How to Get the Most Out of Your First BNI Visit

Walking into a room full of business owners at 7:00 in the morning can feel like a lot. The good news is that a BNI meeting is one of the friendliest rooms you will ever walk into, because every person there is actively looking for ways to help other businesses grow. Here is how to make your first visit to BNI A1 Networkers count.

Know what to expect

Our meetings run every Thursday at 7:00 AM at Brothers Family Restaurant in Peoria. A typical meeting follows a set agenda so it starts and ends on time:

• Open networking. Coffee, breakfast and conversation before the meeting starts.
• Member introductions. Each member gives a short presentation about their business and the kind of referral they are looking for that week.
• Visitor introductions. You get a few seconds to say who you are and what you do.
• A featured speaker. One member gives a longer presentation so the room can really understand their business.
• Referrals and thank-yous. Members pass referrals to each other and share the business that came from past referrals.

Bring the right things

You do not need much, but a few things help:

• Business cards. Bring more than you think you need.
• A short introduction. Practice saying your name, your business and the one type of customer you would love to meet. Ten seconds is plenty.
• Curiosity. The best visitors spend more time asking about other people's businesses than talking about their own.

Listen for the "who do you know" moments

Every member will tell the room what kind of referral they want. Write those down. If you hear "I am looking for homeowners whose AC is more than 15 years old" or "I would love to meet a property manager," think about who you know. Offering even one useful introduction on your first visit is the fastest way to make an impression.

Ask how the chapter works

BNI has a simple rule that makes it different from most networking groups: only one person per profession can join a chapter. That means the referrals for your line of work go to you. Ask the visitor host whether your category is open, and ask members how long they have been in the chapter and what it has meant for their business.

Follow up within a day

The real value of networking comes after the meeting. Within 24 hours:

1. Connect with the people you met, by text, email or LinkedIn.
2. Set up a one-to-one coffee with anyone whose customers overlap with yours.
3. Send any introduction you promised.

Come back

Most people need two or three visits to see how the referral system really works. Each week the room gets more familiar, the conversations go deeper and the opportunities become clearer.

Ready to visit? We meet every Thursday at 7:00 AM. Plan your visit and we will save you a seat.