5 ways to invite visitors to your BNI chapter meetings

Teresa Watkins of Monster Graphics and BNI B’Nspired was recently asked to stand in for her chapter Education Coordinator. Teresa accepted the challenge and thought about a topic she could cover that would help both her members and her chapter.

Teresa identified 5 ways to invite visitors to her chapter meetings:

1. What do you do? Ask any person what they do, this could be a customer, a neighbour or someone you have just met at a friend’s BBQ.   It’s an easy question and will help you figure out who’s in business, and then it’s an easy lead into “you could come promote your business at my networking group”. 
2. Are you busy? When you are at your next personal appointment ask them if they are busy?   This is an easy and natural question to ask. You can ask your hairdresser, beauty therapist, massage therapist, osteopath, optometrist, or personal trainer etc.   If they say no, boom there’s your cue.   If they say yes they are flat out you could try saying “that’s great, I know a group of business owners who would be ideal customers for you.  You should come along and promote yourself”. 
3. Wham-O Next time you are approached by a sales person listen to their sales pitch and then ask them if they’d like to come to a networking group to promote their business.  Wham-O.  Sell to the seller!!   This could be in response to a sales call, visit, or even a flyer in your letterbox.
4. Reverse Psychology Try reverse psychology. When people ask you about your business tell them you’ve just joined this awesome networking group that has really accelerated your business.   Go into detail about how great it’s been and let them ask you all about it.  Once you’ve got their attention slip in a “I might be able to get you into one of our meetings if you want?”  This could be an easy sell when you are the customer at any of your personal appointments mentioned earlier because therapists are always fishing for conversation starters. 
5. Existing Clients Go through your client list and highlight the business owners.   Then reach out to them and offer them the opportunity to come along to BNI.  It’s a more direct approach but one that Teresa has had great success with in the past.  Even when they decline it normally comes with a “thanks so much for thinking of me” and will build good rapport with your client. 

Oh, and don’t forget the FREE BACON!!

You’re not trying to sell them a membership, just an opportunity to visit your chapter meeting, plus a free breakfast. After-all, you were invited to visit your BNI chapter before you joined, weren’t you?

 Sounds too easy right?……………….. It is! Make a start by choosing one technique from the list and give it a go between now and your next chapter meeting!