People usually associate business networking groups like BNI with white collar businesspeople like accountants, lawyers or real estate agents. Perhaps they also realise that businesses in the service space – like plumbers or electricians – use us too. These people may however not connect more novel small businesses with a networking organisation, but the truth is unique businesses have an important place in your BNI chapter.
Do “unique” professions work in BNI?
Absolutely! Success in BNI doesn’t depend on the profession, but on the person. If you’re willing to give and help and learn, you’ll succeed in BNI.
The 2 great reasons to give a person in a unique or novel business as to why they should join BNI are:
1. By being in BNI you can build relationships with plenty of other people that you can refer to your clients. If you can help refer to your clients, if you can assist your clients in some way, it helps to add value to your relationship with these people. This means they’re more likely to continue business with you because of the relationship that you have.
2. Proactive members will get business and referrals no matter how unusual their business is. Those who network well will reach out to members and find they get business through the organisation.
If you have somebody who believes in the philosophy of “Givers Gain”, somebody who is willing to continually work on their skill set as a networker and is there to help other members, and at the same time teach people how to refer you, you’re going to do well.
The business you’re in is secondary to your role as a business professional. Your commitment and willingness to give and help and learn is important. So the short answer to ‘do unique professions work in BNI?’ is, yes, if the unique profession is the right person.
Get creative!
It’s amazing how creative people can be. You get the right person, they’re creative, they have interesting ideas, and they give you ways to refer them that just make it really easy.
One creative new member from a unique business is Bernadette Smith, the owner of In 2 Hula and a member of BNI Kinesis in Christchurch. Bernadette owns a business that makes and sells hula hoops and also runs hula hoop classes. BNI helps her connect with other businesses that can support her through referrals, and with their expertise. A month into joining BNI she’s had some great referrals and through her chapter has been able to introduce people to her business and spread the word about hula hooping.
For Bernadette the cost of joining and participating in BNI is an investment in her business – one that has already paid off. Businesses are always looking for something new to bring to their clients and staff and she’s had a great response to her business’s novel offering. Bernadette encourages other members to consider inviting unique or novel business to join BNI – it brings a whole new energy to a chapter.
