What is BNI?
"Givers Gain." That's BNI's motto. As you can tell from my lensmaster lens and my Squidoo-by-Tree lens and my other lenses, I was born a firm believer in that motto. So, BNI fits with my personality.
From BNI's Official Website: BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world. We offer members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, business referrals.
I very much agree. BNI was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ivan Misner, who is also now a New York Times best-selling author.
Wondering how relevant referral or network marketing is in today's dot-com age? The March 19, 2007 issue of U.S. News & World Report contains the following excerpt: "Getting business to come to you. Network and schmooze at professional and trade association meetings and through formal networking groups like linkedin.com and BNI, with Chapters nationwide."
I am a member of the BNI Skylands Chapter (@ Sky View Golf Club) in Northern (northwestern corner of) New Jersey. I served as the President of the BNI Mountainside Chapter (for BNI's usual 6 month term) about a year ago.
I highly recommend BNI to keep your excellent service or product business growing in exactly the way you want it to develop. This lens is about how BNI works, and how to use it to your best advantage, along with business marketing recommendations.
Note to Self
Small Business is
the back-bone of
the American economy.
I refuse to participate in
the so-called recession.
Where do your clients come from?
When I joined BNI two and one-half years ago (as a divorce attorney), about 1/3 of my clients came from referrals. About 1/3 came from the phone book. About 25% came from the internet, and the approximately other 8% came from the infamous Miscellaneous category. Now, over 2/3 definitely, and probably over 75% of my clients come from referrals. Tell us about your business. You can add your specific comments by Submitting a Blurb at the bottom of the page.
Why has My Referral Percentage Doubled while in BNI?
The percentage of my clients coming from referrals has more than doubled from approximately 1/3 to over 2/3, and probably over 75% during my BNI membership.But, that fact/accomplishment has not occurred just because I received referrals from my fellow BNI members.
More importantly, just being an active member of BNI keeps me TUNED IN to developing business by talking to people, by developing relationships, and by "Top of Mind" marketing.
Top of Mind marketing essentially means inundating the "community" with information about your service or product, so that when a person needs your service or product, YOUR name automatically comes to the "Top of [his/her] Mind."
During the last 2 1/2 years of being a BNI member, I have (unwittingly, and almost inadvertently) developed a web of referral sources among non-BNI attorneys who don't want to do what I do (Northern NJ divorce law only) and who send me any of their clients or incoming callers who are looking for a NNJ divorce attorney. I simply would not have been tuned-in to developing those relationships and the white-glove service of these referral sources if not for my CONTINUING BNI membership.
I mention continuing because if I had just been a member for, let's say, a year, I still could have LEARNED the skills necessary to develop and increase my referral numbers. But, as a continuing member, I use my referral marketing muscles at least weekly (at the weekly meeting), but more likely, almost daily.
Tell us if you are a BNI member.
We want to know if Squidoo visitors are members or not so that we can better provide you with information you need and want. After you answer the Poll, why not tell us what was most helpful to you, or what info you would like to see on this lens that would help answer your questions? Use the Submit a Blurb button at the bottom of the page.
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Kids & Money - Teaching Wealth Habits to Your Children
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Want to Learn More about "The Kids' Bank Book?"
Get lots more info @ my Squidoo lens about Kids & Money and The Kids' Bank Book-
Kids and Money: How to Teach Wealth Habits to Your Kids
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Aha! You've joined the ranks of those wise parents who have realized that they'd like to spare your children the burden of repeating your money mistakes? (or, of the poor money lessons that you were taught as a child?) Do you want your ki...
My Favorite Marketing & Business-Building Books
You can vote these books up or down - and even add your own! Want to make further comments? Just Submit a Blurb at the bottom of the page. You can also subscribe to this list via RSS, add it to your Blog, or add it to your own Squidoo lens.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
If you are in business and have not yet read this book, stay home tomorrow and read it. It was written decades ago, yet the "Mastermind" Chapter is EXACTLY what "The Secret" movie is all about! If you haven't read it in the last 12 months, re-read it this weekend.1 point
Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers by Seth Godin
Hmmmm, I wonder who this guy is? Oh yeah, the genius that invented this hyper-user-friendly-very-addictive-devise called Squidoo!1 point
The World's Best Known Marketing Secret, 2nd Edition: Building Your Business with Word-of-Mouth Marketing by Ivan R. Misner
Dr. Misner's now-classic book on network marketing.0 points
Truth or Delusion?: Busting Networking's Biggest Myths by Ivan R. Misner
BNI found, Dr. Misner's latest best-seller.0 points
Getting business to come to you by Paul Edwards
The Edwards' are self-employment experts. This is an ABSOLUTELY phenomenal book - more of a Top of Mind marketing bible.0 points
Top Reasons Why BNI is Great for My Business
If you are a BNI member (or other networking/referral marketing group member), vote your top reason up or down. You can also add your own reason!
