Networking must be a priority for your business. It should be mentioned, in detail, in your business marketing plan. It probably has a line item on your financial statements. It should; no, it must if you believe in the power of networking enough to be sitting in a BNI meeting.

As such, networking requires a strategy. Many people choose the beginning of the year as the time to develop and implement new goals and new strategies.

You must be sure that you have set goals for your networking efforts! Setting goals for your networking endeavors is what Ivan Misner refers to as an example of the “uncommon application of common knowledge.” This alone will increase the number of qualified referrals you receive and help you to make more money in 2009.

So, let’s talk about the goals that you will want to set. In order to set yourself and your business up for success, each goal you set should be SMART. SMART in an acronym for:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Relevant
  • Timely

A specific goal states the who, what, when, and how of the objective. Measurably refers to the ability to quantify the outcome of the goal. Attainable means that the goals you set must be realistic. Relevance refers to how it fits into your particular mission and vision. In order to be motivated to follow through on your goal, it must be relevant to your overall scheme; or, the big picture of your organization. Finally, timely means that you have given yourself a deadline for completion that is in the foreseeable future. This is imperative to instill momentum to help you follow through.

So, what type of SMART Goals should a BNI member make? Here are some examples:

  • I will do a one to one dance card with a different member of my chapter twice each week until I have personally sat with every member of my chapter. I will start this week.
  • I will achieve a 25% increase in my referral business as a result of my networking by the beginning of the second quarter.

SMART Goals can be a bit more difficult to complete; but, they are necessary to propel your business into the future!

Recommended Materials for Follow-Up: The 29% Solution, 52 Weekly Networking Success Strategies, by Ivan Misner, PhD and Michelle R. Donovan.