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BNI - what can you tell me about it?

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draelectricals

Hello

I have received an invitation letter, asking me to attend a business breakfast meeting, for the network BNI.

Does anyone know anything about this group?
 
Yes! I was a member of BNI for 7 years and met very many local businesses, all small though. I did get some referals which covered my costs for a while. Like all networking groups you have to try them and see if they work for you.
Don't worry if you don't like it type business networking into google and you'll find loads of groups, I'd suggest you try them all before joining any particular group.
 
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My positive observations:

1. They claim to be the largest network both globally and in GB and meet weekly with a good, structured agenda.

2. It's great if you are small and don't have a strong level of marketing support in place already.

3. You'll meet lots of businesses within a defined area or town.

4. You can network every morning of the week if you wish by 'subbing' or visiting other nearby chapters.

5. Self -financing as Rob has mentioned

6. Only one member allowed per chapter per trade/profession (so you can lock out your competitors)

7. Camaraderie

My negative observations:

1. The early mornings were a killer especially in the winter

2. Large chapters can be cliquey on occasion

3. Some say the businesses that form these BNI chapters are small but you are not 'selling to the room', you are asking the room to sell to their contacts.

4. Some members feel uncomfortable with the weekly pressure of coming up with a referral.

Overall well worth a try and at the very least worth popping along especially if your chapter is running a Visitor's Day. Like everything in life you get out of it what you put in.

Best Regards
 
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I am in BNI - I have found it really useful and beneficial :-)

Which chapter have you been invited to?

You get the oppotunity to build relationships with the members and they refer you and recommend you to their contacts - Ive learnt alot from the structure and its been worthwhile.

The mornings are a killer especially in the winter - I agree with that :-)
 
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well i am sceptical; i hear as many good reports as i do bad, plus i'm not a sales man so may struggle with the referrals and cant afford the fees at the moment, so not sure what i would get out of it
 
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I am in BNi as well, and have just renewed for the year.

One of the best things I have done since starting up on my own. It has allowed me to develop in a few ways, firstly yes I do get quite a bit of business from the group and third parties they know. But secondly I have gain 20 plus good friends that are all at the end of a phone or room to ask advice about anything.

Neil
 
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As with all networking groups it benefits the softer industries,sorry the only term I can think of at the moment. Say, insurance brokers, accountants, bookkeepers etc who visit or are visited by a larger population. The harder industries such as ours find it difficult to penetrate these networking groups effectively. However we get to promote and discuss awareness it rarely converts into contracts.So it is hordes for courses really.
 
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draelectricals said:
well i am sceptical; i hear as many good reports as i do bad, plus i'm not a sales man so may struggle with the referrals and cant afford the fees at the moment, so not sure what i would get out of it
Click to expand...

I would agree totally with Neils comments.
I'm also a BNI member, albeit for only 2 months, and i find that being part of a local Chapter, it has considerably increased my list of contacts and i can also rely on those within the group for help and advice in certain areas when required.
I've already recouped my membership fees for the year but more importantly for now, i'm able to direct my clients to known and trusted businesses who can help them.

As regards not being a "sales man", i too worried about getting referrals for the other members but have found that with the BNI's own free training courses and networking events, this hasn't really been a problem, and at times a referral can come quite naturally during conversations with existing clients as well as prospective. Everybody has their own way and you're bound to find yours.
A referral is always welcomed by members but we also appreciate positive input into the group whether its someone bringing along a visitor, a testimonial or just generally helping the group as a whole. There are many ways to get involved and contribute and, as it's "Givers Gain", you find that it helps your business at the end of the day.

As suggested, a visit to your local BNI Chapter to "test the water" is highly recommended and you can go twice before deciding. The structure within BNI works but it's the members who really make it a great chapter!
You're sure to get a warm welcome on your visit. This is just my experience and i hope it helps you too decide whether it's for you.
Yes, it's an early start but you do tend to look forward to it as you may get a referral or be able to network with other visitors etc.

Any more Q's, feel free to PM me. I don't work for BNI (even though it may sound like it) but will tell it as it is!
A warm welcome, good contacts and a cooked breakfast thrown in to set you up for the day. My advice is try it and see if it's for you.

Gary
 
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I've found that going to less formal networking events provides better results than breakfast groups like BNI. It also depends on the chapter - I was a member of Business For Breakfast (same format as BNI), but didn't get any business in over a year despite me passing referrals to other members - if anything, I had one of their members waste a day of my time and then another lead generated through the group waste more of my time, so in all a very poor experience. On the other hand, I've found much more useful contacts going to ad-hoc networking events and networking online - better still, these methods of networking didn't cost me anything - unlike Business For Breakfast (and BNI) costing me £300 or so per year plus £10 for each meeting.

