Congratulations on making the decision to invest in your business growth by joining BNI®. We are excited to support you on this journey and help you maximize the many benefits of your membership. To ensure a strong start, we recommend following these key next steps. Completing each step carefully will set you up for success and help you get the most out of your BNI® experience.
Take your time, focus on one step at a time, and build a solid foundation for your membership.
Let’s get started!
1. Watch a brief BNI Welcome Message from our Founder, Dr. Ivan Misner.
2. Get logged into your digital tools BNI Connect® and BNI® Business Builder.
Getting Started with BNI Connect® & BNI® Business Builder: BNI Connect® is your central platform for accessing the member directory and tracking your networking activities. BNI® Business Builder serves as your go-to resource for member education, providing valuable insights on how to grow your business through BNI.
To get started, watch this short video for a step-by-step guide on how to connect with these essential tools.
3. Fill out your BNI Connect® profile.
This brief video provides a guided tour of BNI Connect®, helping you navigate the platform and update your BNI profile. Completing your profile ensures that fellow members can learn more about you, making it easier for them to connect you with valuable referrals.
4. Explore the BNI Connect® Mobile App.
The BNI Connect® Mobile App is a convenient portal into BNI Connect® right from your phone. Watch this short video to for an orientation to this convenient, always with you, portal to register Visitors, enter activity, and access the member directory.
5. Start strong by learning key skills through the Member Success Program (MSP).
Please follow the instructions below to take the Member Success Program (new member training) online through BNI Business Builder:
Please go to BNI Business Builderr and if you are already registered go ahead and log in! If you have not signed up for BNI Business Builder click "Forgot your password?" and enter the email address that is in the BNI Connect system. You will receive an email with instructions to set up your Business Builder login credentials.
Once you are in BNI Business Builder, you can go to the top banner and click on "Business Builder Training" and then click on "My Training Programs" and one of the first training options on the list should be "Member Success Program (MSP)". Once you complete all sections in the program your BNI Connect training record will be updated to show MSP completion.
6. Download and review the 7-minute Guides for key BNI activities.
These 7-minute Guides are designed to quickly guide you in key activities and best practices in BNI that can help them be more successful in growing your business by referral. Each guide is only 2 pages and packed with information, guidance, tips, and additional resources. These are a great compliment to the Member Success Program (MSP) in the previous step.
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| 7 Minute Guide to Visibility |
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| 7 Minute Guide to Weekly Presentations |
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| 7 Minute Guide to Perfect One-to-Ones |
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| 7 Minute Guide to Growing Your Network |
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| 7 Minute Guide to Giving Great Referrals |
7. Schedule your first 1-to-1 Meeting.
Building Strong Relationships Through One-to-Ones: 1-to-1 meetings are essential for building relationships within your BNI chapter and learning how to exchange high-quality referrals. To start, aim to schedule 1-2 meetings per week with your chapter referral partners.
We recommend prioritizing your Passport to Success mentoring 1-to-1s with 10 key chapter members, as well as connecting first with those who can most naturally refer business to you. Over time, you’ll expand your meetings to include all chapter members and continue scheduling repeat 1-to-1s to strengthen these relationships.
To ensure productive meetings, review the 1-to-1 Meeting Planner and complete the four essential worksheets:
- Bio Worksheet
- GAINS Exchange
- Contact Sphere Worksheet
- Previous 10 Customers Worksheet
Exchange these documents with your 1-to-1 partners before your meeting to maximize the value of your time together. By consistently engaging in 1-to-1s, you’ll develop deeper connections and generate more effective referrals within your BNI network.
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| 1-to-1 Planner for Effective & Productive Meetings |
8. Invite and Bring your first Visitor. Help someone else grow their business.
Inviting Visitors to your BNI Chapter strengthens your professional network and creates valuable opportunities for everyone. By introducing a Visitor, you provide them with access to a trusted team of professionals who can help grow their business through referrals. At the same time, you expand the connections within your chapter, increasing referral opportunities for all members.
To support your success in both inviting and bringing Visitors to your chapter, please review the resources linked below. Additionally, if a prospective Visitor requests more information, you can share the video provided.
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| Official BNI Podcasts on Bringing Visitors |
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| GRIP Inviting Method |
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| Registering Visitors in BNI Connect® Mobile App |
9. Complete your Passport to Success mentoring 1-to-1s.
As a new BNI member, your first step is to connect with your chapter's Mentor Coordinator. They will guide you through the New Member Passport to Success, an essential resource designed to help you integrate smoothly into the chapter. This program provides an excellent opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow members while gaining insight into the leadership team’s structure and individual roles.
To get started, the Passport to Success document is usually given to you by your Chapter President during your Induction. Use this document in collaboration with your Mentor Coordinator to track your progress and successfully complete the program.
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| Passport to Success (fillable PDF) |
10. Introducing the Member Resources Page.
Our Member Resources page has been created for you to easily find key tools, links, information, and documents. Be sure to check it out so you know what is there and then go back often to access these tools and information.
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