March 10th, 2010
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Synopsis
Dr. Misner just finished surveying 12,000 business people from every populated continent. He asked which of these four things was most important when making a referral:
- Knowing a person’s character
- Knowing a person’s level of competency
- Using the person’s product or service myself
- Knowing a person’s success
Not surprisingly, knowing a person’s character number one. What did surprise Dr. Misner was that neither using a person’s product or service yourself nor knowing a person’s level of success mattered very much.
This means that many of your referrals will come from people who have not actually used your products or services—if they have reason to believe in your character and competency.
Brought to you by Networking Now.
Continue reading “Episode 145: “What’s Important When You Refer People?”” »
March 3rd, 2010
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Synopsis
Today’s podcast topic comes from Dr. Misner’s book Networking Like a Pro. Here are five questions to ask at networking events that will help you leave a lasting impression on the people you meet.
- What do you like best about what you do?
- You mentioned you were in ______ industry. What got you started in that business?
- Where else do you usually network? Are there other groups that you go to?
- What are some of your biggest challenges? (Don’t start a conversation with this one.)
- How can I help you?
Brought to you by Ask Ivan Misner.
Continue reading “Episode 144: “Five Questions to Leave a Lasting Impression”” »
March 1st, 2010
Small Business Trends Radio named The Official BNI Podcast to its 100 Best Small Business Podcasts of 2010. (We’re in the “Marketing and Sales” section.)
Dr. Misner would like to acknowledge the following people for their contribution to this podcast:
- Priscilla Rice, show host and owner of Live Oak Studio—and her brilliant sound engineer, James
- Sallie Goetsch of the Podcast Asylum, who handles all the geeky behind-the-scenes stuff
- Renee Snyder, who transcribes the podcasts so you can read the whole text of each episode
- Brady Vercher of Blazer Six, theme designer and web developer, who keeps the BNIpodcast.com infrastructure from coming apart.
February 27th, 2010
Download this .zip file with the BNI Visualized infographics for your chapter. It contains both Flash video files, PDF posters, and .jpg images for use in SendOutCards.
February 24th, 2010
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Synopsis
Today’s episode is inspired by a letter Dr. Misner got from the vice-president of a struggling BNI chapter who wanted to know how to keep the long-term goal of building the chapter in mind when facing personal attacks from members?
Dr. Misner’s response was to refer this VP back to an article he wrote in SuccessNet in 2006, called “Addition by Subtraction.” The chapter in that story was facing a problem with absenteeism.
In the article, Ivan and Beth Misner take turns explaining that the way to grow healthy rose bushes is to prune them back—and the way to grow a healthy BNI chapter is to get rid of the members who don’t show up or don’t participate. BNI thrives on accountability.
This episode is brought to you by our new sponsor, Ask Ivan Misner.
Continue reading “Episode 143: “Addition by Subtraction”” »
February 17th, 2010
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Synopsis
Today’s special guest is infographics specialist Steven Lin, who created a series of visual tools called “BNI Visualized” to help new members understand the value of BNI. These are on BNI’s main website, but we’re also going to put the Flash animations and the PDF notes here on the podcast site.
BNI members at every level can use “BNI Visualized” to benefit themselves, their guests, their chapter, and BNI as a whole.
- New members see the benefit of BNI and invite more guests
- Guests will join BNI because they see the benefits
- BNI directors can educate the leadership team more easily and train members who want to start new chapters
- Expands knowledge of directors so they can make their chapters stronger
The “Why Join BNI?” animation includes 4 reasons to join BNI:
- World’s largest networking organization
- Lock out competition
- Mandate is to give referrals
- Best marketing tools for your business
There’s also a second Flash animation called “How BNI Works” that explains the concept of Givers Gain.
Brought to you by Networking Now.
Continue reading “Episode 142: “BNI Visualized”” »
February 10th, 2010
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Synopsis
A chauffeur told Dr. Misner a story about a mine owner explained that it would take 11 years before his next mining operation would produce any revenue. Networking and referral networking can also take time to pay off.
When you’re digging a mine, part of the challenge is getting down through hundreds of feet of solid rock. In referral marketing, you have to deal with the time confidence curve. For some professions, the time it takes for a prospect to develop confidence in you may be very short; for others, it may be many months.
Your prospects will never develop confidence if you don’t keep participating in the activities that bring you business. Dr. Misner’s new book, Networking Like a Pro, includes a scorecard that measures these activities so you can track your success.
Brought to you by Networking Now.
Continue reading “Episode 141: “Referral Mining”” »
February 3rd, 2010
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Synopsis
It’s International Networking Week! Check out our YouTube video if you haven’t seen it.
In this episode, Dr. Misner looks into his crystal ball and makes some Business (Networking) Predictions for 2010.
- The economy will improve in most countries around the world. Focus on solutions and get out of the quagmire.
- Online social networks will continue to grow in prominence—and so will the frustration of trying to convert them into viable business opportunities. VCP will not go out of style.
- Companies small and large need to create a social media strategy.
- Victims of downsizing will become active in networking groups.
- We’ll see more integration between face-to-face and online networking, e.g. BNI Connect.
- More and more companies will create websites that operate in two directions.
- Face-to-face networks will continue to grow.
- Companies that succeed in 2010 will remain agile and will focus on relationships.
Brought to you by Networking Now.
Continue reading “Episode 140: “Business Networking Predictions for 2010”” »
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