Happy New Year! Who’s excited about what 2026 will bring to your business? In the southwest Virginia region’s BNI, the answer is all of us! Positivity is one of BNI’s core values, and one of the easiest times to stay optimistic is the start of something new. So, to boost the annual start to your growth journey, here are the top 5 ways to boost referrals in 2026 using your local BNI chapter!
#1 Help Me Help You - Boost Referrals by Teaching How to Refer
Last month’s blog was all about utilizing your minute pitch properly at each BNI meeting. Don’t misuse nearly an hour each year.
Use the time to not only teach people about what makes you and your business unique, but also how they can refer you.Your fellow BNI members want to help you. Most of them will do their best to boost referrals by getting people in front of you who need.
However, you need to teach them how to recognize the customers who need you and how to introduce you to them.
#2 We’ll Do It All Right This Time - The Power of One
Don’t forget the basics. Showing up and contributing does a lot to teach others that they can depend on you and that sharing you with people they care about will help, rather than harm, their reputations.
Come to your meetings on time every week. It teaches your fellow members that you’ll do it for your clients. Meet your Power of One (1 referral, one education unit, & 1 meeting per week, and one referral per month). Hitting at least these minimums shows that you’re committed and value their time and commitment.
#3 Show Me the Money - Keep Giving
Givers Gain® isn’t just a nice motto. When you’re part of the right network, it’s also true.
Focus on giving qualified referrals to your fellow BNI members, and they’ll naturally want to help you grow your business too.
That’s why we always say to focus on giving before you expect to gain anything in return.
#4 The Key to Business is Personal Relationships
Networking is a long game. Dr. Meisner started BNI partly because he thought other networking groups were too transactional. You shouldn’t feel slimy when you leave a meeting, and with BNI, you don’t.
So never forget that one of the things that sets BNI apart from other networking organizations is its focus on building relationships.
In a way, each other's advice items on our ways to boost referrals list is a variation of building relationships: giving, teaching people about you, and being someone who people want to be in a relationship (business or otherwise) with!
#5 The Human Head Weighs 8 Pounds - Don’t Be Afraid to Be You and Share What You Know
Not every customer is for everyone, so don’t just boost referrals; increase your best referrals. The way to do that is to be authentic, yeah, and to say what it is you really need.
BNI gives you an excellent opportunity to boost referrals with the help of like-minded business professionals. Don’t blow your chance! Utilize your tips in our BNI group, or if you don’t have one yet, find one that needs you!
