don’t involve your “numbers people”…you need to track anyway.  Refusing to measure your business is a copout that will lead to mediocrity at best.

If your business networking chapter isn’t tracking revenue and referrals member-to-member, then visitors (and the members themselves) are left to wonder why.  The two most likely answers are that you’re either ashamed of your group or you’re too unprofessional to measure your performance.  Please don’t leave that impression! 

Ask any business coach: “Should we track our business, or should we muddle through blindly?”  (If they say you should muddle along, please don’t hire that person as your coach.)  Yes, you need to measure your performance.  You need to pay your taxes.  You need marketing.  This is Business 101. 

Measuring your networking group’s performance is a business basic.

Spiff up your chapter image

Since your entire chapter meeting is one big presentation to partners and clients…you will want to check your image.

Ivan Misner, networking guru and founder of BNI, teaches us that our profitability hinges on building our visibility and credibility. He’s talking about steps in a process related to an individual’s networking efforts.  But the same words might be applied to your chapter as a whole.

Show me the money!

For your chapter to sell itself, though, a sense of profitability must come first.  Show me your profitability…how well your chapter functions…and I will believe that you are a credible group.  Then I’ll join…or just feel more comfortable doing business with you.

On the other hand, if you can’t deliver specific financials, then your performance may be questionable.  Or you’re telling me that you don’t know what you can do for me if I visit or join.  In fact, if I’m a guest and mine is a common profession, then you should be able to tell me how much revenue the previous member in my occupation gained last year…and the year before… 

At the very least, each meeting you should be able to stand and say what your average referral is worth. Cash money. 

Prove your value

Only by promoting your winning ways will you prove the value of your business philosophy and process (both at the chapter level and for your entire organization).  With a brief focus each week on a different slice of statistics, you will keep your members engaged and educated about chapter and individual results and goals. 

Note: Let’s stress the word “brief.”  Don’t bore folks with unending numbers…get to the point and drive it home.

This information is a type of visibility, but it’s more than seeing a bunch of bodies.  More than seeing that members are present.  This is an inside look.  Seeing the inner health of the group.  And then the cycle repeats.  Visibility into your results will quickly boost your credibility…and further profitability.