In this BNI Education Slot, Darren Jamieson explores an often-overlooked aspect of weekly BNI meetings: the door prize.

https://youtu.be/QBc0S_4lZHE

Darren begins by explaining what a door prize is and how it typically works within a chapter. Usually offered by the featured speaker, the prize is awarded to a member who has contributed that week, such as giving a referral, testimonial or bringing a visitor. While the monetary value is generally modest, Darren argues the perceived value is far more important.

He highlights a common mistake many members make: giving alcohol. While easy and familiar, alcohol excludes members who don’t drink for health, religious or personal reasons, making it a poor and sometimes insensitive choice.

Darren then discusses creative or bespoke prizes, particularly those that require work after the meeting. While these can be memorable, they come with a critical caveat: they must be delivered promptly. Failing to follow through, he explains, signals unreliability and damages trust. In BNI, how you handle a door prize reflects how others believe you’ll handle referrals.

Sharing a personal example, Darren recalls winning a door prize that was never fulfilled, reinforcing his point that broken promises, even small ones, linger in people’s minds.

Next in the talk, he then outlines what makes a strong door prize: something aligned with your business that reinforces what you do. As a digital marketing agency owner, Darren has given away his co-authored book, Engage and Grow, along with other business and strategy titles such as books by Daniel Priestley and The 4-Hour Workweek. These prizes provide genuine value while keeping his expertise front of mind.

He also suggests practical ideas for different professions, from product samples for product-based businesses to branded tools or novelty items for service providers.

Darren concludes with a strong warning: never forget your door prize on the day of your featured presentation. Doing so undermines the very opportunity you’re meant to be showcasing. His final message is clear: treat the door prize as a reflection of your credibility, reliability and professionalism within the chapter.

Full Transcript

(00:00)
I cannot be trusted. I cannot be trusted with a referral because I’m just not going to do it.

In this week’s education slot, I want to talk about something we’ve not covered on the BNI Education Slots channel before. It’s not something every BNI chapter does or engages in — and it’s the door prize.

(00:27)
For those that don’t know, the door prize is the prize offered by the featured speaker at that week’s meeting to another member of the chapter. Usually, it’s given to someone who has contributed — maybe a referral, a testimonial, or by bringing a visitor. It’s a reward and a thank-you for listening to the featured speaker’s talk.

(00:50)
That talk is usually five or ten minutes, depending on the size of your chapter. The featured speaker provides a prize, and it’s given out to a random winner — drawn from a hat, a cup, or however your chapter does it. The prize is usually around £10 in the UK, or $10.

(01:18)
We’ve had this in our Chester chapter for as long as I’ve been a member — 10 to 12 years at least. There are a couple of stipulations around door prizes that some members follow and some don’t.

(01:40)
One thing many members fall back on is alcohol — a bottle of wine, beer, prosecco, champagne. Quite frankly, that’s not a good idea. A lot of people don’t drink, whether for religious reasons, health reasons, or recovery. So alcohol should really be avoided.

(02:23)
Another thing that happens is creative members offering to make something for the winner after they’re chosen. That’s fine — but only if you actually do it.

(03:18)
The door prize reflects your business. It reflects your professionalism and your ability to follow up. If you say you’re going to do something and then don’t, all you’re telling that person is that you can’t be trusted with a referral.

(03:55)
How you do anything is how you’re perceived to do everything.

(04:19)
I once won a door prize where the member said they’d fit something in my house — and it never happened. Despite reminders, it was forgotten.

(04:50)
A good door prize should reflect your business and remind people what you do.

(05:14)
I run a digital marketing agency, and one prize we’ve given is my book Engage and Grow: 97 Ways to Power Up Your Marketing. It’s genuinely useful and helps members improve their marketing.

(05:37)
We’ve also given other business and self-help books. Package it nicely, maybe add some chocolates, and you’ve got a great prize.

(06:29)
If you’re product-based, give a sample. If you’re an accountant, maybe a branded calculator or something that reflects your business.

(06:55)
What you must not do is forget the door prize on the day. This is your featured presentation — your showcase. Forgetting it tells the room you’re unreliable.

(07:22)
Treat the door prize as important. Use it to reinforce your business, your message, and your credibility as a referral partner. And stay away from alcohol. Thank you.