Having to stand up and introduce myself each week in 35 seconds has encouraged me to refine my introduction over and over and over again. I would have never put that time in, if not for the weekly need to do so. About twice per year you deliver a presentation to the group and visitors. You have six minutes to make an impression and help train your group how to recognise an opportunity and how to refer you.
But it is a great opportunity to refine your message. Apart from the referrals, I think this constant practice is the most important benefit of BNI. There is no coasting and it has challenged me to approach networking much more rigorously and systematically, which has been a good pattern for me to adopt.
Although once you get to know, like and trust the other people, you do tend to buy from each other. But that is not the point of the group. BNI is not just another unstructured networking meeting.
The meetings follow a structured agenda and the goal is to generate referrals by following the BNI model. Ask your host to explain how the seat structure works. The promise is that there is only one person per profession. However, the professions are subdivided up so tightly it can be a meaningless distinction.
In some cases, the professions are very distinct, whereas in others they are divided up in highly impractical ways. This is my main criticism of BNI. In my opinion, the seat structure is in desperate need of an update. It is not unworkable, just something to be clear on before you join. Another thing you need to understand are the expectations. I know I did not understand the traffic light system, until after I joined. Make sure you are clear how it works so you know if you can commit.
The traffic light system is a scoring tool for individual members and the chapter as a whole. You and the chapter are scored on a point system that rolls up into a Red, Yellow and Green rating. Waste of time… wish I saved my money and applied my networking to more fruitful endeveaors. What have you been doing since leaving BNI to connect with people Lou? This is awesome. A client of mine said something about joining BNI. I did go to one meeting as a guest. And yes I can not listen to people say their pitch weekly.
Not would I even be able to give referrals like they need. Nor does giving referrals like they like seem authentic at all,at least not to me! Thanks for writing this.
Your post reconfirms, away from the crazy yearly fee, why I am not for BNI!!! Let me know. Great post. Actually the example you gave of bookkeeper helped me to take quick decision whether i need to go for it or not.
You made it very simple to understand bussiness model of BNI. I have been a member for just over 2 months. I have made the time commitment, which is about 6 hours a week because as an independent flooring materials sales consultant, referrals are my best source of sales opportunities.
It took me about 6 weeks to understand the obligations and how to work it into my schedule. As each week flew by, I felt more and more committed to make the most of my membership investment of time and money. I think anyone who has a long term vision of business growth and is willing to invest time to get to know other members and learn how to participate in the program will benefit in many ways. I encourage one to try it for a year and go all in, and then evaluate.
Most of the members in my chapter have renewed their memberships for many years…5 years, 8 years, and more, because it benefits their business with referred customers. It was great to connect with local businesses but as you said, real estate and commonly used services are big. I met many lawn service owners and chiropractors. Copywriters were in the minority…. I have to turn this opportunity down but it might help in the future. Oh well. Back to cold emailing! Hey good to hear from you Errol.
Have you looked at joining other online communities and building referral relationships that way? Errol, maybe try cold calling. More work, more practice to get it right, but when properly aimed at your target audience, can be very effective. The fact that you are able to network with BNI members all over the world and their networks is an amazing thing and you able to get solutions to challenges that you may find locally.
Thanks for your comment Ezra. I joined a core group as an accountant and only lasted 1 year. If you are in a BD role then yes it may well be right up your street. BNI fell way short of my expectation. Thank you for sharing your views. Very well articulated and insightful. I think your example of the bookkeeper is a simple one to answer; Recommend both. Typically people want to work with people they like and can maintain a relationship with over long periods of time.
Recommending both gives your friend the option to speak with both bookkeepers and decide which they would prefer to do business with. I am currently trying to decide whether or not to join and this article has been very helpful in making that decision. I got invited today to be a guest to an online group meeting soon.
However, I have some doubts: Why members have to meet on regular basis?? Why in hotels? It looks like that rule is made just to bring and impress new prospects and bring revenue to managers at a cost of members. Secondly, why should I invest time to find referrals for others?? If someone asks — I would refer but If I have to invest time into this — then I can invest it into looking prospects for my own business.
Good questions Dragan. I suppose the requirement to find referrals for others is reciprocated by others having to find referrals for you. Honestly I, 6 folded my business in the first year alone, and have been growing at an average pace of 1. I have landed getting connected with many govt organisation and defence contacts, have expanded my business from designing to food supplies and much much more.
There are no free lunches and to benefit from BNI you need to stay focussed on getting and delivering business, if you lose focus and start making only friends you will have issues. Business required you to sell yourselves in a professional manner and BNI assists in just that, I have been a member for 6 glorious year. Thanks for sharing your experience Ahmed. I agree — to benefit from any kind of networking group you need to focus on building commercial relationships and not just making friends.
Quite a helpful article, with an objective perspective. I am not sure if BNI would help me in generating strong leads. Even social media has not been that helpful in getting new projects. I have secured most of my projects through word-of-mouth advertising, repeat clients, and direct enquiries on my website. Nevertheless, I am looking for a way to get more projects on a regular basis, and am yet to crack that code!
Hi Dhananjay, what type of photography do you specialize in? Maybe you collaborate on offers, team up with customers and clients. Work together. You will have a system in place, know your ideal customer and be able to manage your business partnerships well. After a few visits and experiences, I decided that it was not a good fit for me.
Visit a few chapters in your area. Each chapter has its own personality and even if you are in the one of these situations, you may still decide that BNI works for your business. Joining BNI can be expensive. Not only is there a high membership fee but there are also a lot of hidden costs. Hidden costs include paying for food if your chapter has its meeting at a restaurant or paying for room rental if your chapter has its meeting at a rented location.
While it is possible to trim expenses by watching what you eat and staying hungry while everyone else orders lavishly , there may be a flat admission fee whether or not you order something. You should not join a BNI chapter if you are a struggling entrepreneur. Ostensibly, you will only have to meet for about two hours a week—but here, too, there are hidden factors to consider. Another thing to consider is that the One-to-One meets require you to meet other BNI members outside the regular meeting times.
Although these can be for as little as an hour, they usually end up lasting longer. Not to mention the travel time to and from these meetings. The BNI works well for those with traditional small businesses; plumbers, accountants, pest exterminators, or other local service providers. It also works well for those who provide their services within a specific geographical area. Although the BNI does work for local businesses, it does not work for businesses that are slightly outside the mainstream.
For instance, if you have a nail salon or a laser hair removal practice, you will have a difficult time getting referrals. BNI works best for people who have more traditional businesses like insurance.
Those who get the most out of their BNI Group membership are those who put in the time and effort to help other members through referrals. This activity leads to getting referrals through reciprocation. The BNI also benefits those who are able to make their weekly meeting a priority, who make sure they attend every week, who take the time to meet with other members outside the weekly meeting, and who frequently invite guests.
The VP keeps track of each time you were absent, late, or sent someone in your place.
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