If the classification of the visitor fits in my business classification, then I definitely will want to meet them but thats not always the case. As TCO I look to see if other team members are inviting them for coffee? If not, I will extend and invitation or if many have, then I won't. I look at other factors too. Did they show up on time for the meeting? Were they engaged and paying attention to what was going on? Are they in a profession that would be a great fit for our team? 

I like to keep it a 1:1 meeting. When we meet, I like to ask a lot of questions about them, personally and professionally. Sometimes I know right away it won’t be a good fit and I’m trying to make a quick exit and other times you just know they would be agood fit. Now I can explain the value proposition of referral marketing, how it works and the value we recieve. 

I will make certain any visitor gets at least one offer to meet for coffee and I always make it 1:1 to limit confusion in an already overwhelming setting. I typically offer to meet directly after our next meeting, which will let me know their intentions for their second visit. When we meet, I will focus 100% on them, what they are looking for, and how they run their business. If they do not reciprocate, I know they will either need a lot of training, or will not be successful in referral marketing. It's all about getting to know your armed assaillant. Yes, that's a movie reference.

A business owner comes to visit because they want to grow their business.  I always make it a point to extend a coffee invitation to show they are welcome and I genuinely want to learn more about their business.  During that first meeting, I always make a 1:1 so they aren't overwhelmed.

I always focus on them and their business so I will know how to send referrals their way.

Noel reached out to me the other day on LinkedIn. He is an entrepreneur whose skill set is in helping small businesses grow without the pains growth can sometimes cause. Much of his work is in digital automation. Noel spent the first 10 minutes of our conversation selling his three businesses to me.  Throughout his pitch, he didn't help me to understand who his clients were, and why they paid him for his services.  It was 100% blue card and no green and gold cards.  For me, this was a perfect opportunity for an invitation to visit PowerCore.  When I meet with someone, and am sold to the entire time, it's an excellent opportunity to introduce PowerCore to them.  

I think I'd be more likely to extend a coffee invitation to a visitor if I thought I could learn something about them or their business that I thought might be something I could share with someone I knew could benefit from an introduction.

I'm more inclined to make it 1:1