Benefits

BNI provides a structured, supportive, business environment in which local business people can get together to network, learn valuable new marketing skills and develop the strong personal relationships that lead to trust and the consequent generation of significant business for each other.

Business Through Referral

Here’s a fact that most people in business today are well aware of. It’s much better to do business with people who trust you. The referred lead is typically a much better prospect than someone you’ve never met or spoken with before, someone with whom you have nothing or no one in common. The referred prospect, experienced business professionals agree:

  • Is easier to close
  • Has far fewer complaints
  • Is more loyal
  • Remains a client longer
  • Is more trusting

Professionals also like referrals because they bring in customers at little or no cost. Cold calling, (which almost everyone hates) wastes an enormous amount of time for the few sales it eventually closes. Advertising, even when narrowly focussed on specific markets, is still relatively inefficient. But a single referral can bring a chain reaction of business, as one satisfied customer tells others, who in turn tell still others.

BNI is the most successful business referral organisation in the world, there are currently over 55,000 chapters in operation with more than 118,000 members; In 2009, members of BNI passed over 6,200,000 referrals which translated into over £1600 million worth of business.

BNI Education

BNI also host a number of training events and functions to educate their members so they can gain more business. Two principle workshops run by BNI are:

  • Presentation skills workshop
    For you to improve your presentation skills and network with BNI members from a variety of chapters.
  • Referral skills workshops
    If you’re worried about giving referrals to other members this workshop will teach you to listen for a need during your normal working week and how to introduce other members of your chapter.

Social Activities

Business would be pretty dull if we didn’t have some fun now and again. Being part of BNI means you enjoy subsidised prices on functions organised within the chapter. Just a few of the recent events have been:

Dinner dance
Barbecues
Go Kart racing
Pub Quiz
Bowling