If you’re a BNI member, you’re probably pretty excited about it. Who amongst us has not gotten overly enthusiastic about how it increases our referrals, only to have to explain that it wasn’t a cult? While any member of a BNI chapter understands its value, sometimes we can be overly enthusiastic.
That is why, when we teach you how to invite someone to BNI West Virginia, one of our first tips is: less is more. Inviting guests to BNI doesn’t have to be tricky. Just follow a few basic steps.
How To Invite Someone To BNI West Virginia - Don’t Make Things Complicated
The first thing to know when inviting guests to BNI is that you are always inviting them to visit, not to join. There are two reasons why. 1) You don’t know if they’re a good fit yet, and 2) the meeting should sell the chapter if they are a good fit.
Come Visit!
Generally speaking, you don’t start a relationship with a marriage proposal. You begin with a date.
So why would you start by asking someone to join your chapter? You haven’t gotten to know each other yet! And the commitment can seem off-putting if someone hasn’t even been to a meeting yet.
So, start by inviting someone to visit a BNI meeting.
What Did You Think?
There’s a moment during every BNI meeting where visitors get to share what they think. It may feel like a lot of pressure in front of a crowd, so don’t be discouraged if your visitors aren’t effusive in their praise.
Instead, assuming the visitor made a good impression, the person who invited them, plus a visitor host, should follow up after the meeting closes, too.
That’s your chance to answer any questions. If they’re interested in joining, they can put in an application. If they’re curious but not ready to commit yet, they can visit a second meeting to try it out one more time.
One Of Us! One Of Us!
Once the visitor decides to apply, the membership committee reviews the application. They’re not just a rubber stamp. They’ll need to ensure the person is a good fit for the group, has good ethical and business standards, and doesn’t conflict with anyone else’s professional designation.
The membership committee will review any required licenses and conduct an interview before deciding whether to approve an application. Once approved, they can pay their fee and then become a member.
What Are Some Good Ways of Inviting Guests to BNI West Virginia?
So how do you invite guests to BNI? One of the best ways is to find someone in the chapter you think would be beneficial for them to know, and ask if they can stop by so you can introduce them.
Another excellent way is to tell them that you have a room full of people looking for a (insert their profession) to send referrals to. For example, “Do you get a lot of referrals from _____?”
When deciding how to invite someone to BNI West Virginia, remember: the key is to be low-pressure and not over-explain.
Also, remember that you’re doing them a favor! You have a room full of opportunities and want to share them.
That’s not something you should have to sell. Just let them come see for themselves.
