In fact we're now set up as one on Facebook.com - here. Yes, I've finally found a platform that is free to join, easy to use, has loads of features, and doesn't offend the eye with horrible design.

You'll have to be a member of Facebook to get into the group, but that's easy and free, and everyone you know will be on it soon because it's so easy to use. As far as I can tell (from having been on Facebook for a couple of weeks) there's no downside - except you might get addicted to it!

Once you're on there, look me up (at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=571702381) and add me as a friend.

Let's get this group up to critical mass as soon as we can! There are some amazing people who turn up to our meetings, and you would like them if you knew them - let's get to know each other online to make it easier to meet up, do business and form friendships in the physical world!

There's been a lot in the press recently about online social networks - so why should we miss out? At the moment it seems like there's a new social networking platform coming out every week. I've been researching some of them with a view to giving our members a way to 'meet up' online as well as at our live meetings.

Imagine how much deeper your interactions with people at our meetings could be if you could get to know them a bit online before you met them in person. Imagine what it could do for your business if you could let people know about it on your profile - which would also of course mean that if someone was looking for a person in your line of work (e.g. looking for an NLP therapist in Bolton or wherever), they could find you!

Expect a big announcement about this in the next couple of weeks...

Just to let you know that the group name has changed from 'NW Business NLP and EI Group' to 'Manchester Business NLP and EI Group'.

Why the change? Well originally the plan was to extend the group to other cities in the North West, particularly Liverpool. Since Sarah Smith started up the Liverpool Business NLP Group (partly, I believe, inspired by our group) it seems a lot easier to let someone else start their own groups in other cities! If you are interested in starting a local NLP or EI group I am always happy to offer the benefit of my 11 years experience in running NLP groups, or to come and speak at it as long as it's not ridiculously far for me to travel. So get forming!

If you've ever wanted to know more about your fellow attendees at a
Business NLP Group meeting, or wanted some help in remembering the
name of that fascinating person you met, this may help.

If you have taken out annual membership of the group, you can now get
information about you and your business listed on this blog for free!

Email me about half a dozen lines of text about yourself and/or your
business plus a small photo (about passport size at 72dpi or
thereabouts) and I'll add you to the 'members' section of the blog.
Include a link to your web site - obviously we'd like a reciprocal
back but we don't insist on it.

The business doesn't have to be NLP based!

If there's anything else you would like to see on the group web site,
or any benefits you think the group could provide, please let me know.