BNI – Grow your business and professional networks

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The added horsepower of 12 to 20 extra salespeople has transformed many Nelson businesses; with some saying they’ve seen 100 per cent growth solely because of their involvement with the business networking group, BNI.
BNI Monaco at the Nelson Golf Club is a Tahuna-based business networking group and the 12 dedicated members say they’d like to expand their group and are inviting new people to come along and see what it’s all about. Member Greg Dykzeul, of NBS, says the group has a core of strong and keen members who have seen the benefits that come from BNI and they’d like to help other businesspeople.
“For the average person they don’t really know what it is and I know when I started I didn’t really know what it was about. The group is only as good as its members and this group has some great members, some really powerful, strong, likeable people who have a good presence in the community. That is what BNI is all about, selling what you do to your members and having a really strong group of members really helps makes that easy.”
BNI (Business Network International) is the world’s largest business and professional referral organisation with over 140,000 members in 48 countries. The organisation’s primary purpose is to exchange qualified business referrals and develop word-of-mouth marketing techniques.
Unlike other networking groups, BNI provides its members with a structure and a plan to enable them to network in a deliberate and professional manner. As an organisation, BNI keeps track of the number of referrals passed by each chapter and encourages the members to record the dollar value of the business they receive. BNI allows only one person per business category to join a chapter ensuring that you lock out your competition when you join.
If you run a small or medium sized business, or operate in a sales or marketing function in a larger business, chances are that you could build your sales revenues substantially by joining a BNI chapter.
Becoming a member of BNI is a bit like instantly acquiring a new team of sales people who are looking for opportunities for your business. Astonishing results have been achieved by people from a very diverse range of businesses through involvement with BNI
BNI Golf Club, as they are known, is one of three BNI groups in Nelson. It works by the members all getting to know each other’s businesses to the point where they feel comfortable recommending you to other people. Before you know it you can be getting referrals from your members which helps grow your business.
“For me becoming a member at BNI has meant that not only do I have an extra 20 or so sales people looking out for me, I have return clients that have come from friends of members and also past members. The sales have grown each year. We also help each other in many ways other than just sales,” says BNI member Tracey Lynch from Harvey World Travel.
While Steve McKenzie, of Addo Painting and Decorating, says: “I think the most important thing has been that through BNI we have achieved phenomenal growth and increased the size of our business by 100 per cent from the previous 12 months.”
The group will hold an open day on Wednesday May 22 at 8:30am at the Nelson Golf Club for anyone who is keen to learn more about growing their business. For more information about the open day contact the visitor host Mark Forbes on 021 760 694 or email [email protected]
Greg says the networking benefits of BNI are tremendous.
“You sell yourself to the members because they then become your marketing team, they’re out there in their own industries operating with their own clients but their clients will discuss – as you do – ‘I’ve been struggling with my bank, or accountant, or need a painter or plumber’ and your member will be able to recommend you and say I know someone who I feel comfortable referring.
“I think owner operators see the greatest value from it because if its’ done well it has an immediate impact on your bottom line because you get growth in sales and referrals and referrals are the most powerful form of sales.”
The BNI model is very successful worldwide and very simple, according to its members, who give up two hours each Wednesday morning and the cost of an annual fee and breakfast.