Any member of BNI knows what serial event attendees sometimes learn the hard way. Simply being visible isn’t an effective networking strategy. That’s why in BNI, we emphasize forming meaningful connections to stay top of mind in business.
We do that through the process we’ve learned over more than forty years in business. Professional visibility is certainly part of the equation, but the focus is on referral generation strategies - beginning with Giver Gain®.
Your Network is Your Net Work
Want some real business networking tips? Let’s start with this one. Networking isn’t about collecting business cards. We all know people who should be wildly successful by now but aren't - and a stack of business cards is rarely the reason why.
Dr. Ivan Misner has said before that there’s a reason it’s called networking, not net-sitting or net-standing. “Your net work is your net worth.”
Of course, not everyone knows how to network well. That’s why BNI has grown to be the world’s largest networking organization. We focus on effective networking, which involves building real relationships.
Participate, Participate, Participate
The vital piece you can’t live without to stay top of mind in business, especially with your BNI chapter, is participation. While there are many ways to do it beyond the basic, the Power of One is one of the most handy tools for measuring whether you’re doing everything you can to contribute to your own and other members’ success.
Begin with a Giver Gain® attitude, and you’ll be off to a great start, because helping other business owners is one of the most effective referral generation strategies. So each month, do the following:
-
Attend 100% of meetings — That's just 1 BNI meeting each week. Show up on time and use open networking to stay visible and build good standing with fellow members.
-
Schedule a 1-to-1 meeting — Meet with another member every week to get to know each other better and learn how to help one another.
-
Bring at least 1 visitor each month — Inviting new members is the best way to grow your chapter. Even visitors who don't join bring an average of $1,000 in business to members.
-
Learn with 1 CEU a week — Spend one hour learning about effective networking through books, BNI podcasts, BNI Connect courses, or blogs like this one.
-
Bring 1 referral each week — Listen to members' presentations, take notes, and give a quality referral each week. If you miss a week, give a testimonial for a member who's done business for you or someone you know instead.
Dive Deeper to Stay Top of Mind in Business Networking
One of BNI’s six pillar values is building meaningful relationships. The Power of One is the beginning of that for your fellow BNI members. Open networking and your 1-to-1s are especially beneficial for getting to know each other better, learn what makes them tick, who their perfect customers are, and all the little things that will make you think about them more often (and vice versa).
However, you can also apply the concept of building meaningful relationships outside your chapter. In fact, bringing meaning into even your casual business conversations will not only make you better at helping others but will also make you more memorable.
How about boosting your professional visibility with most of the people you meet? Ask them questions they’re not usually asked.
Don’t just say, “What do you do?” and “How long have you been doing it?” As Dr. Misner said in a recent podcast, instead ask “What are you excited about doing right now?”
People love to talk about themselves, and they will be excited to share something they don’t normally get to share. People notice when you listen. Want to learn more about networking and networking follow-up strategies? Attend a local BNI meeting!
