about bni
Belonging to BNI is like having dozens of sales people working for you ... |
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... because all of them carry several copies of your business cards around with them. When they meet someone who could use your products or services, they hand out your card and recommend you.* It's as simple as that! It's simple because it's based on a proven concept by BNI Founder, Dr Ivan Misner, called "givers gain." If I give you business you'll give me business and we'll both benefit as a result. |
Last year, members of BNI passed 4.9 million referrals . . . |
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... which generated nearly two billion dollars' (U.S.) worth of business for the members! BNI is a business and professional networking organisation that allows only one person per professional classification or specialty to join a chapter. |
Would you like to increase your business by 20%, 30%, 50% or as much as 100%? |
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You can see results like this! Many have. Some participants have added as many as 50 new clients in the first 2 years!!! Successful businesses depend on word of mouth. Word-of-mouth advertising is the best advertising there is. |
BNI provides a structured and supportive system of giving and receiving business. |
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It does so by providing an environment in which you develop personal relationships with dozens of other qualified business professionals. By establishing this "formal" relationship with other people, you will have the opportunity to substantially increase your business. |
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(*) Note, some professions, specifically attorneys and certain health care professionals, may not be permitted to seek direct referrals through in-person solicitation through the use of business cards pursuant to their ethical code. Members of BNI that belong to these professions are directed to follow their profession's own ethical guidelines. |
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Benefits of Membership
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Increased exposure to many other people and businesses.
- Substantially increased referrals.
- Tools to network more effectively, including an orientation cassette tape giving the "Formula for Success" in BNI, a badge, a vinyl card holder to carry members' business cards, referral slips, marketing materials for your chapter and much, much more.
- Participation in up to 52 networking meetings per year.
- Quarterly newsletters with educational material on networking, public speaking, and business.
- Participation in business tradeshows (where you'll have an opportunity to market your chapter and your business).
- Free periodic workshops on networking.
- And much, much more!!!
Q. How do you know new members are reputable?
Q. What if a member gets a referral and does poor work?
Q. What occupations benefit the most from networking?
Q. Are members supposed to bring visitors?
Q. Do ethical rules for certain professions prohibit participation in BNI?
Q. If I specialise in a field within my profession, am I expected to be an expert in all aspects of my profession?
Q. Can anyone join a chapter?
A. We only take one person per professional specialty. So if you are an estate agent and we already have one, we can refer you to another chapter, or allow you to open another chapter. Of course, if you are a commercial real estate person, you could be eligible to join this chapter.
Q. How do you know new members are reputable?
A. The application asks for references and we have a membership committee that checks them. It's word of mouth, so before they even come to a meeting they have to have spoken to someone or been invited by someone in the group. Everyone has to have a sponsor, or one is assigned to them, and they interview them.
Q. What if a member gets a referral and does poor work?
A. We have an ethics committee and it is imperative that anyone who gives a lead and finds out it was not satisfactorily handled must report that to the membership committee, who will investigate.
Q. What occupations benefit the most from networking?
A. It is not the occupation, it is the individual. The occupation can be anything. If you're focussed and you have a dream and you're willing to make a sacrifice, you are the person we want in the group.
Q. Are members supposed to bring visitors?
A. You're encouraged to bring visitors for those occupations that are open, after the visitor has been pre-screened, if they're a viable candidate. It's pretty much a closed meeting except for potential members.
Q. Do ethical rules for certain professions prohibit participation in BNI?
A. BNI understands the importance of the ethical concerns governing certain professions and acknowledges that rules can differ by location. As such, BNI therefore requires its members to uphold the rules of its profession so as not to violate the professional’s ethical obligations. In the event that BNI’s general rules could potentially violate a professional’s ethical code, BNI’s rules are superceded by the dictates of the professional’s ethics’ code. Significantly, a primary objective of BNI is to educate its membership in ways to market and grow business. It is BNI’s intent to ensure that this is permitted.
Q. If I specialise in a field within my profession, am I expected to be an expert in all aspects of my profession?
A. BNI understands that many professions are broad and that people often specialise within their profession. BNI does not expect, nor does it encourage, any professional to participate in an area in which the professional does not have expertise. On the contrary, BNI prohibits professionals from acting outside of the scope of their abilities.
