July 2009 Newsletter from Business Power Network

BNI gives us tools to help us review our potential members, to be sure they are a good fit for our chapter, and our chapter is a good fit for them. Try asking these questions of someone who is seriously considering adding BNI to their marketing plan.

1. How long have you been in business? BNI recommends a potential member be in business for at least a year. Some chapters welcome start-up professionals, while other chapters are looking for experienced people with established contacts.
2. Do you attend networking events? We are looking for outgoing individuals who are already networking and marketing themselves. It is hard to be a good source of referrals for others when you get minimum exposure to people.
3. Are you willing to introduce your clients and friends to the chapter members? BNI is a proactive way of marketing, not reactive. Rather than catching a referral falling from a tree, we are looking for people who will get out and farm some referrals!
4. Are you prepared to handle a 20% growth in your business? This is a great question because it creates excitement, but it also brings up the reality many members aren't ready for: growing pains.
5. Do you interact with 25 people a week? We would prefer to invite potential members who are meeting and having conversations with new people every week. This greatly improves their chances of meeting referrals for members of the group.
6. Do you abide by a code of ethics? This is obviously important to the integrity of their business, but also to the chapter. If I am going to open up my best clients to you, I need to know how you will answer this question.
7. Are you willing to change vendors? As they build trust with members in the group they should be willing to do business with the chapter members when appropriate.
8. Are you willing to invite your vendors to BNI meetings? (Especially those whose positions in the chapter are up for grabs.) If a member likes their vendors, please bring them in and show them off to all of us. Maybe we have some business for them, too!
9. Do you attend regular training, continuing education or professional development classes? We want an individual who is willing to learn and grow professionally and personally. That is a lot of what BNI is about.
10. Are you willing to have a fun time and help make money for other people, who in turn agree to help you make money? If they say no to this, maybe they are not ready for BNI, especially not a chapter as fun and dynamic as BUSINESS POWER NETWORK!

Brittany Helton

Liberty Mutual Insurance