Feb. 10, 2010
There are a number of strategies we can use and each has its own merits, depending on where our group is in its growth cycle – being a large group we will have a different approach to a small group that might be struggling to make up the numbers.
The first thing to bear in mind – is that when you invite a person to your BRX meeting, you are not inviting them to become members (that is a decision for the membership committee).
The moment you understand that, inviting people becomes so much easier, because all your job entails is inviting them along to a networking breakfast.
The following wording might be useful: “I’d like to invite you along to my breakfast networking meeting next week – you will get to meet potential customers and learn something. On top of that the coffee and cooked breakfast is a pleasure and well worth getting up for!
Now where are you going to find these people? I am sure that we all have working allegiances not represented in the group. Invite them.
Most of us shop these days, and whether it’s Tesco, or any other supermarket, or in fact just about any DIY store, people to invite are just sitting there right in front of us at the checkout.
If you haven’t done so before, have a look at the wall behind the tills: you will find a large business card holder full of cards of companies looking for business. The companies that advertise there are spending a great deal of money to have their cards on display. They are looking for business.
And, that’s the key: they are looking for more business. That’s all a visitor is, someone who is looking for more work, nothing more. It doesn’t even matter if there are 3 people from the same category. This is called a focused approach where by more than one person from a category comes and the 2nd one feels the first one will join, so they sign up too and there is suddenly the luxury for the committee to decide which one to have. Perfect scenario.
Now in the past I have mentioned to be selfish and invite someone who you will benefit from. Lets move the goal posts slightly and let me say this.
Look for clients instead of strategic alliances. I want you to think,
1. Who do your clients use before they use you?
2. What do your clients need during their time with you?
3. Who do your clients use after they have used you?
Wouldn’t it be great to become a resource centre for your clients? Just imagine what that will do to your reputation. Those are the class of people you should be inviting.
Good luck and I hope you are as excited as I am to get our group back where it belongs. 30+ members. It’s nothing less than we deserve.
As always if there are any questions, or if anyone is struggling, please ask me for help. Only to happy. See you Friday with a guest.
