Get a G. R. I. P. ......on Inviting Visitors

From March 2013 - I know you hear this every week at your BNI meetings and you may be saying to yourself, why is it up to me to invite visitors?  Ask yourself, who invited you?   

I recently attended Networking Redefined and the discussion came up about what is BNI doing to help us grow.  The BNI local franchise as well as National and International continuously works on branding and marketing BNI.  You can Google Dr. Ivan Misner, BNI, Business Network International, BNI Atlanta, etc. to get an idea of what our infrastructure does to support local chapters.   

In addition to promoting and marketing BNI, the local franchise supports each chapter by following up with their visitors.  If a person is interested in BNI, but the time or location isn't a good fit, then they put them in touch with a chapter that will meet their needs.  They host periodic meetings, like Networking Redefined, that are open to the public.  They participate in Trade Shows to expose the business community to BNI.  They help us with  our Social Media.  Each Chapter I support has a BNI Facebook Business Page which is a great place to showcase and promote your local Chapter. 

An interesting thing that was pointed out in all the research that has been done over the years about where do new members come from, was that the majority of people join a BNI chapter because a friend and/or business colleague recommended and invited them to a BNI meeting.   

I often hear from members, well I don't know anyone who wants to join BNI.  And I say....Don't ask them to join.   

All of us know other people in business who we do business with or meet at other networking events.   

Here is a simple acronym we can use.....

G - Are you looking to GROW your business?

R - Would REFERRALS help you Grow your business? (if yes) 

I -  I would like to INVITE you to a meeting of other business people who might be able to refer business to you.  Would you be interested in attending? (if yes) 

P - Great!  (Give the the time and PLACE)   

If we all do a small part, we all reap the benefits of a larger chapter, more referrals, which equates to more $$$$$.  More Members Mean More Money.

Keep Inviting,

Annette