Special offer

BNI breakfast in Sandpoint: Sandpoint Blog

By
Services for Real Estate Pros

While social networking is the bomb, it is also not the only way of connecting with your community. While tweeting and Facebook friends are now part of the real estate and business landscape, there is no replacement for one-on-one contact.

Now let's be real. If you are not a good public speaker and are not a social butterfly, maybe blogging is what you need to be looking for. However, if those qualities are elusive, these kinds of meetings and organizations help to hone those skills.

Business Network International (BNI) is a business referral network. Based on the philosophy "Givers Gain" it exists to bring small business people together in a structured format which encourages the exchange of business.

BNI was founded in 1985 by Dr. Ivan R. Misner. It is founded on the philosophy that "Givers Gain". It brings together small business professionals in an environment structured to encourage the building of relationships and the exchange of referrals. Since 1985 it has grown to over 2,000 chapters world-wide

http://www.bni-ewanid.com/

Benefits of Membership

  • Tools to network more effectively, including an orientation CD giving the "Formula for Success" in BNI, a badge, a vinyl card holder to carry members' business cards, referral slips, marketing materials for your chapter and much, much more.
  • Participation in up to 52 networking meetings per year.
  • Bi-monthly newsletters with educational material on networking, public speaking, and business.
  • Participation in business tradeshows (where you'll have an opportunity to market your chapter and your business).
  • Free periodic workshops on networking.
  • And much, much more!!!

Increased exposure to many other people and businesses.

  • Substantially increased referrals.
  • Tools to network more effectively, including an orientation CD giving the "Formula for Success" in BNI, a badge, a vinyl card holder to carry members' business cards, referral slips, marketing materials for your chapter and much, much more.
  • Participation in up to 52 networking meetings per year.
  • Bi-monthly newsletters with educational material on networking, public speaking, and business.
  • Participation in business tradeshows (where you'll have an opportunity to market your chapter and your business).
  • Free periodic workshops on networking.
  • And much, much more!!!

I was happy to be there and enjoyed a free breakfast. Many of you who follow this blog know that I am very active with community events and charities. Since that is where you might primarily see me, that is your image of me. However, I have hosted the North Idaho Business radio show for the last six years, and write the most read quarterly economics news blog in our part of North Idaho, so business is my other forte.

Joining a business organization may not translate immediately into tangible dollars, but it can help prep the way. Try it. In this economy, what can it hurt?

Speaker at a BNI breakfast in Sandpoint, Idaho
Speaker at a BNI breakfast in Sandpoint, Idaho 

Gary Lirette, featured in Where To Retire magazine and host of the Tuesday noon local radio shows: North Idaho Business as well as North Idaho Arts.

Gary Lirette

E-mail Gary or call 208-610-1384
Read Gary's Blogs

 Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty

200 Main Street
Sandpoint, Idaho

208-255-3474

www.SandpointID.net - To learn all about Sandpoint and North Idaho

www.RealtySandpoint.com - For Sandpoint Realty

www.SkiSchweitzer.net - To visit Schweitzer Mountain's Community Web

Comments (1)

Liz Flint
Century 21 Hardee-Team Realty - Houston, TX
Houston\Tomball Realtor (832)816-8066

Hi Gary, a guy in my office belongs to a BNI and gets LOTS of business from it. 

Nov 18, 2010 11:28 AM