Patience and participation. That's what I ask. There was a hard deadline that was necessary to make the transition because of the previous company that managed our database. It's a long story but, the move had to be made.
I ask members and Directors to help us help you by getting on and playing with the system. This WILL get better. Our ability to adapt and cooperate will determine our success.
It doesn't work properly in Google Chrome; therefore, I will not be using it, at least not regularly. I also managed to break the reports section; big errors all over Internet Explorer. Nice idea; badly implemented.
I appreciate being heard and most members have been extremely patient. In hindsight the old websight should have remained accessable until all the bugs were worked out. It does not help to share the bugs or problems when they are not get fixed in a timely manner. We cannot do our jobs effectively thereby we cannot live up to "Giver's Gain." That is the saddest part....
JPandPeg, I hear your frustration and I appreciate your comments. As with any new program - there are issues that need to be worked out. We are all working hard to improve the program and get it to where we want it to be. Migrating more than 40 countries and over 100,000 members in a few months created some unexpected challenges. We'll get there. Be patient and help us in the process by sharing bugs and problems as we go. We'll get there. I promise.
As I have experienced the new website the past several months a few thoughts come to mind. It seems as though whoever restructed it thinks we are ALL computer programers. This website is much harder to navigate and even when you do grasp some understanding of one thing, and input it into the system, it disappears! I don;'t understand why all the bugs were not worked out BEFORE sending it off to directors to fix or understand!! I know this is a problem in other states and am very disappointed!
Like most change, this just takes getting used to and I am confident that we will all reap HUGE benefits from this project. It's great connecting with my fellow BNI Directors all over the world and BNI members throughout the country. And let's not forget all of the new tools that are available already, like the web sites for every chapter worldwide! This is going to be great!
As a new and incoming member and as part of the leadership for our chapter, to come in at this time is fantastic. Thank you Dr Ivan Misner! I can not wait to meet you personally.
Earl, if you get a chance, take a look at the full video. You will note that the social media aspect was only one leg of the project. An international database bringing the MANY different systems under one location was critical. The tools that are available for members and Directors to manage their chapter are part of that. Chapter websites that meet the 'brand' are the second leg and the social media is the third leg. Keep watching. I think, over time - we'll wonder how we did without it.
The BNI Connect system will make it easier to find BNI members around the world. Even though I am a local business, I have done business with other BNI members around the world. Many times I am asked for referrals to BNI members in other states, from my local BNI members. BNI Connect will be a fantastic resource for members to collaborate with proven business professionals, to enhance their businesses. I am excited to see the organization taking steps to stay in the forefront of technology!
I have been on BNI Connect for three weeks and already I am already involved in five active BUSINESS discussion groups. Yesterday I sent out questions to the entire group and within hours responses were received, which I then was able to discuss with the individual member who responded. I truly believe that BNI Connect provides a business networking platform which the numerous social networking platforms cannot provide.
I run a presentation 'more time and money via Social Media' specifically tailored for BNI chapters - how they can get more referrals and money via social media.
Please connect with me online, if you google 'BNI South East Social Media Resources' you can find the pages I manage online & I can talk through the opportunities for chapters to increase business via SN.
Hi Earl- If you want to take the global part out, go ahead!- this should make it way easier to connect with members and chapters in neighboring BNI franchises- wouldn't it be great for people in Little Rock to connect with people in KC? Make some incredible connections BEFORE you travel out of town to visit a BNI chapter- and have friends that are already warmed up! Our AD, Larry Blaha, traveled to LA and received a referral for his Branson UPS store- what if this made that easier? just a idea
Absolutely LOVE this system!! What an amazing value for the members to be able to reach across the globe and connect with others who share the same mindset. Absolutely brilliant and something not offered by any other Business Networking organization anywhere. For the small amount we pay in dues, the value just keeps increasing! When does that ever happen?? Now our local connections give us the foundation for success, and the global connections let us shoot for the stars!
Hello Earl. Thanks for your comments. I appreciate hearing your opinion. As I said in my posts below, I care about the success of our members and I think (as do many members) that this will be amazing when it is operational for a while. Oh, and take a look at the websites I mention. There are a lot of resources there. I'd love for you visit them.
