ABOUT BNI MEETINGS
Peter Redhead - PRD Architecture
I was invited to join BNI Platinum chapter 2012. Having been a member previously and readily accepted. BNI Platinum chapter is a business referal group of nearly 30 professionals who are effectively your marketing group who are actively seeking opportunities on your behalf. Since starting my business in 2005, 2013 was my most productive year and 25% of that was a a direct result of referrals from BNI Platinum Chapter. Since then, my business and I attribute this not to having my sales force AKA NI Platinum. Not only is this a business group but I have also made a number of friends through my involvement.
Kim Law - A L Global 4 Phones Ltd
The reason I joined BNI was twofold, for business and also for personal reasons. In relation to business it was to meet businesses who had the same goal; to grow their business and also to make new business contacts. With there being access to a wide range of different types of companies at BNI you not only have contact with their business but also the opportunity to assist their business contacts through referral. For personal reasons I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone, as my role in our business is very much behind the scenes with the majority of my contact with other businesses being done by telephone. Having to stand up and represent our company on a weekly basis promoting what we do and showing the benefits of the services we provide has proved challenging for me but also very rewarding. By seeing the members of BNI every week this has built up a relationship and in turn gave the members the confidence to buy our products and services that we offer.
Richard Cairney - LFI Creative
As a previous member of the BNI Bravo chapter many years ago, I was asked to rejoin by a very good friend and business acquaintance who is already a member. The way I look at BNI is that you have a sales force of 20-30 business members carrying your business card every day. This, to me, as we say is a no-brainer. It does require a lot of commitment and what you put is, is what you get back from good members that will refer your business. If you would like to get in touch with me to further discuss BNI, Platinum contact me via my profile page and I can explain more.
Alan Moir - Fyfe Moir and Associates
I joined BNI to gain new clients, extend my business contacts and to improve on my presentation skills. BNI has given me all of these things and much, much more, including finding some lifelong friends. Our greatest success came from one visitor to BNI. He visited once, did not join, but after a meeting with him my company still enjoys over £50,000 of recurring annual fee income. I’m so glad I was at that week’s meeting! BNI is the best referral organisation in the World, bar none.
WHAT HAPPENS AT MY FIRST VISIT
Follow these simple tips to make sure you make the most of attending the meeting. Most importantly, make sure you bring lots of business cards - not just a handful! BNI meetings can have up to 30+ people and they'll all want your card!
- ARRIVING AT THE MEETING: Aim to arrive at about 06:30. Our friendly visitor hosts will greet you and introduce you to the other members and visitors
- THE MEETING begins at 06:45
- YOUR 60 SECOND PRESENTATION: This is your opportunity to introduce yourself to the chapter. Think about including the following:
- Your name & business name - sounds obvious, but not everyone remembers
- What you do: a great way to tell the chapter what you do is to tell a story about how you helped a client recently. Research has shown this is far more engaging than simply listing all your products or services
- Who would be a good referral for you: who do you want to do more business with? Who would help you move your business forward? Name them - you never know someone in the chapter may just be able to help. Remember, the power of BNI isn't in the people you'll meet at the meeting, it's who they know
- REPORT AND TEN MINUTE PRESENTATION: Each week, one of the members makes a 10-minute presentation, when they can go into detail about their work and what sort of referrals they would like from fellow members.
- REFERRALS AND FEEDBACK: The meeting concludes with the referral session where we pass qualified business to each other or voice testimonials about doing business with that person. As a visitor you won't be expected to make any referrals but you will be asked to say a few words about how you liked the meeting as go around the room.
- BREAKFAST! The meeting closes by 08:30 but many members stay behind for open networking before heading back to their day job.
Finally, if you feel nervous about giving a 60 second presentation. don't worry - you're not alone. Everyone you meet at the meeting was in your position once; and they were nervous too. Just give it a go. If it doesn't go to plan - no on else in the room will know what you were intending to say.
Below are some examples of 10 minute presentations. Although these presentations have been limited to around 3 minutes for the purpose of displaying on the site, they give some examples of the how to use your 10 minute slot as an opportunity to expand on the information in your 60 second slot and they types of referralls you would like from fellow member
CONTACT US
If you would like to view us in action and convince yourself of the benefits that membership can bring to your business then you are welcome to join us any Thursday morning. Just get in touch to arrange a visit.
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This policy is reviewed on an ongoing basis and formally reviewed at least annually during management review and the latest version will always be available on our company web site or upon request
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