I saw this article today from the founder of BNI Dr. Ivan Misner. If you didn’t know it BNI or Business Networking International is the largest business referral network in the world. I highly recommend getting involved in a BNI in your community.

Back to the article. The article was called “Interview” instead of “Invite”. The point Dr. Misner was making is that he likes to invite prospective business owners to come to BNI meetings. However he prefers to use a phrase like “We’re interviewing people in your industry to find the best in the area to give our business too. I think you might be a good candidate.”

Now imagine if instead of inviting people to come to your business opportunity meeting you told them “We’re looking for the best referral partners in the area. I know you’re a really well respected person and I think you might be a good fit.”

What are you saying now? “Will you come to my boring business opportunity meeting where I’m really hoping you’ll join so I can finally get my money back?”… That may not be the words you’re using but that’s probably what your body language and tone is portraying to your prospect.

Taking the approach of making it an interview already tells your prospect, they need to impress you. You aren’t going to take just anyone for the position. It gives you a different posture. You’re coming from a place of strength instead of weakness.

Here is another way to think about it. My friend posts ads for a home business on Craigslist. Now most people who place ads on craigslist would drive the leads to a lead capture page or voicemail message. Right? And 90% of those ads probably get removed within the first 12 hours because Craigslist doesn’t like them. You may generate a lead or two before it is removed but the leads probably stink.

What if instead you placed an ad asking for resumes. Saying you were looking to interview people? You already have a different posture. My friend does this with his Craigslist ads and says he gets a lot of great responses. Sure some of the people are looking for a job and aren’t open to a business, but he gets a ton of reponses AND craigslist doesn’t shut down his ads.

Read the full article from the BNI Success Net blog and let me know what you think. Does this apply to network marketing? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

- Ben Fitts

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MLM Training > Home Business Blogs > “Interview” instead of “invite” from BNI founder Dr. Ivan Misner