another BNI post

[Hadji]

i have searched and read through the other BNI posts.

this is about BNI renewal (vent and request for advice). i'm up for renewal in october or november, and i just don't know what i'm going to do.

when i first joined the referrals were plenty. i paid for the dues in the first month to six weeks. not bad. now, they've dried up.

i've been incredibly disenchanted with my group because of the lack of professionalism. however, the frustrations are being echoed by the other members as well, and so those particular members who are being unprofessional are not being renewed. so we're seeing a slow shift into the group being the way it's supposed to be.

i have a terrific relationship with the chiropractor - we refer back and forth to each other quite often and i know that is because of our respect for each other and our BNI group. i don't want to lose his referrals, and i know that the clients i've sent to him will keep going b/c of insurance but i will cease getting his referrals as soon as they get another LMT.

i'm torn. is it worth the weekly meetings for the referral of one chiro? and the occasional referrals from the others? then there's the whole education thing - each week i'm given the opportunity to educate these people who know nothing about the health benefits of massage. kind of a good will thing for the industry. but then there's the bad rep about BNI. i referred a client of mine to one of the members and she called me on it - "is he reputable or is he just in your BNI group?" that question is what has really made me start leaning more towards not renewing.. but with the hopes that things will shape up between now and then.

thanks for listening.

 

[Leon]

I was in BNI for 2 years. The first year was wonderful, sold lots of gift certificates, and got many referals. After about 8-9 months that stopped. I quit just before it came time for me to renew my 3rd time. I really didn't find my 2nd year was really lucrative there. I had no referals with the chiropractor that was there. He had a massage therapist in office that he referred to, and sent me nothing.

I didn't like the rules that they had. It was at least a 30 minute drive for me, and in the snow we get here, there were days I couldn't make it because of a storm, and I'm not calling someone else at 5:30 in the morning to replace me on a day of a snow storm, and didn't appreciate getting in cr@p for it.

It wasn't worth it for me, and the money that they asked for for renewals (over $400) I spent elsewhere and had much better results. ymmv.

Myrrha

 

[Rachelle]

have you talked to the chiro to find out what his plans are with bni? he is planning on staying in the group long term or is he there temp.? how does he feel about the group? etc. you may find out that he is not going to be renewing his next time around. i was in bni and didn't get any referrals from the chiro that was in our group. funny this is, i get referrals from her now and it's been 2 years since either of us have been in the group! i still talk to her and we refer when we can.

if you are looking to get referrals from a chiro and that's what's keeping you in bni, why don't you chat with some chiro's in your area to see if they are looking for a therapist to refer their client to. many of them are or would at least be willing to take your cards.

i did not like bni at all. the whole concept of referring business to people just because you're in a group with them is weird. i want to refer people because i like them & trust the way they do business. i want people to refer me because they like my and they know i will take care of their referrals. it's good that your group is making a transition. hopefully you'll get better people in your group. problem is, they pretty much take anyone who pays the money.

i think your money & energy would be better spent somewhere else. my $.02

 

[bethan]

Do you know who the new leadership team will be? I assume yours changes in October like ours?

Do you do a similar commercial every week? If so, it's time to change tactics. Consider retaking MSP, supercharge your commercials and 10 minute presentation. Are there other groups in your area? Go visit them, sub there, if possible, consider changing groups.

How many "121" or dance cards have you done lately? Makes a difference.