Having been involved with a few business breakfast groups, I would agree with BT that it is good to talk, but my mum gave better advice when she said it's never good to speak with your mouth full. The moral of the story - keep networking and breakfast separate :D.
 
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I have decided to take the plunge, and I'm going to my first breakfast meeting on Wednesday, as a guest, to test the water. They tell me to take lots of business cards....

Can anyone give me advise on what I am supposed to do/say or how I should 'network' to get the best results?
 
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What? at my very first meeting? as a guest, when I have never been before?
 
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Yes you do; it's a good thing and ensures that visitors can make their mark in their very first meeting.

It's a great opportunity to summarise what you offer the group's contact network and how they will benefit after they have taken your services.

Try and add a punchy memorable line at the end too - cheesy but oddly welcome at BNI and other breakfast groups.

Best Regards
 
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draelectricals said:
What? at my very first meeting? as a guest, when I have never been before?
Click to expand...


...in the practice of being concise about what you do in a minute. It really focusses the mind and dont worry, your not the first to feel this way. I started this way nervously and now regularly speak to groups of min 30 people max 100 in one sitting. They are there to listen to you, engage, show them your passionate about what you do.:)
 
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Hi,

A plus about BNI is that you will be the only one in your industry/ provider of your type of services in the chapter.

Nonetheless BNI is a little 'hard core' networking and requires a dedication from you to attend or send a stand in. It has worked really well for some of my tradespeople contacts but not so much for others in b2b.

It is a large investment to make so you should go along to a trial meeting to see if it is for you before you sign up.

Cheers,
Zoë
 
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Lot of good advice here...

Especially from John about the 60 seconds... it helps give people a good 'snapshot' of who you are, what you do, and what you are looking for...

If you want the titles of the "main topics" given on the BNI reminder sheet, let me know... just to help out

Bear in mind that BNI works out at £20 a week in the first year... doesn't take much in the way of a referral to get that back...;)

PS - I'm on my local chapter's Leadership team, so felt I should mention it, andthat more than 90% of my new clients come through BNI...:)

Best of luck for the morning...:)
 
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Thanks Guys; wish me luck, I'm off to my first breakfast meeting, at 7pm, by the time you all read this It'll probably all be over!
 
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I think it went quite well. I am going again next week before deciding but a main stumbling block for me will be the requirements of attending every week, as my job won't always be able to accomodate that and I wouldn't really be able to send anyone in my place, being a sole trader.
 
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Good to hear that your first breakfast meeting went well.

Before you commit to BNI do take a look at other formal networking groups meeting in your local area. Do ask for details such as membership churn rate. Any group which has a high turnover of members is probably not passing much business around.

Trades can work very well in formal networking groups, its not just the softer professions which benefit from formal networking groups. (I only generated 1 client from a year at B4B... unsurprisingly have now left that group)

If you find a group which has some representation from other tradespeople, you may find referrals come to you quicker than in other groups. Not always the case, but can work that way.
 
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I'd suggest to look at what BNI call "power groups" - making links with other businesses in the group that have a synergistic link with yours, and could pass you business...

The usual example of this is between trades, but it can work in other areas too...

That works well for me, and the others in the group - because I'm able to pass things on to them as well.
 
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we've been contacted about a BNI group recently but the information given was a little different to what's been said in this thread, can someone please confirm-
do you have to commit to go every week?
is there a joining/membership fee on top of the £10 p/wk?
you have to make a referral each week (does this mean a job or just a contact?) - what happens if you can't?

thanks :)
 
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*Lexxy* said:
we've been contacted about a BNI group recently but the information given was a little different to what's been said in this thread, can someone please confirm-
do you have to commit to go every week?
is there a joining/membership fee on top of the £10 p/wk?
you have to make a referral each week (does this mean a job or just a contact?) - what happens if you can't?

thanks :)
Click to expand...

...all pointed out in posts Lexxy, have a read.;)
 
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*Lexxy* said:
we've been contacted about a BNI group recently but the information given was a little different to what's been said in this thread, can someone please confirm-
do you have to commit to go every week?
is there a joining/membership fee on top of the £10 p/wk?
you have to make a referral each week (does this mean a job or just a contact?) - what happens if you can't?

thanks :)
Click to expand...