Hello Earl, thanks for your perspective on this. This program was actually suggested by members and Directors to take advantage of our global community. More than 460 online groups have already been formed on a myriad of topics.
As a global organization, BNIConnect will allow us to connect world wide for the first time in our history. I invite you to give it try. Be patient - it is a work in progress. But, give it a try. I care about our members and I care about your success.
@imisner Hi Ivan, thanks for your response. I appreciate that you provide a lot of educational materials and are trying to reinvent BNI to keep in step with the trend toward online communications. But let me explain my position more fully. As a 3-year member, in a chapter that is dwindling very rapidly, I am very frustrated. Although I see the value of online connections to share information and ideas, at this point what I really want from BNI are tools that can help us grow our chapter.
@imisner Continued.... I truely believe in the power of building real personal relationships with members of my chapter and of other chapters through subbing. Online relationships are no substitute for that.. So if BNI is in the process of reinventing itself, I would like to see you use techology (or any other method) to reinvent the BNI sales message/strategy to help us better promote and sell to potential new members the core value of in-person relationship building.
Earl, Your point about using our resources to support members where it counts most is a very good one. If you have a chance, please take a look at these sites. These are all great FREE resources to members.
BNIPodcastDOTcom - Over 50 hoursof content for members.
BNISuccessNetDOTcom - Thousands of pages of content for members
BusinessNetworkingDOTcom - Hundreds of blogs about networking
Just another example of not thinking about it from the customer's perspective. BNI is fooling itself to think that a majority of members will be benefit from global referrals. We are small businesses making referrals based on trust of the 1st-hand relationship. Yes, there are 2ndary benefits like sharing info, but the primary reason we are members is for referrals and that comes overwhelmingly from local connections. How bout using your resources to support us where most of the activity is?
I gave a presentation on SN/Connect recently to a chapter and the result is that they have re-formed their Property Power Team (PPT) within the Chapter. All 10 PPT members are getting their names and businesses 'out there' and to help one another promote each other, pass referrals, keep connected daily and then build up their SM profiles.
Currently they are using twitter, connect will replace this and it is a trusted private network - also for local chapter use.
Excited to start implementing BNIConnect into my day. Have thought about how I could connect with people around the world that are involved in the same business as myself. To share business ideas, how BNI is working for them, sharing 60 second and 10 min presentation ideas etc. Now..... this will be possible with BNIConnect. Excellent way to Connect 24/7. Thanks Dr. Misner.... you are a TRUE Visionary!
Thank you, Dr. Misner, for this exciting and important tool for us. To be able to connect so easily with people from all over the world, as well as from across our local communities, is crucial for us to be even more effective than we have been so far.
Hello everyone. I hope you enjoy this video. This will be a great addition to our organization. Please note that BNIConnect is a "work in progress". If you are concerned about whether there will be problems or not, don't be... there will!
Be patient and jump in to help make this a great tool for us. Local Business – Global Network® is what BNIConnect is all about. As we fine tune and improve – it will truly help us all to feel the global power of our organization.
BNI Connect is a great way to connect Local Business with a Global Network and Change The Way The World Does Business.
VerispectMarketing 8 months ago
Patience and participation. That's what I ask. There was a hard deadline that was necessary to make the transition because of the previous company that managed our database. It's a long story but, the move had to be made.
I ask members and Directors to help us help you by getting on and playing with the system. This WILL get better. Our ability to adapt and cooperate will determine our success.
More is coming and improvements are in progress.
imisner 9 months ago
Comment removed
fuzzyfish1000 9 months ago
It doesn't work properly in Google Chrome; therefore, I will not be using it, at least not regularly. I also managed to break the reports section; big errors all over Internet Explorer. Nice idea; badly implemented.
fuzzyfish1000 9 months ago
I appreciate being heard and most members have been extremely patient. In hindsight the old websight should have remained accessable until all the bugs were worked out. It does not help to share the bugs or problems when they are not get fixed in a timely manner. We cannot do our jobs effectively thereby we cannot live up to "Giver's Gain." That is the saddest part....