Keeps me Tuned-In to Personal Networking
It's soooo easy to become a dot-com-aholic in today's world. BNI keeps my person-to-person muscle in good working order.1 point
MUCH less $$ spent on yellow page Ads
We're talking thousands of dollars have been cut out of my yellow page advertising budget alone! [In my neck of the woods, we have about 4 different phone books covering 1 county. That's alot of advertising dollars.] When I think about the tens of thousands that my top competitors are spending, I just - well, smile (remember, I am a litigator after all ;) ).0 points
Ideal - and Happier - Clients
The clients I receive from referrals are sooo much better than the ones that come from the phone book or internet. My BNI referrals are usually my IDEAL client profile. And, they usually already like me before I even talk to them (thanks to the wonderful recommendations that come from the person making the referral).0 points
Ideal Clients + More Profits = Happier Me
I work less and make more money, while doing exactly what I love doing - crafting excellent divorce solutions for a client that not only needs, but wants, exactly the quality and style of service that I offer. Rewarding work, happy lifestyle. What it's all about!0 points
I get to Help Others Grow their Business
Share the wealth. I get to help others grow their business by sending prospects directly to them, and by sharing business ideas and stories with them. Learned something recently? Share it with someone who might not yet know it. Just like any other "pass it on" act of kindness, this business version still makes you feel good. Being a mentor is a great privilege.0 points
My Clients Appreciate our care of them
I refer lots of my clients (as well as others) to my fellow BNI members because my clients needs those services - and, being very stressed out divorcing people, they need those services from a trusted source. When I get a fellow BNI member on the phone instantly to get a crying future-divorced-spouse his/her new individual car insurance, they feel as if I just lifted a weight off of their shoulders. We help our clients answer lots of their non-legal needs like this all day long . . . and they....0 points
Want to learn more about NW NJ & PA BNI Chapters?
Notice I refer to them by their first names? That's because BNI is a very friendly group. We get alot of business done - AND, we get to know and appreciate each other.
- BNI - NW NJ & PA
- This is my section of the world. I live in the NW corner of NJ, in Sussex County. Mark Carmody is the BNI Executive Director, and Steve Gambino is the Area Director for the NW NJ & PA BNI region/area.
Want to learn more about BNI?
- BNI
- Visit the main Official BNI website. Note: you can find chapters near you from that official website. Also Note: you may want to attend more than one chapter before deciding which one to join. Different chapters have different personalities or energies, but all have the same format, system, purpose and motto.
BNI Podcast
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byWho do I network with every week?
Links to some of my fellow Skylands BNI members' websites
Again, we invite your vote on these links! Want to add one, or submit a recommendation for one of these professionals? Submit a Blurb at the bottom of the page.
2
Law Office of Theresa A. Markham, P.C.
[This is my divorce law firm.] 973-764-8811 Law Of more...1 point
3
Heritage Abstract Company
Dennis Bivona (title insurance) 973-540-13450 points
4
Embroider This
Donna Sanderson (embroidery & scre more...0 points
5
Liberty Mutual
Mark Unglaub (property and casualty insurance) 973 more...0 points
6
Wells Fargo
Robyn Bivona (residential mortgages) 973-598-89030 points
7
Judy Golland, Realtor
Real Estate for sale in Sparta New Jersey Lake Moh more...0 points
Get Your FREE "5 TIPS to Wealth Training Your Kids" via email
This is a good place to start (before jumping on the path to your family's financial freedom). Get the FREE 5-day Tips to Wealth Training Your Kids e-mail. Not for wimps - 5 fairly-in-depth discussions of 5 issues relating to kids and money and families.
DO THIS NOW! Then you'll have the first topic waiting for you in your e-mail by the time you're done reading this Squidoo lens!
Tell us about your BNI experiences or questions.
Remember, if you went to a BNI meeting & didn't like the personalities or the "energy" of that group, go to a different meeting! The meeting format will be the same, but some people "click" differently than others!
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Reply
- Devin Devin Jan 31, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
- I am looking to join BNI. Went as a member and they were very welcoming. A lot of BNI members enjoy our referral and relationship service.
www.sendoutcards.com/devin
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Reply
- NameAide NameAide Nov 12, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
- You have great information. I'm interested in joining BNI. I look forward to more about BNI. Thank you.
Rus
Business Techonlogy Optimization
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Reply
- luckycharms luckycharms Jun 9, 2007 @ 1:31 am
- Welcome to the entrepreneurs station group. Your lens gives great tips on networking and leads groups.
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Reply
- Christopher_Scott Christopher_Scott May 18, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
- Dr. Misner,
I love that dude.
BNI is a great organizaton, I just attended a meeting today.
A Day of Hope
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Reply
- Acne_Medicine Acne_Medicine May 7, 2007 @ 12:57 pm
- Dear web master, Your lens contains excellent content. I would like to invite you to add your lens to my Top affiliate programs that pay group. I'm sure my group visitors will benefit from your resourceful lens. Tx.
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Did you know?
Official BNI Message Board
- BNI Bulletin Board
- Very active message board with a variety of question topics. [Welcome to members of BNI. This is the official international site for BNI members world-wide. The bulletin board is for questions and discussion on running good BNI meetings.]
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My Current Favorite Quote
Where You Are
With What You Have.
- Teddy Roosevelt
Latest BNI Newsletter Article by Dr. Ivan Misner
Why believing one myth can lead to business failure.
By Dr. Ivan Misner
What do Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and Six Degrees of Separation have in common? People all around the world believe in them. But, since I don't wish to do an exposé on Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, I'm going to leave those icons alone. I want to talk about Six Degrees of Separation. This is the widely-held belief that we are all connected to each other through, at most, six intermediary connections or people.
I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but it's just not true. In fact, it is a widespread urban legend. Read the Article on the BNI site
Givers Gain
(Hey, wait a minute . . . that's Squidoo's philosophy too . . . maybe we're on to something . . . )
by TheresaMarkham
Theresa A. Markham, Esq. loves living in scenic Northwest New Jersey with her husband, Chuck, and daughter Zoe, who are visited by her GWU-colleg...
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