BNI 794: Do Online Reviews Count? - BNI & The Power of One

Summary

Podcast Summary: BNI 794 – Do Online Reviews Count?

Title: BNI & The Power of One
Episode: BNI 794: Do Online Reviews Count?
Host: Tim Roberts
Release Date: March 10, 2025

In episode 794 of the BNI & The Power of One podcast, host Tim Roberts delves into a pertinent question from a listener in Nashville, Tennessee: “Do online reviews, such as Google reviews or social media likes, count as referrals within BNI?” This episode offers a comprehensive exploration of what constitutes a referral in the BNI framework, the value of online engagements, and the implications of misclassifying these interactions.

Introduction

Tim Roberts opens the episode with his characteristic enthusiasm, expressing gratitude for listener submissions and highlighting the interactive nature of the show. He emphasizes the importance of community contributions, stating:

“It’s one of the things I think that makes the show a little bit different and makes it yours.”
[00:25]

Listener Question: Do Online Reviews Count as Referrals?

The central question originates from Mike in Nashville, who observes that his group members frequently request social media follows or Google reviews. Mike questions whether these actions should be considered referrals, noting:

“Sometimes I wouldn’t think that counts as a referral but if they're asking for it then why shouldn’t it? It seems like a conundrum.”
[00:30]

Defining a Referral in BNI

Roberts offers a clear definition of a referral within the BNI context:

“A referral is an opportunity to do business with somebody based on the fact that we know they're in the market, they have interest in the product and service. Somebody has spoken to them about that, they've spoken to them about you and they're making a connection.”
[01:20]

He distinguishes between transactional and relationship-based referrals, emphasizing that true referrals involve tangible business opportunities driven by direct connections and market interest.

Online Reviews vs. Traditional Referrals

Addressing Mike’s query, Roberts explains why online engagements like Google reviews and social media likes do not qualify as referrals:

“Page reviews, Google reviews, likes on social media, those kind of things are not that now they are sure valuable. They're ways to help each other... But it's not a referral.”
[02:10]

He underscores that while these online actions are beneficial for visibility and credibility, they lack the tangible business transactions that define a referral. Consequently, these activities should not be tracked as referrals in BNI’s tracking systems, such as the POMS report.

Implications of Misclassifying Online Engagements

Roberts warns of the potential pitfalls if online reviews and similar activities are erroneously classified as referrals:

“We’re hiking up the value in one column while there is no possibility to connect it to the thank you for closed business column... setting misguided expectations for new members and current members or how many referrals they should be getting, which is not true.”
[04:00]

He elaborates that misclassification can distort the understanding of a chapter’s performance, leading members to misjudge their actual business contributions and success rates. This can erode trust and set unrealistic benchmarks for both new and existing members.

Proper Utilization of Online Engagements

While Roberts advises against classifying these online activities as referrals, he encourages members to continue supporting each other through them:

“Should you be doing these things for each other? A hundred percent. Should you be asking for these in your weekly presentations? 100%. No, you should not.”
[07:15]

He advocates for maintaining these supportive actions as part of the chapter’s collaborative spirit but cautions against integrating them into the formal referral tracking processes. Instead, members should leverage these tools to enhance their business presence without conflating them with referrals.

Best Practices for BNI Members

Roberts outlines best practices to ensure clarity and effectiveness within BNI chapters:

Distinguish Between Supportive Actions and Referrals: Recognize the value of online engagements without categorizing them as referrals.
Focus on Tangible Referrals: Prioritize opportunities that lead to actual business transactions and connections.
Maintain Accurate Tracking: Ensure that referral tracking systems like POMS reflect genuine business contributions to avoid misleading data.
Encourage Genuine Networking: Promote authentic relationship-building over numerical metrics that do not translate to business outcomes.

Conclusion

In wrapping up, Tim Roberts reiterates the significance of understanding the true nature of referrals within BNI. He appreciates Mike’s insightful question and underscores the importance of maintaining integrity in referral tracking to preserve the chapter’s effectiveness and trustworthiness.

“They are valuable, they’re great. We’re giving to somebody and we should be doing it.”
[09:30]

Roberts invites further listener engagement, encouraging submissions and emphasizing the ongoing value of community contributions to the podcast’s success.

Key Takeaways:

Referrals Defined: Genuine referrals involve business opportunities based on direct connections and market needs.
Online Engagements: While beneficial for visibility and credibility, online reviews and likes do not qualify as referrals.
Accurate Tracking: Misclassifying online activities as referrals can distort performance metrics and set unrealistic expectations.
Supportive Actions: Continue supporting each other through online engagements without conflating them with formal referrals.

This episode serves as a vital reminder for BNI members to maintain clear boundaries between supportive community actions and tangible business referrals, ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of their networking efforts.

