I have been part of a BNI chapter since April 2019. Especially being an Introvert, I can vouch for the fact that networking is made easy in BNI.
Below are some thoughts about expanding our business network in BNI.
What are some benefits for the visitors who attend a BNI meeting?
When visitors attend a BNI chapter meeting, they open the door to numerous opportunities for business growth, networking, and personal development.
Here are the Top 10 Benefits for a visitor attending a BNI chapter:
1. Expand Their Professional Network
Benefit: Visitors have the chance to meet a wide range of business owners and professionals across various industries. This can lead to valuable connections that may not be available through traditional networking.
Example: A visitor could meet potential clients, partners, or even mentors who can help them grow their business.
2. Generate Business Referrals
Benefit: BNI is structured around the concept of Givers Gain®, meaning that when members help each other, they grow their businesses together. A visitor can experience firsthand how referrals are exchanged, opening the possibility for them to receive referrals from the group.
Example: A visitor who shares their business during the meeting may leave with referrals from members who already know someone in need of their services.
3. Access to Professionals
Benefit: BNI chapters are filled with service providers. A visitor gains access to trusted service providers who come highly recommended by other members, making it easier to find partners and services they can depend on.
Example: If a visitor needs legal, financial, or marketing help, they can easily connect with reputable professionals during the meeting.
4. Learn New Business Strategies
Benefit: Visitors can learn valuable tips, strategies, and best practices from successful business owners during presentations, education slots, and chapter discussions. This can inspire them to implement new approaches in their own business.
Example: A visitor might learn a new client acquisition strategy or time management technique that helps improve their business operations.
5. Develop Presentation and Communication Skills
Benefit: In BNI, members and visitors give a presentation about their business, either through a 30-second weekly presentation or a more extended format. This experience helps visitors sharpen their public speaking and communication skills in a supportive environment.
Example: A visitor has the opportunity to present their business, gaining valuable experience in articulating their value proposition in a concise and engaging manner.
6. Test the Market for Their Business
Benefit: Visitors can gauge how receptive the group is to their business or service. This is a great opportunity for them to test how they present their offering and receive feedback from successful business owners.
Example: A visitor who owns a new business can quickly assess how appealing their product or service is based on member responses and interest.
7. Receive Valuable Feedback
Benefit: BNI members often provide constructive feedback and support to one another. A visitor can receive honest insights about their business pitch or value proposition from experienced business owners, helping them refine their approach.
Example: After presenting their business, a visitor might get suggestions on how to improve their elevator pitch or better target their ideal client.
8. Understand the Power of Structured Networking
Benefit: Visitors get to experience how structured networking is more effective than unstructured approaches. BNI’s structured meeting agenda ensures that every member has the opportunity to showcase their business and make meaningful connections.
Example: A visitor sees how efficiently the meeting is run and realizes how much more value structured networking offers compared to traditional, less-organized events.
9. Potential for Long-Term Business Growth
Benefit: Visitors to BNI have an option to join a BNI chapter. By joining BNI after their visit, the visitor gains the opportunity to build long-term relationships with trusted referral partners, leading to consistent business growth over time.
Example: Visitors who join BNI often see exponential growth in their business due to the steady flow of referrals and the strong relationships they build with fellow members.
10. Becoming Part of a Community
Benefit: BNI is not just about networking; it's about being part of a supportive community of business professionals who genuinely want to help each other succeed. Visitors will experience the camaraderie, support, and positivity of the group, and they might want to join to be a part of that community.
Example: A visitor could walk away feeling motivated and energized by the supportive environment, realizing they’ve found a place where like-minded business owners want to help each other grow.
FROGS Strategy for Identifying and Inviting Visitors in BNI
F - Friends:
Think about your personal circle of friends. Who among them is a business owner, a professional, or someone who could benefit from networking and growing their business through referrals? Friends often have strong relationships with us, making it easy to share the value of BNI and invite them to experience a meeting.
R - Relatives:
Don’t overlook your family! Many of us have relatives who are entrepreneurs, managers, or professionals in various industries. Whether it's a cousin with a startup or an uncle running a small business, inviting them could help grow their business while strengthening your connection with them.
O - Organizations:
Consider the organizations you're involved with, whether professionally, socially, or even in your community. These could be business associations, charity groups, or local clubs. Professionals you know from these organizations might be looking for new opportunities to network and grow their business. BNI offers them the perfect platform to connect with like-minded individuals.
G - Geographic Neighbors:
Have you thought about your neighbors? The people living in your area might own businesses, or they might be professionals looking for ways to expand their client base. They can be great candidates to invite to BNI because there’s already a local connection. You can start a conversation by asking about their business and offering an opportunity to network with others in the area.
