IBN 2010 Update

IBN 2010 Update
  
  A message to all members of India Business Network    

Happy New Year IBN Members!
 
I want to take this moment and thank everyone for your support in 2010, my learning year... 
 
A quick summary of what I learnt in 2010:
 
 1. IBN can become a trusted platform for making new connections, building relationships and doing business. My constant reminders for updating profiles, adding references, phone numbers, recent photo, and relevant professional information about you and your business is working. I am pleased to report that over 600 members who had bad profiles have been suspended ( and we will suspend another 400 more ) ! I am quite thankful to everyone who took the time to update your profile. I love the new profiles, and the sharing of information. 

For the remaining members who still haven't updated the profile, please go here:
 http://www.indiabiznet.com/profiles/settings/editProfileInfo
 
 2. IBN Members do not like paying fees. Only a handful have paid, and have become annual or lifetime members. This means, I have to search for a viable business model to keep IBN going! If at least 10 members become lifetime members each month, we can keep IBN going without any issue. I was thinking that some corporate members will be interested in becoming annual sponsors. But no one stepped up. I would like to hear your ideas on what we can do to make IBN a self-sustaining operation. I have gone back and forth on offering Unpaid membership, Limited membership, Annual or Lifetime membership. What are your thoughts on this? Please chime in, and give me your feedback below.
 
 To make your IBN membership payment, please go here:
 http://www.indiabiznet.com/page/india-business-network
 
 3. IBN needs a huge marketing push to grow to 10K members! Marketing begins with our key product or service. Currently, I am marketing IBN as the platform as follows:
 Brief:
 "India Business Network connects global companies from Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe & Oceania with Indian 0pportunities, markets & trade"
 Detailed:
 "If you are looking to expand your business in India, find an Indian supplier, export your products to India, import from Indian manufacturers, find Indian business partners, invest in India, establish an India office, trade with Indian companies and enter India market - India Business Network is the place"
 Question: Is this exciting and relevant? Is this too broad or too narrow? Send me your feedback.
 Also, what marketing vehicles our members can offer to IBN to increase our mind share and market share? For instance, are you inviting their business contacts to join?
Go here to Invite your business contacts to join IBN:
http://www.indiabiznet.com/main/invitation/new
 
 4. IBN Meets. Our then IBN India Head Mr. Sanjay Bhide, our IBN Partner, held the 2nd meet in Mumbai. The rain Gods intervened, and our meet was successful. Would IBN members welcome global or regional meets where you are? Would you like to begin organizing local meets in your city? I welcome your suggestions on this.
 
 Looking forward to 2011:
 
 My focus is on growing IBN globally with quality members! Members who have complete profiles, submit references, want to do real business, and are joining IBN for the right reasons. As we grow quality members, my hope is that IBN will begin the organic growth forward. I also want to appoint regional heads of IBN for various countries. This will be a true partnership, where we will work together to grow IBN in that country. If interested, shoot me an email at: CEO at innovationmain dot com

 I look forward to your feedback.

 Happy 2011!
 
 Sincere regards,
 Sanjay Dalal
 Founder, IBN
 http://www.indiabiznet.com/profile/SanjayDalal