bni.co.uk Opiniones 

I had my doubts when I first joined BNI, am I really going to spend this money and make more than I spent and get all this training, resource and marketing as a bonus. The simple answer is Yes. a new business thats not in the trades, a new business without the reputation. BNI has helped me grow, make money, and above all its made me feel valued. I don't give out 5 star reviews often but on this time it's an easy one. The key tip I can give anyone thinking is it worth my while. The answer is yes if you are prepared to work it and follow the process. It works!

The latest 5 star reviews have come from BNI sending emails to members to try and swomp the 1 star reviews.

An honest assessment from a 10 year member who has now left.

BNI is all about controlling their members. They dictate what they should do and measure them via the traffic light system. Also they exert control over what their members can’t do.
If you earn a lot of money from your membership then you would probably be able to put up with the dictatorship.
Why was I in BNI for 10 years is that they suck you in and it takes time to realise what they are doing as there is a lot of brainwashing going on.
However, only a small percentage of members do well out of BNI of which are in the trades, hence the 1 star review.

I do think you can form better relationships outside of BNI and if you are a B2B try to form working relationships with other businesses whereby you can pass business between one another. They will bear better fruits than being in BNI.

BNI works well for me, both from a business perspective and also as a private individual. The network is full of reliable top people.

I was invited to my first meeting as a visitor about a year and a half ago and didn't know what to expect. I had heard of BNI and people had recommended it to me before, but it was my first networking event and I immediately saw the value in making the investment for my seat and made an application. BNI has helped me grow professionally and personally and my business would not be where it is today without it. As a solopreneur it is great to be able to meet with likeminded people each week and rely on a network of people that I can recommend because of relationships that I have built. Highly recommend visiting if you haven't already!

Joined for my business 18 months ago - can't recommend enough it has helped me grow my business so much and the support of the other members has been invaluable highly recommend definitely worth a visit if your in two minds

BNI has not only helped my business greatly, but has also given me and many people I know confidence in speaking in front of an audience. I would encourage anyone in business to visit a BNI chapter and find out just how good the organisation is for promoting and expanding your business to greatest effect.

Well I had known about BNI for quite a while and when i was invited i was intrigued to find out what it was all about. Needless to say it has been one of the best business decisions i have ever made to join. From the genuine warm welcome, the wealth of business knowledge and support and a proven system and network that has been priceless to me and most importantly, to the increased income i have generated as a member. If Heineken made a business referral network. Need i say anymore,

Let me start by saying I was a networking sceptic, but joining BNI has been one of the best decisions I've made for my business. As a business owner, it can sometimes feel like you're working in isolation, but BNI has introduced me to a fantastic network of supportive, professional, and genuinely helpful people.

The referrals I've received have been valuable, but what I've appreciated most is the trust, relationships, and encouragement that come from being part of the group. The meetings are positive, well organised, and give me the opportunity to learn from other business owners while growing my own.

I've built connections that have become trusted business partners and friends, and I would highly recommend BNI to anyone looking to grow their business through meaningful relationships.

Don’t expect this to happen overnight, it takes time to build relationships and trust. You get out what you put in, and if you are there for your fellow business members, they will be there for you.

18 years ago i started my new company and the first thing i did was learn to network with local business.
i tried many many different groups and the only group that has supported me consistently is BNI.
The structure and the ideals are geared to working people, working hard to make their business work.
Its not an easy fix and its not cheap but it works.

I have grown my business on the back of BNI. The BNI meetings are the showcase and the real business is done by building the relationships with the members. This takes time and you have to be consistent. People visit a chapter and think "That's it" but the meeting is the tip of the iceberg. I always recommend BNI as a great way to network and grow your business.

Leaving the corporate world (in a marketing role)! and starting on my own in business, I wasted a lot of money on marketing.
And then I visited a BNI chapter.
For the next 4 years BNI was my single biggest source of new business, through the connections I made at those weekly meetings.

Building better relationships with more introducers and connectors will never be a bad idea, if you are wanting to grow your business.

BNI gives you the platform to build better business relationships, and join a global network of 360,000 business owners that use the system to generate more referrals.

Running a business is difficult without a support network around you of those that have experienced the same challenges you are going through. I have been a member of BNI since 2015, and would recommend it to anybody.

If you just follow the system, it works better than anything else.

I’ve been in BNI for nearly 25 years, since I first started my business. Networking isn’t for everyone but if you go in with an open mind and expect to give more than you gain then you’ll have a worthwhile experience.
My business is a much better business due to the people I can rely upon to carry out work for me.

BNI has been a big boost to our business, generating regular business. It’s also a great community of business people and I’ve personally learned a lot of new business and personal skills by being a member for over 5 years. If you put the effort in, the rewards are great!

I joined BNI when starting my business as part of building my ramp up to going full time on my own.

I joined because I liked the commitment ethos and quality control in joining - too many networking groups will just let anyone in! However, for micro businesses or those with small margins I can see it would be more of a challenge to make that commitment. Plus my business is more medium-high value.

I would say it's a no-brainer for anyone in property/trades. However for people in business services, I would say it's more of a marathon as it takes time to build trust with people before they are prepared to take on your services (not helped by the amount of scammers out there these days!). However, once you put the time in to build relationships, I have had a steady stream of enquiries - even as I have seen other people in my industry struggle.