Transcript

A (0:25)

Foreign welcome back to the nine the Power of One podcast. Thank you for joining me again on this Monday morning. We're back with your show submissions, topics, Questions submitted@bnipowerofone.com got quite a list. I really appreciate everybody who continues to do that, continue to bring them in. It's one of the things I think that makes the show a little bit different and, and makes it yours and so I appreciate everybody who does that. Today's comes from Mike out in Nashville, Tennessee. Beautiful area, he says. I love the show by the way. Sometimes for a weekly ask people in my group say looking for social media follows or looking for Google reviews. Normally I wouldn't think that counts as a referral but if they're asking for it then why shouldn't it? It seems like a conundrum. You've talked about seeing a need on City pages and what counts as a referral but I'm talking about is when the BNI member asks for something to help their business, in this case they ask for a page like okay, so good question. I've had it before. They're not referrals, they just simply aren't. We have to go to what the definition of a referral is. A referral is an opportunity to do business with somebody based on the fact that we know they're in the market, they have interest in the product and service. Somebody has spoken to them about that, they've spoken to them about you and they're making a connection. Okay. And that could be both transactional based referrals and relationship based referrals. Page reviews, Google reviews, likes on social media, those kind of things are not that now they are sure valuable. They're ways to help each other. It's a great value add of being in a team atmosphere like a BNI chapter and hopefully my chapter. All, all my members go and they click the like they click the button, they click the thing because it will build my visibility in, in the outside community on that platform, whatever that platform is, it can build my credibility amongst that platform. But it's not a referral. It's not a, it's not a by any, any variation of the definition. So it's not about hey, can we get credit in BNI for everything we do to help one another? And the answer is no because again not in the Palms report credit. I mean we can get credit like a thank you. We can get credit for doing what's right to help each other. But in the POMS report we're trying to like a business track what Are we tangibly producing for one another? And there's no tangible value on a, like there's no tangible value on a Google review. There's no tangible value on a testimonial, which is why there's no testimonial column in the POMS report either. They're valuable, they're great. We're giving to somebody and we should be doing it. But there's not the tangible value. If we put it in referrals as referrals. Then again, the problem that comes from that is we're hiking up the value in one column while there is no possibility to connect it to the thank you for closed business column. And now we could be like, our average referral amount drops, even though that's not true, right? We're overemphasizing how many referrals we're passing even though it's not true. We're setting misguided expectations for new members and current members or how many referrals they should be getting, which is not true. If you put it in a referral, that member goes back a year later on their renewal and they go, well, look at all the referrals I got. But I didn't get any money from it, so I must be getting junk. Because they don't associate it or remember, oh, no, because those were Google reviews and those were these types of things. And so now they've got a misguided, you know, review of what their year produced. There's a ton of unattended consequences. Because again, they're just not referrals and they're not why anybody joined your chapter either. Nobody's joined B. And I going, I'm going to get into this group. So my Google reviews go up. I got into this group. So my social media likes and follows go up. That's not ever a reason. Again, intangible value, right? It's a great thing, but it's not what we're tracking. And, and I'm, I don't think you're looking this way, but if you open that can of worms and you start counting those things, people will take the easiest path out in the path of least resistance. And yes, suddenly everybody's going to be like, oh, I followed you, I did this, I did that just to boost their referral number. So on a power of one or something like that, that category goes up. And so you're, you're making it easier for people to get credit instead of, not that you make it harder without doing it, but you get people proper credit. And so Just I. Yeah, no, no, nope, can't do it. Now to go full circle again. Should you be doing these things for each other? A hundred percent. Should you be asking for these in your weekly presentations? 100%. No, you should not. It's a complete and colossal waste of your time. You've only got 30 to 60 seconds. Do not spend it asking for these types of things in one to ones in open networking and these kind of parts. Ask for them. So part of the problem with this question is people in my group ask for it. I would bet they. He means they're asking for in their weekly presentations. Shouldn't do it. Shouldn't do it. I know it's a second or two but it's just off base of what you should be doing during that time. Now does that mean you did it and you completely. No, like don't. Let's not also jump to extremes. But again, it's not why we're there. It's not why we're there. It's the same as like I don't get credit in a POMS report if in a one to one I give some kind of advice that the member takes and it grows their business. I don't get credit in a POMS report if, you know, I give a great written testimonial that leads to some kind of connection. Like we should be just generally wanting to help each other and everything. Doesn't need to get a check mark on some report. So it goes just back to what's the purpose? What's the purpose of why we're there? What's the purpose of a referral? What's the purpose of the POMS report and the tracking, everything else. So there you go. I think it's a good question. I see it all the time, I hear it all the time. I'm not upset when I hear it like oh my God, that person really messed up asking for them. But I would be concerned if chapters are tracking them as referrals because they simply are not. So Mike, thank you. Thank you for submitting. Really appreciate it. Thank you for listening. Really appreciate that. Humble people do. And I'd love to hear from you either through suggest a topic, submit your weekly presentation, give us a topic for business matters or like in this case, leave a review. I'd love to have that review. I don't track them as referrals, but I'd love to hear from you. And it does highlight just like those reviews do. So they are valuable. Have a great day. Ra.