Will Web 2.0 kill industry associations and networking organisations?

It was only a few weeks ago I questioned whether search engines were offering much more than you could get from social networking websites. Offline I had some people agree, but the general feeling was that search engines are around for a while yet. Not least of all because use of them is on the increase as social networking establishes itself in popular culture.

Amongst the people I have been speaking with, however, there seems to be a feeling that industry associations and offline networking organisations could fall under the guilotine of Web 2.0, finding themselves at the blocks sooner.

WeCanDo.BIZ has membership of the Federation of Small Businesses, one of a number of industry bodies aimed at promoting the interests of UK-based small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), alongside things such as the Forum for Private Business, Business Links, Chambers of Commerce and others. As I see it there are two key benefits to being part of such organisations: one is discounted access to key business services (the FSB offers free banking, cheaper insurance etc.), the second is a forum to network and maybe do business with other members. Sure, the FSB also represents the interests of SMBs with the country's law makers, but as individuals we can probably do more by voting in enterprise friendly MPs when we are given the chance.

Sit back and think, however, and you soon realise that the things you value most from such bodies are available on the internet for free. Many forums exist in the UK for sharing ideas with other small business people, such as UK Sales & Marketing Forums and A1 Business Forums. There are networking sites, such as WeCanDo.BIZ, which actively promote trade between their members (who get to join free). All of these things can be done at any time, on line, and are not restricted to once a month networking events at unholy hours in local hotels. These sites promote contact between members all the time, so produce more leads more regularly.

Pure networking organisations offer questionable value next to their online counterparts too. Why would anyone join Business Networking International (BNI), The Athena Network, Business over Breakfast, Refer On or any other organisation charging, in many cases, hundreds of pounds a year to network once or twice a month when online business networking sites allow you to do it when you want, as frequently as you want for free?

I agree that nothing beats face to face contact for getting business done, but any sales or business person worth their salt will know that some level of qualification before you meet saves you wasting time. So why not network online and when you've found someone you really want to meet, do so face to face, one to one so you have their undivided attention? Get the hard work done online at a time that suits all parties and leave the time spent meeting to productive business conversation rather than never ending pleasantries?

I admit I do a lot online -- it's easy and cheap. And business are waking up to a world of possibilities online. Might this be to the detriment of those industry bodies and networking groups who aren't moving as fast as the rest of us?

I'd love to hear your views.

Ian Hendry
WeCanDo.BIZ
http://www.wecando.biz