CGM blog: Three is the magic number at the BMC

07 Sep CGM blog: Three is the magic number at the BMC

Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones.

When we started our Business Media Club (BMC) in 2013 we had no idea we’d be celebrating our third anniversary this month.

The BMC is still based on the three original features we began with: media training (you can add comms and marketing, too); personal and professional development and quality networking in a sharing setting.

That last line has been the key to the success of the club. There’s an inclusive feeling to our meetings. ‘All egos to be left at the door’, as we say.

With an average of 15 attendees per meeting, we have two thriving clubs which meet each month in Birmingham and Worcester and we’re planning to start new ones soon.

The club has always been about generating fresh ideas, inspiration and motivation so people leave our meetings enthused and armed with information to develop their business and make positives happen.

Each meeting has always had a specific theme – which we’ve tweaked into a ten meeting-a-year structure covering three main topics – Communications, PR & Marketing  and Image &  Reputation – with planning, strategy and skills meetings in each area, chosen by club members.

The cyclical structure allows new members to seamlessly come on board at any point. An annual media crisis management meeting is included – because it is too important to ignore.

Our members can also shape Personal Development Programmes to ensure they get what they want from the club, set targets for progress and provide information so we can supply the sessions they need.

In truth, our attendees make the club work. It wouldn’t be the same without their interaction and involvement, which is always heartily encouraged.

We share experiences and opinions – sometimes tales of inspiration and valuable insights.

There’s no preaching from the pulpit. Myself, editorial partner Teresa Green, creative partner Brendan McMahon, video maker Graham Essenhigh and photographer Jonathan Hipkiss have all delivered sessions – making it a true CGM team effort. Thanks guys.

But it is our regulars who really count – their feedback, their positivity, their stories of how the club has inspired them to do things differently, reposition their business, win new work, market and communicate what they do and, more appropriately, why they do it so they can connect better.

We have been happy to help our chosen club charities – Mentor Link in Worcester and BlastBeat in Birmingham – win new supporters and raise funds through visitor donations.

Pauline Newcombe, managing director of fuel suppliers 3cf who has been with us from the start, described the club has her monthly ‘business me time’. I like that. Pauline also says she has waved goodbye to ‘Jurassic marketing’, which I like even more. Happy to assist, Pauline.

We also know how to celebrate our successes. This month’s special anniversary meetings are about threes:

– Shaping a three-step communications plan to help you win more business

– Three members at each club will explain to the group what they have gained

– And, three ways to celebrate – cake, chocs and bubbly… and why not?

If you’d like to join this month – or at any stage in the future, call us on 01905 453908. email  info@chrisgreenmedia.co.uk or get in touch via our Contact Us page. We’d love to hear from you.

Chris Green is an award-winning author and broadcaster – and managing partner of Chris Green Media – which inspires organisations to communicate better by connecting deeper.