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BNI & The Power of One
BNI 761: Are These Referrals?
00:08:32
We answer your submitted questions! This episode it is on whether quote requests are referrals.
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Welcome back to being on the Power of One. Thank you again for joining me. We're back with your show. Submissions, questions if I should stop saying that. Pretty much every episode now we do is basically that way, which is fantastic. I gotta tell you, I'm. I remain humble that people continue to send them in. I hope that you're finding value out of that. I know I am. It makes it so much more effective and enjoyable for me to know that, you know, people have questions and if I can answer it, that's fantastic. It makes it, I believe it makes it a little bit different too. We're not just talking or doing interviews and stuff. I want to know what you guys are thinking and it teaches me to be honest with you. It's really a great way for me to keep engaged on what is happening at the member experience. I have not been an official B and I member for over 20 years. So I will celebrate my 20th anniversary as an executive director which is a franchise owner this January January 1st and I was a full time BNI managing director for a little over a year before that. So it's been a while since I was know actually a member sitting in a chapter each and every week though BNI has been my full time thing since that part. So it's not like I'm disengaged from it. But I continue to learn and over the years, you know, different things pop up. Some of them, a lot of it doesn't, a lot of it's very, very much the same from when I was a member but different things are popping up. So I, I just want to say thank you to everybody who continues to do that and everybody who continues to share feedback via the the podcast platforms, Apple podcasts, Spotify. However you're leaving comments, I do see them and I do appreciate it as well. The good, bad, the ugly, all of the same. So today's question wasn't asked to be anonymous but I'm going to keep it anonymous just in case. It's not super touchy but just in case it comes from Melbourne, Australia which also absolutely amazing that it just shows the incredible nature of BNI being global to be able to hear from speak with help whatever members globally. If you're not tapping into that you should, you should be making sure connect you're using connect and networking and going to great opportunity. I know this week as a recording this the U.S. nash of the International Convention Conference however you say it is in Hawaii, great networking opportunities across the world and different countries are doing national conferences. The US does One, they do them all over the world. If you could get involved in those, it's just amazing to see and to be able to do. And if you want to go to other ones, you can do that. Right? Like if you're in the US and you want to an excuse to go somewhere, you know, look and go to their conferences, you'd be more than welcome. All right. Anyways, first three minutes of fluff to the question says, if I ask for a quote, so an inside referral from a member but don't end up using their services, does that count as a referral? For example, I need a plumber to renovate an en suite in my rental, and I get quotes from three different plumbers who are all B and I members. Does this count as three referrals? And this one is. I like the question because it's a little controversial, I guess. Let's start with what is the definition of a referral? A referral is to someone who's in the market for your product and service. They know they are, and if I'm setting it up, they expect your call. So I'm setting up the referral. It is not so they're in the market. They know they're in the market. You get this opportunity. It's not a guaranteed sale. So a tier one is just. The only difference is I'm not making the connection to somebody else who's in the market. I know they're in the market and you're expecting your call. I am that person at the same time. So one would say by that definition, yes, technically it's a referral to each plumber because they have the opportunity. Now, having said that, I would not do that. I would not put those in as a referral. I would only put in the referral with the one you chose to go with. And I would be open and honest with each of them that you're getting quotes, if that is your approach. Because to put in a referral for each of them could. Would have more likely of having negative effects than positive. So this is where it gets controversial. Some people are like, no, it's definitely a referral, put in the referral. But I just. I wouldn't do it. I wouldn't do. Especially if I'm getting quotes from multiple people. I would just tell them, hey, I got this job, I need quotes. Can you come give me a quote? And whoever I chose to use, then I would put in the referral for that job. At that time, you definitely have a referral to put in. And we'll have thank you for closed business to put in, it seems like. But I wouldn't do it just because I feel like people would be. The plumbers might argue it's not a referral since you're just trying to get quotes. Does that make sense? They might be like, it's more of a lead because you're just asking me to quote and I'm competing against 3, 4, 5, however many people. People, if you had a job, you needed a plumber, you have a plumber in your chapter, you give them a referral, they come over and they just blow you away with this quote. That's like ridiculous. And you're like, there's no way I'm gonna use this person. Yeah. Then you go get the other ones. But you already pass in referral. You gave them the shot, they messed up. If you're going and going like, I'm just gonna get three, four, five different quotes and whoever's the cheapest, I'm gonna go with don't put them in as referrals. Just don't. I just think it's a. Again, the cons, the negative consequences to that are far greater than the positive. Then just put in the referral for whichever one you choose and then you'll have the thank you for closed business because you chose them and they did the job and you paid them and there you go. So. Or they would put in the thank you for closed business to you. So that's how I would approach it. That's how I would approach it because I'm a big believer just being blatantly honest. Just be open. Right. If your tactic is, listen, I'm just going to get quotes because I want the cheapest, then tell your members that your plumber in your chapter might be like, well, I'm never going to be the cheapest. So if you're just looking to save a buck, like, go somewhere else or they might compete, whatever. But I would just. Yeah, that's how I would do. It's pretty short and pretty sweet. I think on that. Don't try to fluff the numbers. And I'm not saying you are trying to fluff the numbers. I don't think that's why this question comes in. I think it's just a matter of, like, when do I put it in? But if you're just quote shopping, I wouldn't put it in. I would. I would keep it just to the one you pick. So. Great question. Thank you for listening. I hope this helps all the way. Literally, on the other side of the world for me and for everybody else. Again, I do appreciate it. Keep them coming. Go to bnipower of1.com leave them there if you're finding value. If there's a podcast that stands out, leave a review, leave a comment, let me know. Again, no matter how you're getting it, I do appreciate it and I hope you all have an amazing day.