REFERRALS

Aside from the fun of hanging out together, it's really why we all joined BNI. A good referral is not a cold lead, it's not a "here call this guy", it's a warm introduction to someone you think could either become a client of the member, or could be someone in a profession that could refer them clients. Set a goal for yourself of bringing one referral to a fellow member per week. More is even better!

Paperwork saving tip:

  1. Copy/paste the intro below into an email to the member and your referral. Explain to the referral why you think they should connect. If you can personalize, even better.

  2. In the subject line of your email, use a word like "introduction". (e.g. Introduction to Moises). Don't make it generic like "introduction to business attorney" or they'll think it's spam. Copy your assistant.

  3. Whenever your assistant sees an email with the word "introduction" they should be trained to enter your referral for you in BNI Connect. (if you don't have an assistant then once a week search your email for your keyword and enter your referrals all at once).

Referral Intros

TYFCB TIMESAVING TIP!

Of all of the paperwork you do at BNI, other than paying your dues, entering your "Thank You For Closed Business" is the most important. Why? It shows that we're a successful chapter. Our total passed business is a number public on the BNI website. Visitors are encouraged to visit and submit an application, and it keeps us off of the radar for BNI "help", which other chapters need more.

Here's an idea to make it easier to keep up if you're not great at doing it weekly:

  1. Create a tag or category in your accounting system (e.g. Quickbooks or Xero) for clients you received through BNI. Remember that these could be:

    • a fellow BNI member (present or past) doing business with you - use the "Chapter" category if from a past member.

    • a client referred by a BNI member (present or past)

    • a client referred by a referral partner to whom you were introduced through BNI

    • business with a visitor or someone the visitor referred

  2. Once per month when your bookkeeper closes your books, have them run a report of total revenue by clients with the BNI tag.

  3. Give that report to your assistant and train them how to enter those totals as a TYFCB in BNI Connect.