It's important to understand that it's not for everyone. If you don't like commitment, being held accountable or putting work into your networking: it's definitely not for you. Also not every chapter or area is the same, and not every chapter might suit you personally. However I would encourage anyone to give it a visit and see if it's for them - BNI members tend to be geared up to pass work more than your "average" networkers.

Like much in life - it is what you make it! Go in positive but not gullible, make good decisions about who you do and don't work with, lean into it - and you'll have a great time. I've met some fantastic people through BNI and recieved great help and advice - I wish the same for you too!

I joined BNI 22 years ago. I joined because of the fantastic people I met when I entered the room. Mike Abbot (an insurance broker) greeted me with a warm smile. And then I met the rest of the group, all so positive, all asking how they could help me.

I had an IT company at the time; using BNI, we grew the company to over £1m turnover and created 8 jobs. That company ran for 25 years before I sold it to another BNI member.

I have grown so much because of BNI. The once nervous business owner is now capable of delivering keynote speeches, and I have written two books. All because of BNI. A third book is on the way.

I joined to make local connections in Reading; I stayed because I found business leads, friends, confidence, learning, and the opportunity to travel.

I would highly recommend that BNI is right for every business; be positive, follow the system, build relationships, and you can use BNI for whatever you want. I did.

I have been a member for 4.5 years now and every year the percentage of our business from BNI increases. It is absolutely clear the business would deteriorate if I wasn’t in BNI.

My group is called B4B, each BNI group has a different name for differentiation. Our group has 87 different companies, each one a different occupation. Only one occupation is allowed, so we are the only commercial cleaning company in the room.

You forge amazing relationships with like minded people ambitious to not only grow their business, but to also try and get referrals for others. Everyone is always looking out for opportunities for everyone else, it’s incredible how people you didn’t know last week can be so supportive. The membership replies on everyone supporting each other, which works.
Amazingly, you develop friendships too as everyone is there for everyone else.

Picking up the phone and cold calling is particularly hard nowadays with everyone sick of being pestered by ’sellers’
BNI you see your fellow members each week(get a sub if you can’t make meeting), so relationships are meaningful, and what do you think happens when you make meaningful relationships….business flows.
It costs zero to come along and take a look at how it works and how we pass business to each other. My name is Dean Yershon. My number is 07770 381 679.

Happy to have a conversation and explain a bit more if you want more info.

I have been a member of the brilliant A2Z group in Essex for 7 years. I was one of the original members when it launched back in 2019.
A very positive experience, our group has created over £17m in revenue for the members and personally the return I have received is huge.
Last year as an example the return on my
Investment was 17x.
It is not for everyone due to the weekly commitment but I can truly say it has benefited my business hugely not just in terms of revenue but also support, new business connections and people who have helped me develop my business.
Highly recommend for any business who are serious about referral marketing.

I’m new to BNI, and can honestly say I’ve met some of the nicest, most genuine people. Everyone goes out of their way to help you, and doesn’t ask for anything in return, they genuinely just want to see you succeed. It’s been one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made.

I came across the Trustpilot reviews for BNI and felt I should leave one of my own. The reviews I have read are mostly 1-star and say very negative things about their experiences. I felt that for balance, I should share my story and feelings about it all.

I joined BNI in June 2015, over 11 years ago, and I have remained a member ever since.

BNI is simply a platform for networking and building relationships. The networking is structured and follows a system that helps people grow and gain more business. I have seen good and bad in BNI, but the good far outweighs any bad.

Over the years, I have done many roles within my chapter and supported many people. In the main, I have built fantastic relationships with other BNI members and with people I have met via BNI who are not members. BNI has helped me grow, and I have met some of my very best clienst and introducers via BNI.

My feeling about whether people like it or not is that it is about mindset. I often hear that there is pressure to give referrals, but I do not see it that way. I joined a group where we all agreed to try to help each other. I want to refer my fellow members, so I go out of my way to try. There are some people I refer to less than others because of natural synergy or because, for one reason or another, I don't want to refer to them. I only refer people I feel I can trust and want to help. That is it. I am not pressured to do so, but I am accountable to my fellow members and to myself.

I have regular meetings outside of the BNI weekly meetings, with other members and people I meet. I am not forced to; I understand how relationships work. The more you get to know people and like them, the more you will want to refer them if they are good at what they do. If they like you, they will refer you. I am not being pressured, but if you are in business, why wouldn't you want to build relationships?

I genuinely never understand why people have so much bad to say about it, although I can't comment on any experiences in an individual chapter. Every large organisation will have politics, and sometimes not all members will like it, but in the main, the system works if everyone is honest and wants to work together. I get to help a lot of members and clients as a result of BNI, and I will not likely ever give up my seat until I retire.

I encourage anyone to join BNI, give it a try, and look past the negative reviews. Many of them reflect bad experiences that are exceptions to the rule, but they often get the most attention. Please do your best to engage with your group, seek an experienced mentor, and learn how to do things. It can work for any open-minded business person.

During COVID, I had a terrible time and almost had to close my business. I went to a trusted member and explained my situation, and they introduced me to someone they felt could help. That person wanted to help me and didn't want me to fail; they thought I was a good person, they threw me a lifeline and introduced me to two clients, who are now two of my biggest. This literally helped me through one of the most difficult periods of my life.