S - Social Media:
Social media platforms are full of potential visitors! Scan through your LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or any other social network and look for connections who are in business, especially those who post about challenges, growth opportunities, or professional goals. A simple message or post about the benefits of BNI could attract those interested in growing their network.
CHICKS Strategy for Identifying and Inviting Visitors in BNI
C – Cheques that you write:
Think about the businesses and professionals to whom you regularly write cheques or make payments. These could be service providers like your accountant, lawyer, or even your landscaper. If you’re paying them for their services, they might also benefit from being part of a networking group like BNI, where they can expand their own client base.
H – Hot Categories:
These are business categories that are in high demand within your chapter or community. Industries such as IT services, digital marketing, real estate, and financial planning are often sought-after. If you know anyone in these “hot categories,” inviting them to BNI can provide a mutual benefit: they fill a high-demand role in the chapter while getting the opportunity to grow their business.
I – Identify Power Team Gaps:
Power Teams are groups of complementary businesses that work together and refer clients to one another (for example, a realtor, mortgage broker, and home inspector). Identify gaps within your chapter’s Power Teams—where is there a missing link? Maybe your chapter has a lawyer and accountant but lacks a business consultant. Filling these gaps strengthens the chapter and creates more referral opportunities for everyone.
C – Clients:
One of the best sources for visitors is your current client base. If your clients are business owners or professionals, they are prime candidates for BNI. By inviting them, you can help their business grow while also strengthening your relationship with them. It’s a win-win situation!
K – Key Clubs you are part of:
If you’re involved in any clubs, associations, or professional groups—whether it's a chamber of commerce, sports club, or local charity—these are perfect places to meet potential BNI visitors. People in these organizations are already networking, so they understand the value of relationship-building, and BNI can offer them even more structured opportunities for referrals.
S – Service Providers:
Finally, think about the service providers you rely on to keep your life or business running smoothly. This could include your plumber, electrician, printer, or web developer. These professionals can benefit greatly from BNI by building long-term relationships and receiving referrals for their services. By inviting them, you’re helping them grow their network and potentially building more solid, trusted relationships.
A few Tactical Strategies to Identify Visitors from your Network for a BNI Meeting
1. Leverage LinkedIn Search Filters:
Use LinkedIn’s powerful search filters to identify professionals in specific industries, job roles, or locations. Start by searching for connections within your network who might benefit from BNI, and look for common connections or industries that are underrepresented in your chapter.
Tip: Look for people posting about business challenges, growth opportunities, or networking needs and reach out with an invite.
2. Review Business Cards Collected at Events:
Dig into the stack of business cards you’ve gathered from previous networking events, conferences, or meetups. These professionals may already be looking for ways to expand their network, and BNI could be a great fit.
3. Ask for Referrals to Visitors from Fellow BNI Members:
Use your one-to-ones with BNI members to ask them for potential visitor referrals especially who you need as power buddy in the chapter.
If you have an open power buddy category in your chapter, ask a person of similar category in another chapter whether they know a person in the same profession.
4. Look for New Businesses in Your Area:
Keep an eye out for new businesses opening in your community. Whether it’s a new restaurant, a boutique, or a startup office, new business owners are often eager to build connections and attract more clients.
5. Ask your clients for vendors working with them
Your client will know some vendors working with them, who may benefit from being part of BNI. So speak with your clients for such referrals.
6. Approach Previous Visitors who didn’t join
Sometimes, past visitors who didn’t join may now be in a different position to benefit from BNI. Reach out to them and re-invite them to another meeting, emphasizing new chapter developments or growth.
7. Ask your Spouse, Siblings, Parents
Your Spouse, Siblings, and Parents have their own network with whom you can discuss some of the Open Categories in your chapter. They might be able to refer you to some business owners in their network.
My name is Johncey George. I am an International Coaching Federation Accredited Leadership and Life Coach. (ICF PCC)
I am a leading Leadership Coach for Introverts.
I run a flagship program Introvert Communication Mastery, helping Introverts Speak Up and become Confident Communicators in 60 Days. Visit https://www.coachjohncey.com/cm for more details
I am a member of BNI Legends, Bangalore East Region since April 2019.
I am a Director Consultant in the Bangalore Region and a Gold Club Member.
You can learn more about BNI here: https://www.bni.com/ . But the best way to experience BNI is by visiting a BNI chapter through someone who you know.
Please feel free to reach out to me for more information.
My contact details: johncey@coachjohncey.com. My website is https://www.coachjohncey.com
(The above article is not an official post of BNI. These are my views and thoughts based on my experience being part of the BNI network and what I learnt)
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