Z_Definitive_Guide_to_Running_a_Successful_REIA_Meeting_Reduced_size

LARRY GOINS AND SHAUN MCCLOSKEY
members are going to find out about and attend other REIA
meetings anyway; why not work together and decide up front that
the way you're going to be outstanding in your market is to be the
best REIA in the area! You can do this by remembering that the key
to being the best is to provide the most value to your members—not
in spending your valuable time worrying about your competition
stealing what you've got.
If there are other REIAs in your area, chances are, they're also doing
some of the same marketing you're doing to build their REIA. They
may also be doing some different things as well. Some of what
you're doing is better than what they're doing, and some of what
they're doing is better than what you're doing. Why not join forces
and benefit from each other in a big way? Contacting these other
groups and offering to trade mailing lists and contact information is
a great way to quickly double or triple the length of your list. Since
all of these people were at one time interested in a different REIA
group, they will be a targeted audience with a specific interest in
real estate investing.
One way this works really well is if the two competing groups have
slightly different focuses. For example, my REIA here in St. Louis
(called Lifeonaire REIA) is in the process of joining forces with
another REIA here in the area called "South Side REIA." The owner
of the South Side is a friend of mine that owns a real estate
brokerage. One of the reasons he started the REIA is because he
wants to be the go-to broker in the St. Louis area for real estate
investors. The REIA for him is a means to build his other brokerage
business. He provides great info through the REIA to drive people to
the meetings, knowing that, as the owner of the REIA, he instantly
receives credibility as the expert in the room. This means that a
certain percentage of his members will end up wanting to use the
services he offers through his brokerage. He also knows he'll pick up
additional real estate agents (who are also investors) to hang their
license with his brokerage. Granted, he also profits from the REIA
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