What is BNI?

BNI

BNI stands for Business Network International. BNI is the most successful networking organisation of its type and it provides a structured platform for its members to meet and exchange qualified business referrals with other members.

Groups of members meet at locations across the world - as well as Essex. Each group of members is known as a Chapter.

Belonging to BNI is like having dozens of sales people working for you - because each of the members carry several copies of your business card around with them. When they meet someone who could use your products or services, they hand out your card and recommend you. This is then classed as a referral - a qualified opportunity to do business and is the reason why so many members meet on a regular basis - to get more business!

It really is that simple! Simple because it's based on a proven concept by BNI Founder, Dr Ivan Misner, called "Givers Gain." Givers Gain is the motto for everything we do at Enterprise Exchange BNI in Braintree - If I give you business you'll give me business and we'll both benefit as a result.

Last year, members of BNI passed over two million referrals, which generated over a billion dollars' (U.S.) worth of business for the members! BNI is a business and professional networking organisation that allows only one person per professional classification / category or specialty to join a chapter.

Would you like to increase your business by 20%, 30%, 50% or as much as 100%? You can see results like this! Many have. Successful businesses depend on word of mouth. Word-of-mouth advertising is the best advertising there is.

BNI provides a structured and supportive system of giving and receiving business. It does so by providing an environment in which you develop personal relationships with dozens of other qualified business professionals. By establishing this "formal" relationship with other people, you will have the opportunity to substantially increase your business.

As members, we attend the meetings to gain quality business from people who know us, and want to increase their business.

The Structured Agenda

The essence of BNI is that although the meeting takes place at breakfast the sole reason for coming is to network! Efficiency and timings are maintained because every BNI meeting follows a structured 20 point agenda.

If you attend a BNI meeting in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, the USA or anywhere else, you will find all meetings follow exactly the same format, using exactly the same agenda.

The 60 Second Presentation

At the heart of the BNI meeting is the "60 Second Speech" slot. This is each member's opportuiity to tell everyone at the meeting all about their business, the kind of leads they are looking for, and anything at all that will help the other members generate business for them.

60 seconds may seem to be the briefest of speeches, but BNI have developed a system to harness the power of this format, and regularly orgaise free traiing workshops to allow the members to develop their presentations, introducing techiques such as the memory hook, and effective ways to ensure that the message is remembered.

This system has immense practical benefits outside BNI, where in real-life networking situations, the BNI member is trained to be able to give an instant and concise account of what they do.