The Official BNI Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Synopsis

Assuming you’ve followed the suggestions in previous podcasts and started out by asking questions, what’s the next step? What do you say when someone asks you what you do? You need to be prepared, and you need to have something quick and interesting. You need a Unique Selling Proposition.

Don’t just say “I’m a consultant.” Say “I work with small businesses to help them attract more clients than anyone could possibly handle.”

The Referral Institute’s USP is “We help people work less, make more, and create referrals for life.”

The natural response to a USP like this is to say “How do you do that?”

Your assignment this week is to come up with a USP for your business and share it here in the comments. Then share it with your BNI chapter.

Once you’ve tested your USP, come back and tell us how it worked and whether you changed it for a better effect.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

View the entire transcript of this episode

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Synopsis

When Dr. Misner and his wife Beth were on safari in South Africa, there was a suspension bridge between the main lodge and the guest suites. When they didn’t walk in sync, the flexing of the bridge jarred them, but if they walked in sync, with the same stride, it was much easier to cross.

The same is true of networking. You need to walk in sync with your referral partners. You need to cooperate and to collaborate, and that requires two things:

• Proximity: you have to stay in contact with each other. Have one-to-one meetings.
• Stay focused on how you can help each other in business. Keep looking for things you can do for your networking partners.

If you do these things, you’ll build deep relationships and trust, and everyone’s business will benefit.

Brought to you by Ask Ivan Misner.

View the entire transcript of this episode