Biz networkers learn value of referrals on The Murfreesboro Post

Sidebar Ads

Biz networkers learn value of referrals

Related Articles

No Related Articles

By: By ERIN EDGEMON Business Editor

Local phone directory owner Bryan Dihigo knows firsthand the power of word of mouth advertising.

He serves as president of ‘Boro Business Network, a local chapter of BNI International, the world’s largest business networking organization.

“When I was a Yellow Page sales executive, a couple of years ago, I heard about BNI and went to a meeting in the Franklin area,” Dihigo said. “There might have been 20 people there. I visited twice and six to eight people in the group bought advertising from me, and they gave me leads.

“I saw the power of getting into a networking, word-of-mouth organization like that. I knew it would be important when I started my own business.”

Since forming in May, the 30 members of the ‘Boro Business Network chapter have closed on more than $200,000 in referred business.

BNI chapters meet weekly with members occasionally meeting one on one to get to now each other and their respective businesses better. Members share information about their business each week and are trained on how to become better networkers.

“We kind of train one another to become sales persons for each others’ business,” said Dihigo, who owns Your Local Directory in Smyrna and is coming to Murfreesboro next year.

Business professionals have an incentive to refer other chapter members.

“You want to help other people in the group because then eventually you will be a reserver of the generosity,” Dihigo said. “The theme is givers gain.”

Wanda Woodard, business development and marketing director for Ameri Care Services, said unlike other networking groups, every member is there to make money.

“It is strictly mercenary,” she said.

Woodard said BNI allows her to track the amount of closed business she gets through member referrals.
Ginger Scott, co-owner of Premier Home Inspection LLC and member of ‘Boro Business Network, said 30 to 40 percent of her company’s business comes from referrals.

“For us it has been a goldmine,” Scott said of BNI membership.

Each chapter only allows one person per professional specialty to join, meaning a chapter can only have one residential real estate agent or financial advisor.

Membership into the networking group is referral based. Prospective members must have a sponsor and references to be considered for membership.

‘Boro Business Network meets Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Patterson Park Community Center at 521 Mercury Blvd. Another group called Top Producers meets Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the YMCA at 205 N. Thompson Lane.

A new chapter is currently forming in Murfreesboro that meets Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Shoney’s Restaurant at 219 NW Broad St.

A list of active members is available at the BNI Tennessee Web site www.bnitennessee.com.

Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.

On the Web:
www.bnitennessee.com

Tips to effective networking

Sometimes you have to jump in headfirst. What I try to do is find someone who I know there and pair up and introduce that person to people I know and vice versa.
- Bryan Dihigo, owner of Your Local Directory

You have got to get out there and you have to collect as many business cards and shake as many hands as you can.
- Wanda Woodard, business development and marketing director for Ameri Care Services

The best way to network is to make it concise and precise. You should be able to describe your business in 60 seconds.
You go out to a networking event, you make a personal contact with 10 people, they are going to tell 10 people and that is a 100 people that will know your business from a one hour networking event.
- Anne Henslee, membership coordinator for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

Building relationships is the key to networking. Relationships can be more valuable than a billboard.
- Ginger Scott, co-owner of Premier Home Inspection LLC

Share:

Tags: None

Member Opinions:

By: Wandawoo on 11/26/07
Thank you for this article and for quoting me. However, though BNI is about referrals for business and making money, I would like to stress that the real key to business success is "service to others." My life's motto is "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier" ~ Mother Teresa.

Working with local charities and basically always being willing to lend a helping hand is and always will be more vital to our success than pure networking.

Wanda Woodard/Marketing Dir. Ameri Care Services, Inc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright Statement | Privacy Statement | Terms of Service

615-869-0800 | online@murfreesboropost.com | 630 Broadmor Blvd. Suite 140, P.O. 10008, Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Making Web Design Easy Since 2001

Websites for Newspapers, Magazines, HOAs, Trade Associations & Online Communities | Email Marketing, E-Commerce