To BNI or Not to BNI?

By: Shaun O'Reilly
Submitted: 2007-01-17 12:18:05
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

You probably know by now that the more people who know about you and your coaching practice the greater chance you have of attracting clients. However, running a coaching practice from home can become an isolating experience with fewer chances for human interaction. You need to get out more ;-)

You may have come to the point (begrudgingly or otherwise) that you need to do some networking to build your list of contacts and build business relationships. There are a wide range of options available if you want to network but I believe that few can compete with the professional networking groups run by BNI or BRE.

These groups have been specifically set-up to exchange business referrals between members. Unlike the Chambers of Commerce or Business Link meetings, they have exclusive membership so normally you'll be the only coach in the group. They also meet up on a weekly basis (rather than monthly) so you have the ability to develop strong relationships with the other members of the group more rapidly.

However, would BNI or BRE be right for you?

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Are you a morning person? - BNI and BRE meetings are held early in the morning so you'll need to be there by 7am but the earlier the better. This means you'll be getting ready to rise by at least 6.30am. Ouch!

You may have child care commitments to consider.

It may seem easier to get up during the light mornings of the summer but think about the winter too when the dark mornings challenge your get-up-ability :-)

2. Are you committed? - The more you put into your group the more you'll get out of them. Are you committed enough to regularly attend the weekly meetings? Be prepared to put in the effort and you'll reap the rewards.

To build strong relationships based on trust with the other members of the group you'll need to be a regular face at the meetings and meet the members outside too.

3. Are you connected? - A large part of being successful in BNI or BRE is you being prepared to BRING business to the meetings for other members. It's not all 'take take' on your part.

Do you have friends, family and colleagues who could utilize the services of the members in the group? Don't worry too much about this as it's surprising how many chances you'll find to bring business to the meeting for other members when you get to really know what they are offering.

4. Are you crazy?! - In a liberal society the idea of getting up around 6am on a weekly basis completely voluntarily (without the threat of punishment) may seem crazy at first. However, you may be crazy not to.

Shaun O'Reilly is the founder of Authentic Practice and works exclusively with coaches to help them to build successful coaching practices.

He is also the author of The 5 Biggest Mistakes Coaches Make in Marketing and How You Can Avoid Them. To get your free copy just go to:

http://www.authenticpractice.com/

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Networking category

  • The Magnetic Sponsoring System: Does It Really Work? - By: William Cook
    The Magnetic Sponsoring System is a prospecting system that allows network marketers to qualify their leads and to make a profit from leads who don't join their business opportunity.
  • Business Networking: It's Not Just What You Know, But Who You Know - By: Bian Salins
    Spreading the word is important to business success and business networking online allows you to develop your personal and business reputation as well as learning about others and how they can be of assistance to you and your peers.
  • The Power of Networking - By: Clement Sadjere
    The secrets to business success is the ability to network with relevant people to help drive traffic to your product, services or business
  • Less the Right Way vs More the Wrong Way - By: Jonathan Daniel
    Many people join a work marketing opportunity with expectations planted deep within them by their sponsors to be millionaires in a very short period of time. While this is the approach so many sponsors make the mistake of taking, it usually results in disappointments and giving up. One reason is that this approach has the tendency to attract unfit prospects. These prospects are the ones who want it all right now. What they don't realize, is that it will take a good four to six months to really see impressive results. The "3 Foot" and "When in Doubt, Blurt it Out" rules are likely to attract prospects who are not ideal candidates for your opportunity. Don't waste your time like this.
  • Business Networking in the Internet Era - By: Bian Salins
    The Internet has changed how business relationships are formed. Thanks to social networking technology, communication between companies and clients is now faster and more cost-effective than it's ever been before, meaning anyone can now go global.
  • It's Business as Usual for Social Networkers - By: Bian Salins
    By bringing together the principals and technologies of the social networking and ecommerce worlds, it's now possible to create a far richer and more engaging Internet business community, bringing the virtual and physical worlds closer together.
  • How To Make Money From Social Networking - By: Charlie Wildish
    Millions of peope do social networking every day. Now they can be paid for doing what they were doing anyway.
  • The Insider's Guide To Business Networking - By: Nazeer Daud
    Business networking should not be underestimated in how important it can be for the success of the business you're running at the moment, and any business that you would choose to run in the future.
  • Wholesalers, who are they and why buy from a wholesaler? - By: Joel Mclaughlin
    Ok, so chances are that you are some what new to understanding much about wholesalers and what a wholesaler does. You probably have an understanding of the term, but maybe you want to know a little more. Then this article is for you!
  • How to become an entrepreneur through free business networking - By: Michiel Van Kets
    Many people dream of becoming an entrepreneur, but do not know how and where to start and where to find business partners. Through avenues such as free business networking internet sites like ThinkBowl, one can search for business partners and join like-minded communities to find good corporate links.