Referral networking glossary
The words you'll hear at a referral group meeting, in plain English. New to it all? Our guides go deeper.
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- 1-to-1
- A short meeting between two members, in person or by video, to learn each other's business and who makes a good referral for each other. Read the guide
- 1st generation referral
- A referral where you are the customer: you hire a fellow member or buy from them yourself. Read the guide
- 2nd generation referral
- A referral where someone you know is the customer: you introduce a friend, client or neighbor who needs what a member offers, and the member follows up. Read the guide
- 60-second commercial
- Each member's short introduction at a meeting: who they are, what they do and the referral they're looking for this week. Read the guide
B
- Board
- The chapter's leadership team, such as the president and membership chair. Some board roles can approve new members.
C
- Chapter sponsor
- A local business that supports one chapter for a term and is shown on its check-in screen, reports, directory and members' home screens.
- Check-in
- Recording who came to a meeting. Members scan the QR code on the screen or printed sheet; guests scan and fill in a short form.
- Closed business
- The dollar value of work a member won from a referral. The member who received it records the amount; some groups call it TYFCB, "thank you for closed business". Read the guide
- Cross-chapter referral
- A referral to a member of another chapter in the network. It shows in both chapters' lists, and the points go to you as the giver.
D
- Dues and application fee
- What a member pays the chapter: a one-time fee to apply and yearly or monthly dues. They're paid straight to the chapter, with no Ecoferral fee.
G
- Guest
- A visitor to a meeting who isn't a member yet. Guests check in with the guest QR code, meet the chapter and can ask to join. Read the guide
I
- Ideal referral
- The kind of customer you'd most like to meet, like "small business owners" or "first-time home buyers". Members use it to know who to send you, and it shapes who the app suggests.
K
- Know, like and trust
- Why referral groups work: people refer business to those they know, like and trust, and that grows with every meeting and 1-to-1.
M
- Member Spotlight
- A member's business featured for a month on the check-in screen, in meeting mode and on members' home screens, bought from the chapter.
- Multiple referrals
- Several referrals to the same member logged at once, such as three neighbors who all need a new roof. Each one counts toward points and the chapter's totals.
N
- Network sponsor
- A business that sponsors the whole network and is shown across its chapters. It never shows in a chapter where a member holds its category unless that member agrees.
O
- One professional per category
- Each chapter seats only one member per type of business, so members never compete with each other for the chapter's referrals. Read the guide
P
- Points
- What members earn for giving referrals, 1-to-1s, checking in and bringing guests, then spend on perks other members offer.
- Presenter
- The member giving the longer talk at a meeting, so everyone learns their business in depth. The next presenter shows on Home and the chapter website.
Q
- Qualified referral
- An introduction to someone who needs what a member sells and expects their call. More than a name: they know who's calling and why.
R
- Rewards & perks
- Offers members make from their own business, bought with points, so the chapter's money stays local.
V
- Visitor day
- A meeting where members invite guests on purpose, so the chapter can fill open seats. Read the guide