Tips to maximise your opportunities at BNI (no matter what your business)

Networking at BNI is the fuel that accelerates success. Not only is it useful for learning directly from individuals you meet, but the benefits of association and growing your own brand are just as powerful.

Sometimes members might wonder why other members are having more success at gaining referrals. The answer is to keep it simple and stay proactive.

Recently one of our long-term members – Ritesh Verma – achieved a great accolade in the property industry, and shared a few tips about how to stay engaged and proactive at BNI.

1. Remain present in your chapter. The most successful members are the ones who are there week in, week out. Become a familiar face at your BNI chapter no matter what your business is and how crazy busy you are.There’s the saying that is becoming more common in business: It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. These days it’s all about building your personal brand as a part of your business or industry so people associate your name with the work you do. You are brand building every time you’re present at your meeting.
2.  Make it easy for people in your chapter to refer you. Be clear about your offering in your 60 seconds so people recall you and keep you front of mind. In some businesses like services and consultancy where the fee may be larger, or perhaps it’s a more complex offering, it may be easier to ask for an initial appointment or to meet with someone specific.However, if an initial appointment does come your way from another BNI member, it isn’t just a cold referral. There is credibility and trust already established which can help you to win the sale – this is one of the strengths of BNI.
3. Work hard to secure the opportunities provided to you through BNI members. Being set up in front of someone is great, but it’s still up to you to take the initiative to then work towards securing the business and winning the confidence of the person you have been introduced to.

Don’t expect business to be handed to you…but you can help business to come your way by thinking from the perspective of your fellow members as to how they can best find you business and connections.