 

[Lexi]

thanks for your thoughts - all of you.

i know that the chiro will be renewing. he believes in this chapter 100% and gets a lot of referrals each week. it's not so much chiros in general - it's that he and i have a really good relationship, in fact, i like all of the relationships i've made within this chapter, i just wish like crud that they were more lucrative.

i'm not 100% about who the new leadership team (which does change over in october) will be. i try my hardest to change up my 60 second every week but i see how many things cross over with the weight loss lady and the chiro so i feel like i have to be careful to not step on any toes.

i have my 10 minute on tuesday morning. part of me wants to bring in the thai mat and talk about that with a demonstration. but i'm not 100% sure - i can't come up with anything. so much crosses over with the chiro unless i talk about only stress relief. i do have a talk put together about stress relief and the way stress affects your physical health, but that seems to be all i talk about because of the cycle of not wanting to step on toes.

sigh.. the thai demonstration would be different though..

thanks for letting me ramble.
amanda

 

[Darin H]

i'm not sure how you would be stepping on toes. in fact, if your group really looks up to these 2 people ride along with that. really show how massage can be used in conjunction with these and how massage can enhance the experience.

really take a close look at your 60 second commercial. don't worry about what others are doing. knock their socks off. i came up with some really fantastic commercials while in my group. it does make a difference (in the right group).

maybe in your 10 presentation you could talk about how these people can help you. don't overload them with information about how & why massage is good for them. show them how they can help you. show them how just one referral can make a huge impact. i did this and the group really enjoyed it! sometimes people don't know how or who they should refer.

 

[Charli]

Hey, I take in the table every time it is time for a 10 minute.

Talk to the chiro, more than likely he/she won't care even if you cross over. But, since you're not doing adjustments, you won't be, right?

 

[Leaira]

thanks, guys - no i don't do adjustments. :

but i have noticed that one week i may talk about massage for headaches and tmj disorder and the following week, the chiro will talk about headaches or tmj disorder and the weightloss lady will talk about how poor nutrition causes headaches. sure, we all work together, i just don't like to contribute to being competitive, you know? but then again, it is business..

i have a little time before i go in this morning, and some time this afternoon as well - so i'm going to try to get really creative and spice things up a bit. we've done the "who do you know" bit to death. maybe i could spin that with " who do you know that is completely relaxed, pain free, has no mood swings, no complaints and sleeps great?" and then break that down. that could certainly take 10 minutes. i do think we'll be doing a thai demonstration too.

 

[farshad]

Yeah, it is too bad that the other members can not think for themselves. I do think you have to get their attention in a new way, which is why I ask for a volunteer that has never had a massage before.

I think you've got some good ideas, good luck.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I used to do things like "myths of massage" disspell some of the myths for my 10 minute presentation.

I also asked things like, who here has never had a headache, never had a back ache. When was the last time you took time for yourself? Have you ever made a decision to not do something because something ached, or you didn't have the energy, things like getting on the ground and playing with your kids/grandkids etc.

 

[Pompal 09.]

follow-up:

as usual, opportunity presents itself. without going into my entire presentation, i'll give a synopsis.

anyone can put their elbow in you and call it deep tissue. a trained, experienced, therapist knows how to do it correctly and knows when not to. we talked about injuries, i demo'd a few leg/pelvic techniques on the floor and they loved it!

and, my problem for next year may be solved. i've been asked to sit on the board, which i think means that my dues are free. i might be wrong. if they are, i will have another year to access the situation without an out-of-pocket expense. so i'm going to talk with a past president and my marketing coach about it.

staying on another year will also let me better chart out what BNI does for me.

i couldn't believe the response after my 10 minute today. really changed my perception of things. as stated before, maybe i'm not involved enough.

just wanted to share!

 

[Karl]

if it is the same as in my area, if you are president, vice president, or treasurer, your fees are covered for the year. The other positions, you still have to pay.

 

[pooh Bear]

I was in BNI for 3 years. It worked great until the leadreship team changed. I don't even want to get started! Talk about a bad apple. So I had the same experience as other people on this board. TONS of referrals the first year, then it tapered off.
Several BNI people created their own LOCAL referral group. So the dues stay in the group and it's a lot cheaper ($99 a year). The group is more laid back, it's a happy hour meeting. My last year in BNI I felt like I was working for a corporation. A lot of other emmebrs felt the same way.
I am happy now in the new group. May be that's what you should consider doing - creating your own group?