Business Network International has been around for more than 30 years and has been a networking and business-generating powerhouse for people all over the world. My guest, Doug Hunt, pulled together one of the largest chapters in the nation. In this podcast, he tells us how BNI works.
Business Network International
I. BNI vs. Chamber of Commerce
A. Both groups are necessary
B. BNI is typically smaller group than Chamber
C. BNI has only one member in any given category
D. BNI is a system and structure for referring businesses to each other
E. Good to belong to both
1. First join the Chamber
2. Then expand to BNI
F. Dollar for dollar, BNI is the best investment for advertising your business
II. Typical BNI Meeting Agenda everywhere: 90 minute Meeting
A. Open networking 15 to 20 minutes before meeting
1. Can bring visitors and introduce them
B. Go over what BNI stands for
1. Not religious or political
2. Strictly a referral group
C. Financials
D. Education Moment
E. Attitude Adjuster
F. Manager Moments
1. Assigned timekeeper to keep meeting moving
2. Each member gets approximately 45 to 90 seconds
a. Give an overview of their business
b. Ask for an introduction/ referral to specific person or business
G. Guests can be introduced and speak
H. Members report on numbers of referrals given and received
1. Dollar amount given on closed business from referrals
2. Each member required to have certain number of 1 to 1 meetings each week
I. Meeting ends, although networking may continue informally