Running a Weekly Referral Group on Ecoferral: Before, During and After Every Meeting

The weekly referral group is a proven model: one member per business category, a short meeting with a set agenda, and members who pass each other qualified referrals because they know, like and trust each other. It is the format BNI made familiar, and it is how independent groups and organizations like PRE run their chapters.

Ecoferral is built for groups that run themselves on this model, from a single independent chapter to an organization with many. Here is what it does around each meeting, and how it helps a group grow.

Before the meeting

• RSVPs that answer themselves. Two days out, members who haven't answered get one "Are you coming?" email and answer with a tap, no sign-in needed. On meeting day, those coming get a "See you today" reminder.
• Meals counted for the venue. Post the week's dishes; members pick when they RSVP; the leader gets the count at the group's own cutoff.
• Speakers scheduled. A speaker schedule members can see, so the weekly presentation is never a scramble.
• Guests expected. The leader and board are told the day before which guests are coming and who invited them.

During the meeting

• QR check-in. A code on the screen changes every 30 seconds; members check in with one tap, and guests fill in a short form.
• Meeting mode. Who's here, this week's thank-yous for closed business, and the guests in the room, on the big screen.
• Standing alternates. A member can name someone to cover for them; the alternate checks in and passes referrals for them.

After the meeting

• Referrals in seconds. Members type what their contact needs and the right member comes up. The receiver gets the details right away.
• Closed business, tracked. The receiver marks a referral closed and enters the amount, and the giver gets a thank-you. That's the "thank you for closed business" moment, recorded. See how to track closed business.
• 1-to-1s and who to refer next. Members log 1-to-1s, and suggestions show who they could refer next and why.
• Guests followed up. Thank-you and come-back emails go to visitors on their own, and the member who invited them gets a nudge to call.
• Referral goals. Set a goal, like two referrals every two weeks; members below it get a friendly reminder before the next meeting.

Filling every seat

• A website for the chapter. Meeting times, every member business with its own page, and a page for each open category, found in local search.
• One member per category, enforced. Taken categories are greyed out on the join form, so applicants see which seats are open.
• Joining online. Applicants sign the chapter's membership agreement online, the leader approves them, and dues and fees can be paid online.

Growing to more chapters

• Start a chapter in a minute. Name it and invite its leader; its portal, join link and website are ready.
• Every chapter side by side. Referrals, closed business and attendance for each chapter, and a monthly report that flags chapters that may need support.
• Your brand, your categories. One logo, color scheme and category list for every chapter. Referrals stay inside each chapter, with cross-chapter referrals when members want them.

Is it right for your group?

Ecoferral is for groups that choose their own tools: independent chapters, organizations that run their own chapters, and members starting a new group. A chapter that belongs to a franchise usually has to use the franchise's own systems, so check its rules first.

See how to start a referral networking group, how to run a weekly networking meeting and pricing.