I came across a LinkedIn Answers site today about a LA Mastermind Group looking for 2 new members. It got me thinking as to what the best ways are to promote a Mastermind Group.
My first group was started through my existing network of entrepreneurs. They were people who I met with on an individual basis to discuss the idea and see if they had an interest in joining. We had our first 4 members join that group and it has slowly built itself up. We've now created 2 new groups as well.
I think it's a good idea to start with your existing network because you know them and can gauge how well they will work together and what everybody is trying to learn to grow their businesses. You need the right mix of intentions, industry backgrounds, and personalities to make it work.
After creating the founding team of 4 for the first group, we've expanded our promotional efforts to include:
Online - this blog, targeted niche articles on my website, a few related websites that target local groups
Referrals - this is always the best way to drive new members since existing members know who would be a good fit with the rest of the group
Media - I've created an identity as a local expert in Mastermind Groups and have done numerous interviews with the local media about the topic
How else have you promoted your groups or how are you planning on doing it?
Lisa Egan writes a blog on MasterMinding and is a supporter of having the groups online. Regular blog readers will know that I've touched on online Mastermind Groups before and while I'm still skeptical that they can have the same impact as a face to face meeting, I like to present you with the options and let you pick which option best suits you.
Lisa wrote a recent post highlighting the benefits of the online model:
I demonstrated how a typical mastermind group set-up would operate in our online groups. These are not chat rooms, bulletin boards, or webinars; they are complete home-away-from-home, full featured, multi-media rich spaces where you can conduct every on ground meeting task and then some.
Masterminding online is actually better, faster, more efficient, productive, broader, and deeper. I guess you can tell I'm passionate about this. I absolutely believe in it. Ten to fifteen members in an on ground group cannot achieve the necessary knowledge, and information exchange that is required to be effective in the time alotted for a typical meeting. Being a member of an online group means you have access to your group 24/7 when you need to tap into the mastermind, and as a participant, you can respond when the brainstorm strikes and at your convenience ... maybe after you've had dinner or the kids have gone to bed.
Do any of you have experiences or thoughts of online versus face to face Masterminding?
There is an increasing number of Mastermind Groups starting online. I personally haven't ventured online with my Mastermind Groups because I question how to get the same value and keep the commitment level high as with a face to face group. I'm still, however, curious as to the various ways people are using Mastermind Groups to grow their businesses.
An example I came across recently was to have an open group in the form of a Forum where each participant would post their thoughts and follow the following structure:
1) Once a week, someone starts a thread in the Business forum, entitled (Name) Business Discussion - John's Business Discussion, Neil's Business Discussion, etc.
2) That thread is to focus on ONE aspect, or one problem, or one concern that person has for their business. The only discussion in that thread - in John's Business Discussion thread, for example - will be helping John achieve, or overcome, or answer matters concerning John's business.
3) Every week a new thread begins on another member's business and special topic.
4) Each thread may continue as long as it has life, and as long as it remains on topic.
5.a) This will alleviate any leadership problems 5.b) This will allow everyone to post when convenient, thereby overcoming time differences 5.c) The discussion can go on as long as required (weeks, months), and is not limited by time in a chat session 5.d) Goals could be discussed, set, encouraged, followed up and adjusted over time
6) For those who enjoy and feel they can get something out of a chat session could call for a chat meeting as part of their discussion thread, and the thread used to report on, and discuss further the points raised in chat.
I'm curious to see if this gets off the ground and how it works out. It sounds great on paper - the challenge is getting people to commit.
EvanCarmichael.com is the world's #1 website for small business motivation and strategies. Evan also runs a series of successful Mastermind Groups in Toronto for entrepreneurs.