jpandpeg 9 months ago
JPandPeg, I hear your frustration and I appreciate your comments. As with any new program - there are issues that need to be worked out. We are all working hard to improve the program and get it to where we want it to be. Migrating more than 40 countries and over 100,000 members in a few months created some unexpected challenges. We'll get there. Be patient and help us in the process by sharing bugs and problems as we go. We'll get there. I promise.
imisner 9 months ago
As I have experienced the new website the past several months a few thoughts come to mind. It seems as though whoever restructed it thinks we are ALL computer programers. This website is much harder to navigate and even when you do grasp some understanding of one thing, and input it into the system, it disappears! I don;'t understand why all the bugs were not worked out BEFORE sending it off to directors to fix or understand!! I know this is a problem in other states and am very disappointed!
jpandpeg 9 months ago
Like most change, this just takes getting used to and I am confident that we will all reap HUGE benefits from this project. It's great connecting with my fellow BNI Directors all over the world and BNI members throughout the country. And let's not forget all of the new tools that are available already, like the web sites for every chapter worldwide! This is going to be great!
BLM12345654321 10 months ago
As a new and incoming member and as part of the leadership for our chapter, to come in at this time is fantastic. Thank you Dr Ivan Misner! I can not wait to meet you personally.
SmartBizBuddy 10 months ago
Earl, if you get a chance, take a look at the full video. You will note that the social media aspect was only one leg of the project. An international database bringing the MANY different systems under one location was critical. The tools that are available for members and Directors to manage their chapter are part of that. Chapter websites that meet the 'brand' are the second leg and the social media is the third leg. Keep watching. I think, over time - we'll wonder how we did without it.
imisner 10 months ago
The BNI Connect system will make it easier to find BNI members around the world. Even though I am a local business, I have done business with other BNI members around the world. Many times I am asked for referrals to BNI members in other states, from my local BNI members. BNI Connect will be a fantastic resource for members to collaborate with proven business professionals, to enhance their businesses. I am excited to see the organization taking steps to stay in the forefront of technology!
TonyLinguini 10 months ago
I have been on BNI Connect for three weeks and already I am already involved in five active BUSINESS discussion groups. Yesterday I sent out questions to the entire group and within hours responses were received, which I then was able to discuss with the individual member who responded. I truly believe that BNI Connect provides a business networking platform which the numerous social networking platforms cannot provide.
Danny
Boca Raton, FL
danloads1 10 months ago
Earl
I run a presentation 'more time and money via Social Media' specifically tailored for BNI chapters - how they can get more referrals and money via social media.
Please connect with me online, if you google 'BNI South East Social Media Resources' you can find the pages I manage online & I can talk through the opportunities for chapters to increase business via SN.
James McBrearty
Social Media Coordinator
BNI South East UK
taxhelpukcom 10 months ago
Hi Earl- If you want to take the global part out, go ahead!- this should make it way easier to connect with members and chapters in neighboring BNI franchises- wouldn't it be great for people in Little Rock to connect with people in KC? Make some incredible connections BEFORE you travel out of town to visit a BNI chapter- and have friends that are already warmed up! Our AD, Larry Blaha, traveled to LA and received a referral for his Branson UPS store- what if this made that easier? just a idea
BNIMissouri 10 months ago
Absolutely LOVE this system!! What an amazing value for the members to be able to reach across the globe and connect with others who share the same mindset. Absolutely brilliant and something not offered by any other Business Networking organization anywhere. For the small amount we pay in dues, the value just keeps increasing! When does that ever happen?? Now our local connections give us the foundation for success, and the global connections let us shoot for the stars!
sandybni 10 months ago
Hello Earl. Thanks for your comments. I appreciate hearing your opinion. As I said in my posts below, I care about the success of our members and I think (as do many members) that this will be amazing when it is operational for a while. Oh, and take a look at the websites I mention. There are a lot of resources there. I'd love for you visit them.
Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder - BNI
imisner 10 months ago
Hello Earl, thanks for your perspective on this. This program was actually suggested by members and Directors to take advantage of our global community. More than 460 online groups have already been formed on a myriad of topics.
