A little over a year ago, I joined a BNI group. Business Network International is a professional organization whose primary purpose is to exchange qualified business referrals. For those of you who are not familiar with the organization, chapters meet weekly and each week members have the opportunity to do a sixty second presentation to the group. The purpose of the presentation is to educate the other members about your business and what kind of referrals you would like to receive.
When I first started, I was really intimidated by doing this little speech and found it difficult to come up with different things to say each week.
It has become much easier for me so I would like to help other stagers, new to BNI, by posting some examples of my Sales Manager Minute.
Feel free to edit and use at your meeting.
EXAMPLE 1:
I'm Sharon, with Sharon Tara Transformations.
I'm a professional home stager. I assist sellers in the preparation of their house for sale.
Several months ago many sellers took their house off the market or let their listing expire, intending to relist in the Spring. They did this because when a house does poorly on the market, sellers will blame the season, they also blame the market or most commonly their realtor.
The real reason their house hasn't sold is usually the condition and presentation of the house.
A good referral for me is sellers who have already tried to sell and failed. Sellers who would like some assistance when they relist so that they can avoid repeating the same mistakes and failing again.
Sharon Tara Transformations...Creative and Unique Solutions One Room At A Time
I'll share more examples in future posts.
I hope this helps other stagers who may be feeling the way I did when I first joined BNI.
If you are a BNI member and would like to share an example of one of your "Sales Manager Minutes" please add it to the comment section.
If you aren't familiar with BNI, you should visit a local chapter. They only allow one member per occupation so you have no competition within the group. It has been a very positive experience for me.
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Professional Home Staging services for the New Hampshire Seacoast
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603.661.8524
HI Sharon! This is great! I am in a BNI group as well, 6 months now and the referrals are just coming in. It's important to change your infomercial every week, touch base on things that they may not realize you do such as with me, when you see a for sale by owner give me their name and number. I would like to know how you did the future posts? BNI is a great resource, we have a sales team working for us! Take Care!
I did 750,000 in business from my BNI group last year....At first I didn't think I could handle the committment, but now I find myself looking forward to Tuesday mornings (6:45am as I am the visitor host and have to be there 15 minutes early)
I notice you are really following the BNI suggested method by saying things like: A good referral for me is the person who.... Instead of saying a good referral for me is ANYONE.......Be specific in the type of person you are looking for and give the example..
Also the "memory hook"....the favorite one in my group is the home inspector "where all the inspectors are good lookers"...
One more point...It is interesting that some people in my group say exactly the same words every week in their 60 second commercial as far as what their job is, but do change the "good referral for me is ......." EXACTLY the same every week...they wrote the perfect script and deliver it weekly!
Roxanne: Thank you. I'm not sure what you are asking about, did you want to know how I inserted the link for the email subscriptions or how the subscriptions are done? The link is easy...highlight the words you want to use and then click on the link icon at the top of the dialog box. It looks like a piece of chain. Then you just fill in the link address and click "insert" and it's linked.
I use Feedburner through Google.
Pat: Wow what an impressive amount of business! I'm on the membership committee in my group. The time commitment is worth it. My favorite memory hook in our group is the computer guy who says "I do windows."
You have to be careful saying the same thing every week, people will eventually tune it out.
Hi Sharon, More and more professionals are becoming involved w/ BNI. About expireds. This market is completely a beauty pagent. The prettiest one (with the best price) wins! Game over!
Marian: Anyone serious about their business needs to network. It's not one of my favorite things, but it is so important. You are right about the beauty pagent, appearance is crucial. Thanks!
I belong to a group that is similar to this. I love the 60 second commercials and the good referral statements. It help me to refer other people. Thanks for the reminder that networking and referrals are a positive step in the right direction!
Sheila: Joining the group was such a good thing for me. It really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I think we all need others to support us and give us that push!
Sharon,
I am currently President of the Franklin, TN BNI Chapter. A very rewarding and great experience being a BNI member has been. Not only a valuable way to gain business, but a great way to find resources such as painters, plumbers, electricians, etc. that I can count on.
Anthea: I know what you mean. We just got an electrician this week and I'm so happy to have him in the group. I didn't have one to refer my clients to when I suggest they replace their lighting.
Hi Sharon,
One twist we would see in my chapter is twisting " a good referral for me is "... and for you, it's your golden goose, people who are in homes all the time that will be sold, I'd say:
* real estate agents who have listings that won't sell
* property managers who are trying to rent their properties
* r.e. office managers who want someone to come in and give a lunch/learn
Good luck with your chapter..
_Claude (who went to high school in Somersworth NH)
Claude: A past NH resident, huh? Those are great examples of a golden goose for a home stager! Thanks!
Sharon, I'll have to keep that in mind for you.
I use stagers all the time, so it will be easy for me to sell the idea. Next time I'm in the Seacoast, I'll drop you a note.
Claude: I wish there were more agents in the Seacoast area who used stagers "all the time" like you do! Awesome!