banner_slide_img1

Loebig Ink is a small business consulting firm
fueled by coffee, creativity and music to provide
SEO, web design and social media solutions.

Why Invite Visitors to BNI?

Why Invite Visitors to BNI?Business Network International (BNI) has some excellent statistics to boast about. It is the world’s leading business referral organization. According to bni.com, BNI passed over 11.2 million referrals last year, which resulted in more than 15 billion dollars in business. And as the president of the Capital Business Alliance Chapter, Brian Loebig is always happy to share about the effectiveness of making connections through BNI.

Are you a member? If so, you know about the benefits of going to meetings, networking with fellow business owners, and at times, being the one to make a featured presentation. But do you know the benefits of inviting visitors to your BNI presentation? Here are nine good reasons why you should take that opportunity.

  1. The Power of One: An important principle of BNI is that measuring your performance and progress matters. Taking just one action makes a difference, and you can expand that concept to several activities each week. As a BNI member, it’s important to attend the chapter meeting once per week. Then study one education unit per week. Have a sit-down one-on-one conversation with another member once per week and give a business referral to someone in your chapter each week as well. Keep at it and the benefits multiply. Add this to the list: Bring one visitor to a meeting each month. They will make connections, tell their friends about their experience, and the business possibilities increase for everyone. Let the Power of One do its magic!
  2. Increase Membership: The more often you can bring someone out to experience a meeting, the more likely you will find someone who will want to join the chapter. BNI accepts only one member for each business category so members are not in competition with one another. As membership grows, the more likely it is that members’ businesses will complement one another. If your group includes the owner of a wedding venue, the event photographer you bring as a guest could be a perfect new addition.
  3. Personal Credibility: Paid promotions are often a significant part of raising the profile of a business. Word of mouth, however, can be priceless. By bringing a friend to the BNI meeting who knows you and your business well, that person is likely to promote your work naturally by way of personal testimonials. If it is your turn to make a featured presentation on your work, you will give your guest a lot of immediate material to work with. Why not bring someone around who’ll help others see how you shine?
  4. Rack Up the Referrals: You never know who will connect with whom for business opportunities. That’s all the more reason to bring people together for conversations on what they offer and what they may need. If one of your visitors happens to hire a chapter member for a service, that’s one more referral on your list of accomplishments.
  5. Increase Revenue: The average BNI visitor bring $1000 in closed business to a chapter, even if they don’t, or can’t, join. You never know what services or products someone may need from a member of your chapter. I have invited close friends and family members to chapter meetings in the past only to discover, after the meeting, that they needed painting done on a porch or a will drawn up for a loved one!
  6. Points of Contact: It is always great when someone you’ve invited is interested and available to accompany you to a BNI meeting. But what if they can’t make it? It’s still good that you asked. Networking isn’t only achieved when the initial goal is met; just making a contact is important, as you never know what will manifest in the future. Extending an invitation kindles your relationships to all the people you’ve invited, even if they weren’t able to attend.
  7. Residual Visitors: Most of the people who you invite will not be able to attend on the day of your presentation. Though your invitee couldn’t make it when you first asked, they may keep it in mind. You may ask again. However it happens, that person might eventually make it to a BNI meeting. They may tell others about it, too, who in turn express interest in checking out BNI. One initial invitation could lead to visitors for weeks after the initial invitation was made.
  8. Inspiration: When your chapter members notice that you extend invitations consistently, it may inspire them to do the same. Your simple act can multiply positive action.
  9. LinkedIn Value: Inviting visitors on LinkedIn provides you with an invitation history right in the message thread. This is a great bonus value on the LinkedIn platform. The next time you want to reach back out to your invitee, you will see when and how you invited them in the past along with their responses. You will also have their current professional information and recent posts at the ready to help you engage them with relevant conversation.
  10. Getting Social: Inviting someone through social media increases your personal engagement. Every time you send a shout out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or another social platform, others have the chance to see your post and take an interest. It’s an easy way to keep in contact, spark conversation, and increase your online visibility.

Would you like to learn more about BNI? Contact Brian about attending an upcoming meeting.

New Hosts of LinkedIn Local MoCo!

Visit our new website at www.LinkedinLocal-Moco.com!

Brian Loebig and Tamika Smith - the new hosts of LinkedIn Local MoCo

Brian Loebig and Tamika Smith are happy to announce that they will be the new hosts of LinkedIn Local MoCo! What is LinkedIn Local MoCo? LinkedIn Local is an event geared toward helping LinkedIn members get to know one another in real life. The local meetups happen all over the globe. “MoCo” stands for the recurring event that brings people together in Montgomery County, Maryland. Brian and Tamika will take over hosting duties for Business Consultant and LinkedIn Strategist, Kelly Leonard.

During small business consulting sessions and public speaking engagements, Brian frequently points out LinkedIn as an incredibly useful tool for making business connections and seeking career opportunities. LinkedIn Local MoCo gives it the personal touch. The purpose of the no-pitch, no-selling meetup is to unite people beyond their profile pics, catchy headlines, and company names to connect, collaborate, and build community in real time. Attendees are united around the common belief that with authenticity, respect, and collaboration they can unlock doors to prosperous, sustainable living.

LinkedIn Local MoCo events happen throughout Montgomery County Maryland at co-working spaces, business offices, non-profits and other venues. We serve wine, cheese, and networking, followed by a keynote speakers or a panel discussion. Previous speakers included Laverne Franklin-Jones of LFJ Fashion Styling Services with a topic entitled “Elevate your style: Making a statement without saying a word.” The session  explored why personal style matters in business, how image affects your bottom line, and more.

Howard University graduate Tamika Smith hails from Miami, Florida and Nassau, Bahamas. She is the current Weekend Host on WAMU 88.5, American University Radio, where she also reports on various local issues from politics to the environment. She began her career at NPR’s Tell Me More with Michel Martin and at Radio One as a national news anchor for Keepin’ It Real With Al Sharpton. Brian Loebig launched Loebig Ink as a full-time web consulting business in Richmond, VA in 2010. Now centered in Silver Spring with a wider scope and clients nationwide, Loebig Ink works with an ever-expanding team of social media, SEO, web and graphic design professionals. Brian credits his entrepreneurial ambition to his executive master’s degree experience at Marquette University.

Brian is excited about this new opportunity to meet more great people who are doing business in Montgomery County. Keep an eye on the Loebig Ink calendar for LinkedIn Local MoCo , other appearances, and Loebig Ink-sponsored events.

remove-button magnifying-search-lenses-tool