It's £500+VAT + £10 per week.You have to go every week or find a replacement. You have to bring a lead/testimonial/visitor each week. It means a contact who wants a quote.
 
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*Lexxy* said:
we've been contacted about a BNI group recently but the information given was a little different to what's been said in this thread, can someone please confirm-
do you have to commit to go every week?
is there a joining/membership fee on top of the £10 p/wk?
you have to make a referral each week (does this mean a job or just a contact?) - what happens if you can't?

thanks :)
Click to expand...

Bri said:
...all pointed out in posts Lexxy, have a read.;)
Click to expand...

ComputerCoders said:
It's £500+VAT + £10 per week.You have to go every week or find a replacement. You have to bring a lead/testimonial/visitor each week. It means a contact who wants a quote.
Click to expand...

Ok, let's lay some ghosts to rest here...

1. The annual fee is £400+VAT (plus an extra £100 for the first year ONLY)
2. The weekly £10 mentioned is for the subs - the breakfast - and it can vary, dependant upon venue cost... i.e. my weekly sub is £7.50
3. YES - attendance is important... if other local businesses can trun up why shouldn't you? Also, how confident would you be to recommend someone who could only be @rsed to get out of bed 1 morning in 4? Saying that though - you have the option to send a substitute, and as an emergency, BNI allow 3 absences in a 6 month period for unforseen emergencies... more than we get as business owners if you think about it...
4. I am aware that some chapters are a bit regimented in their insistence that "you bring something to the meeting every week", but that's not been my experience - IMO the best support my business has had since I started up has come from the other BNI members in my chapter and region.

But if it concerns you ask them to their face BEFORE signing up... if they give you the wrong answer, come up my way - we'd be pleased to have you on the team Lexxy!
 
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Geoff T said:
Ok, let's lay some ghosts to rest here...

1. The annual fee is £400+VAT (plus an extra £100 for the first year ONLY)
2. The weekly £10 mentioned is for the subs - the breakfast - and it can vary, dependant upon venue cost... i.e. my weekly sub is £7.50
3. YES - attendance is important... if other local businesses can trun up why shouldn't you? Also, how confident would you be to recommend someone who could only be @rsed to get out of bed 1 morning in 4? Saying that though - you have the option to send a substitute, and as an emergency, BNI allow 3 absences in a 6 month period for unforseen emergencies... more than we get as business owners if you think about it...
4. I am aware that some chapters are a bit regimented in their insistence that "you bring something to the meeting every week", but that's not been my experience - IMO the best support my business has had since I started up has come from the other BNI members in my chapter and region.

But if it concerns you ask them to their face BEFORE signing up... if they give you the wrong answer, come up my way - we'd be pleased to have you on the team Lexxy!
Click to expand...

Yes sorry you're right it is £400 and a 1 off £100 registration fee.
 
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thank you for the very helpful replies :)

it was only a quick chat with this person from a local BNI group, but no mention at all was made of: regular attendance, weekly referrals required, annual fee.

from what i was told & without me looking into it, we'd have gone into this thinking:
we can attend when we wanted (nothing to do with being up early, just trying to fit in with current heavy workload, hubby currently working 6.30am-7pm most days + weekends),
£10 per attendance for breakfast would be the only amount due,
absolutely nothing at all about referalls (goes without saying we know we'd have to bring something to the table so it's not just one way 'giving')

no doubt much of this would have been covered in our first attendance, but i feel those are the basics that we should be aware of even before this. at the moment, the weekly attendance required would stop us from looking at this any further as it's just not possible.

thanks again
 
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draelectricals said:
...plus i'm not a sales man...
Click to expand...

Going back through this thread and I noticed this comment...

This is where BNI - or networking in general - helps...

By joining such a group, your business's sales force grows by the number of members in that group...

That's got to help sales hasn't it?

And if you're in the trades then I've yet to see someone NOT do well out of it!
 
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*Lexxy* said:
can you clarify this - in general, does this refer to B2B or B2C trade?

thanks :)
Click to expand...

both TBH - an easy example...

In our chapter, we have a plumber, and an electrician, because they've built up a good relationship and a level of trust, they are confident to recommend each other - I've not seen too many weeks when they don't pass referrals one way or other... They have the basis of a power group - which seriously improves the quality and number of referrals passed - increasing the business done for both of them...

I have a small power group too of syngergistic businesses I can refer clients to if their needs are not just about credit control (which is sometimes the case)... helping with commercial finance and business coaching/strategic improvement
 
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