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whole article
"Networking with other business people is one
of the simplest, least costly ways to put your career on the
fast track and increase business for your company, says Dr. Ivan
Misner, the author of several books on networking. ... BNI's
18,000 members meet weekly in cities throughout the country to
network and exchange business referrals with one another. To
date, the group has passed 3 million referrals to one another,
resulting in more than $1 billion worth of business for its members."
"BNI has taken an age-old concept -- word-of-mouth
networking -- and formalized it.”Often people say to me
'This isn't new' and they are right,' said Mike Smith, one of
two executive directors for the St. Louis BNI. "What we
have done is take an age-old idea and put into a systematic form
that people can follow on a regular basis."
"We've had some tremendous stories. There
is a printer in our group who met a real estate agent...That
agency wanted to switch its printing and they gave him this job...It
was more than a $100,000 job - and it happened because of a $200
investment."
"A structured Word-of-Mouth marketing
program that turns people into sales representatives for your
company."
"In 1994, based on more then 300,000 referrals,
BNI accounted for $105 million worth of new business [for its
members]."
"Members of Indianapolis-area networking
[group] agree...It has been very good...members generated more
than 304,000 referrals for each other. Those produced a little
more than $106 million [for members], Misner said."
"A strong-contact network-Misner has designed
his own networking organization, Business Network Int'l, as an
ideal example - gives business people a way to make and receive
referrals in a structured, professional environment."
"With many small businesses scrambling
to weather the recession, the networking business is thriving...
Business people realize that in this tough economy they've got
to do some extra things."
"The members have worked like my own sales
force to get business for me. Sheila Gardner...Members at BNI know they are there to work for one another and this commitment
alone encourages referrals, added Susan Butler."
"Word-of-Mouth is an impressive form of
advertising because it suggests that recommendations come from
people who are trusted and whose opinions are respected... Author
Ivan Misner says, Word-of-Mouth marketing is a lot like farming,
it's based on slow, nurturing care."
"Networking is far from peaking... [People]
need to network to get business."
"Business Network Int'l...an organization
that offers highly motivated business people a weekly no-nonsense
breakfast meeting that virtually guarantees them customer leads."
"Word-of-Mouth, the traditional way of
spreading information, has become a popular marketing strategy
among businesses... Business Network Int'l uses a system of referrals
to help increase sales for businesses."
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