As a global organization, BNIConnect will allow us to connect world wide for the first time in our history. I invite you to give it try. Be patient - it is a work in progress. But, give it a try. I care about our members and I care about your success.
imisner 10 months ago
@imisner Hi Ivan, thanks for your response. I appreciate that you provide a lot of educational materials and are trying to reinvent BNI to keep in step with the trend toward online communications. But let me explain my position more fully. As a 3-year member, in a chapter that is dwindling very rapidly, I am very frustrated. Although I see the value of online connections to share information and ideas, at this point what I really want from BNI are tools that can help us grow our chapter.
earlfisher3 10 months ago
@imisner Continued.... I truely believe in the power of building real personal relationships with members of my chapter and of other chapters through subbing. Online relationships are no substitute for that.. So if BNI is in the process of reinventing itself, I would like to see you use techology (or any other method) to reinvent the BNI sales message/strategy to help us better promote and sell to potential new members the core value of in-person relationship building.
earlfisher3 10 months ago
Please note that when I say BNIPodcastDOTcom beow the word DOT is a period. YouTube woudn't allow me post a website.
imisner 10 months ago
Earl, Your point about using our resources to support members where it counts most is a very good one. If you have a chance, please take a look at these sites. These are all great FREE resources to members.
BNIPodcastDOTcom - Over 50 hoursof content for members.
BNISuccessNetDOTcom - Thousands of pages of content for members
BusinessNetworkingDOTcom - Hundreds of blogs about networking
imisner 10 months ago
Just another example of not thinking about it from the customer's perspective. BNI is fooling itself to think that a majority of members will be benefit from global referrals. We are small businesses making referrals based on trust of the 1st-hand relationship. Yes, there are 2ndary benefits like sharing info, but the primary reason we are members is for referrals and that comes overwhelmingly from local connections. How bout using your resources to support us where most of the activity is?
earlfisher3 10 months ago
Comment removed
imisner 10 months ago
Comment removed
imisner 10 months ago
@earlfisher3 Hi Earl
I gave a presentation on SN/Connect recently to a chapter and the result is that they have re-formed their Property Power Team (PPT) within the Chapter. All 10 PPT members are getting their names and businesses 'out there' and to help one another promote each other, pass referrals, keep connected daily and then build up their SM profiles.
Currently they are using twitter, connect will replace this and it is a trusted private network - also for local chapter use.
James
taxhelpukcom 10 months ago
Is there something you can do about the quality of the sound? It sounds very muffled!
sjadler100 10 months ago
This is awesome new tool
capfan1 10 months ago
I can't wait for this to be fully functional. A great way to tap into global "best practices" in the nonprofit sector.
peterjz2 10 months ago
Excited to start implementing BNIConnect into my day. Have thought about how I could connect with people around the world that are involved in the same business as myself. To share business ideas, how BNI is working for them, sharing 60 second and 10 min presentation ideas etc. Now..... this will be possible with BNIConnect. Excellent way to Connect 24/7. Thanks Dr. Misner.... you are a TRUE Visionary!
jzm1130 10 months ago
I've already visited this sight a couple of times, it is awesome!!!! Bring it on, Ivan! BNI rocks!
M5371Dale 10 months ago
Fantastic- can't wait for it to occur! A logical progression of BNI!
MareeJaegerPhoto 10 months ago
Thank you Dr. Ivan Misner. BNIConnect is so great!
shingwing 10 months ago
Thank You Ivan... So glad to a member of this great organization!
followupcardsgifts 10 months ago
Thank you, Dr. Misner, for this exciting and important tool for us. To be able to connect so easily with people from all over the world, as well as from across our local communities, is crucial for us to be even more effective than we have been so far.
CoachElayne 10 months ago
Really looking forward to this rolling out - it will be very useful.
lawrenceconyers 10 months ago
Thanks for this video. Looking forward to rolling this out in New Zealand.
Graham
GrahamJSouthwell 10 months ago
Thanks for your commitment to this project, Dr. Misner. The value that it will provide all BNI Members around the world will be unparalleled.
-TR Garland
BeABetterNetworker 10 months ago
Hello everyone. I hope you enjoy this video. This will be a great addition to our organization. Please note that BNIConnect is a "work in progress". If you are concerned about whether there will be problems or not, don't be... there will!
Be patient and jump in to help make this a great tool for us. Local Business – Global Network® is what BNIConnect is all about. As we fine tune and improve – it will truly help us all to feel the global power of our organization.
imisner 10 months ago