The Official BNI Podcast

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Synopsis

How often have you come home from a large networking event with a huge stack of business cards and wondered, “Now what?” Here are some tips for sorting out your potential prospects and referral partners from the rest.

1. Make a note of something you discussed on the back of the business card right after you talk to the person. If this is not appropriate in your culture, keep a small notebook handy to jot down a few words next to the person’s name.
2. Divide the most immediate prospects into one pile and the less immediate prospects into another.
3. Enter the first group into your contact database and send a quick note by either e-mail or snail mail. Try to set up a meeting for coffee or some other fairly immediate follow-up meeting to find out how you can help them.
4. Send another message to your less immediate prospects, even if you don’t set up a meeting.

Next week’s podcast will provide some specific examples of follow-up notes to these two groups of contacts.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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Synopsis

This week Dr. Misner brings us a great metaphor from a BNI director in South Dakota and a BNI member named Bill:

Networking will never work if you’re here for yourself. You need to take off your bib, put on your apron, and learn to serve other people.

Here are 12 ways to do that.

1. Provide referrals.
2. Make introductions.
3. Arrange a meeting.
4. Invite people to meetings.
5. Endorse people’s products and services.
6. Display their literature in your office.
7. Distribute their information.
8. Announce their events.
9. Nominate people for awards.
10. Follow-up on any referrals they give you.
11. Serve as a sponsor.
12. Publish information.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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Synopsis

Networking commandments 6-10. If you haven’t heard the first 5 commandments, go back and listen to Episode 32.

6. Give referrals whenever possible.
7. Ask each person you meet for one or two cards to pass on and one for yourself.
8. Spend no more than 10 minutes with each person.
9. Write notes on the back of business cards you collect (unless you’re in Asia).
10. Follow up!

Check out Dr. Misner’s book It’s in the Cards for ideas about business cards.

Brought to you by Networking Now.

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