Comments on: Three Trends in Business Networking

By: Robin Giangrande

Robin Giangrande — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:04:12 +0000

I am new this year to BNI as I am to being in business for myself. My one concern before I joined was that BNI was going to be too “traditional” and not incorporate social media networking. So, I am pleased to see this article by Dr. Misner. I raised the subject of social media and web presence to my chapter, and they immediately put me in charge of it! So we will learn together and all grow our business is “old” and “new” ways.

By: Renia Carsillo

Renia Carsillo — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:34:31 +0000

This is a great article that I’ve seen popping up all over my social networks and finally got a around to reading (see, social media works).

I think Entrepreneur magazine summed it up best in their December issue when they said, “businesses who do not develop a social media presence within the next 3-5 years will go the way of the dinosaur.” Social media in it’s purist form takes what is great about networking and what is great about sales and blends the two in a beautiful cocktail that goes down easily for EVERY target market a business could think of; from new Moms to airport safety purchasing, to Tony Shea’s races with million dollar robots, social media isn’t just the future, it’s TODAY’s greatest opportunity.

By: Sudhir jain

Sudhir jain — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:32:31 +0000

Sir , I totally agree.social media is a best media to creat a new relation from unknown person…I start using facebook from last more then 14 month before and now I know what I m getting from there..facebook is biggest marketing place..after joing Bni I know the value of networking and refrral ..so friends keep live your media place always

By: Scott T Simon

Scott T Simon — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:29:28 +0000

Ivan-
I agree totally with your inclusion of education. BNI is the first word-of-mouth organization to make education a core value but if one wants to take Education to the next level in regards to networking then one needs to get involved in the Referral Institute, the most qualified organization specializing in teaching networking. We are proud new owner’s of an RI Franchise and believe it will continue to help set ourselves up as the experts in our area and apart from the the self proclaimed experts.

By: Duncan Hannay-Robertson

Duncan Hannay-Robertson — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:13:35 +0000

I totally agree. Social Media is just another method of communication. Just like the letter was one of the first forms of communication, then telephones, email etc. We have to keep pace with constant change. Thankfully people are still at the centre of the relationship however you communicate.

By: Bill Watchulonis

Bill Watchulonis — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:08:48 +0000

I agree. Once people understand social media is a natural progression of the networking we learn thruogh bni. Don’t look at it as a new language but a new more transparent way to be more who you are instead of who You’re trying to project. I guess it can be summed up by the old expression “get real”.
Embrace change as Spencer Johnson suggests in his book Who Moved My Cheese. Have fun with the different networks and to borrow a phrase get the conversation started.

This is a tremendous opportunity to gain social authority and be that referrable business expert; and remember it’s all in the motto of bni because givers do gain.

By: Gayle

Gayle — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:24:19 +0000

Excellent and timely article, Ivan. It is time for businesses to get their heads out of the sand and embrace social media. It is their friend, not their enemy. LinkedIn can be used just like BNI, only now you know who knows the people you want to meet.

I agree that universities are not going to present courses focused solely on networking anytime soon. On the other hand, there are individual professors who recognize the need for sales, networking and social media training. I recently had the honor to be the guest speaker at an Advanced Sales and Marketing class at Sonoma State University. My topic was Marketing with Social Media. While I was working with the instructor preparing my presentation, we got on the subject of networking. He learned about BNI, and ended up inviting our BNI County Director, Trey McAlister, to speak to his class as well. The instructor also sent his students to a Santa Rosa Chamber’s After Hour Business Mixer so they could practice networking. There are a few that see the light!

By: Louise

Louise — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:12:36 +0000

Great article Ivan! I totally agree that the face to face networking activity that business owners KNOW is essential to their success, definitely has to be dovetailed into a strategy with social networks. In today’s business world you need to have a way of communicating with all your contacts to ‘keep the conversation going’, and social networks provide the necessary framework for doing just that. It’s definitely a case of AND not INSTEAD OF!

By: AnIl Kumar Gupta

AnIl Kumar Gupta — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 09:03:37 +0000

I loved the insight and totally agree with the below sentence because I experienced it this morning.

I believe the technology piece will take place by having “walled-gardens”—communities accessible only to members of that group.

Let me start by saying that I was not enjoying Facebook and then my cousins created a family group last week which I didn’t join as I imagined it will be an open group. This morning a cousin commented to visit his place as temperature was like a hill station and I logged in and noticed only family members were represented in closed group. WOW what an idea and immediately I liked the Facebook and the private group concept. I never connected with my grown up son on Facebook but then this morning I invited him to be part of the family group.

You are dead right as I have experienced it and will shortly even consider starting few private groups. (even the idea of creating a group for our chapter came to the mind.) Niiraj our Country Director created Facebook page but I didn’t join then. But now I know it is a closed group and will search for it and will join it.

I’m reading your thoughts as then I can start learning faster.

By: Rick Itzkowich -TheLinkedInGuy

Rick Itzkowich -TheLinkedInGuy — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 07:19:48 +0000

Ivan,

To support point number 1 about integration, my own experience is that the online/offline worlds are becoming more and more connected.

Just yesterday, one of my BNI chapter members posted a discussion in a LinkedIn group. He was looking to connect with a Real Estate Attorney in San Diego.

I knew a former BNI member who knew a Real Estate Attorney.

I initiated a three-way call and connected the two of them.

My chapter member got the phone number of the Real Estate Attorney and called him.

Turns out both of them work on the SAME floor of the SAME building and were able to meet face-to-face within minutes. Talk about integration!

Thank you for championing this initiative to help BNI stay current with the demands of our times.