Leads and Referrals

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Leads Groups:

What is a Leads Group with the Metro North Chamber of Commerce?
Leads group participation is a formal networking opportunity available to Metro North Chamber of Commerce members in good standing.Members meet weekly for the purpose of exchanging leads, to do so, members learn how to talk about their businesses and what a good lead is for them in 30 or 60 seconds and also are allowed to be featured speaker at least once a quarter.Lead group membership is exclusive, in that only one representative from a particular industry can participate in the group.If you have multiple lines in your company that your represent, you will only be allowed to speak of one area of your business (for example, a financial planner will not be able to speak on insurance or mortgage brokering) even though that may be a service the individual offers.

Leads group referrals are built on trust. It is important to attend your weekly leads meeting on follow through on all leads provided.

What is the Lead Group Size and Time Commitment?
The maximum number of members in any Metro North Chamber leads group will be 50.Each group is encouraged to have guests and visitors weekly.Members are encouraged to invite guest in areas in which there is a needs, i.e., plumber, electrician, etc.The average time commitment is 6-8 hours a month for members in a non-leadership position.

Leads Groups Policies

Zero Tolerance Policy

• During any member presentation (60 or 10 second commercials, Presentations, Hot Seats or any other special presentation time) the Leads Group Members will present only what is relevant to the company they represent.
• Due to the professional business climate of the Leads Group Meetings, Leads Group Members must maintain professionalism at all times.Coarse and rude joking, stereotyping and flamboyant speech have no place in the Chamber Leads Groups.

Attendance requirements and notification

• If you know in advance you will be absent please notify the Chair, Co-Chair or Mentor if you will not be attending.
• If an emergency arises and you miss a meeting please inform both the Chamber and the Chair after the meeting.
• DO NOT call the restaurant and ask them to notify the group of your absence.
• You are allowed to miss a total of 12 excused or unexcused absences a year.
• Three unexcused absences in a row will result in leads group membership termination.  It is the MEMBER'S RESPONSIBILITY to notify the Chair, Co-Chair, Mentor or Chamber of absences.  Lead group membership will AUTOMATICALLY be dropped after three unexcused absences.  No notice by the Group Leadership is required, no dues will be refunded, though the Chamber may contact member to review situation.
• No leave of absence will be granted unless it is directly arranged with the CHAMBER.  If a leave is granted, the business slot will be reserved for that member for no longer than a 6 week time period.
• Open communication is encouraged among the members.

Leadership Positions (Not all positions are in all groups)

• Chair prepares room, starts meeting on time, conducts meeting and represents group to the Chamber
• Co-Chair-Runs meeting is the absence of the Chair, assists at each meeting by presenting leads counts, taking attendance and tracking times, and also represents group to the Chamber.
• Mentor-Guiding force behind the group and delivers orientation to new members.
• E-mail Person - Person who sends out weekly emails.
• Substitute Chair - Person who fills in in the event the Leadership Team is all absent from a meeting.
• Greeters – Arrives 15 minutes prior to meeting to greet members and guests.
• It is typical for the Co-Chair to hold that position for 6 month, then move to the Chair position for another 6 months.It is also typical for these positions to be elected positions.
• Once a leads group has been in existence for one year or longer, it is strongly preferred that leadership positions are led by established members.

Expense

• The cost to participate in a leads group is $60 per year due upon signing application.This fee is non-refundable.
• There is a charge for food and beverage at each meeting and price depends on location.

Business Meetings-purpose and frequency

• Quarterly, each leads group is required to hold a business meeting.  The purpose of the meeting is to review progress in terms of membership, lead generation, lead quality and rules of conduct.  This is a strategic planning session for the group.  A portion of the meeting will allow for brainstorming of new ways to share leads, adjustments to assist individuals to succeed better and to review rules.  Attendance is a requirement at the Business Meeting.  The leadership of the group will solicit agenda items several weeks before the meeting.

Power Partners

• What are they? Businesses, which have close ties to your type of business or that, would share common clients.For example, the real estate agent and the mortgage broker.
• What businesses would be Power Partners for you and your business?(If the categories are not currently represented in the group, we can help you in locating and recruiting them.)

First Time Attendees, Overlaps and Conflicts with Other Businesses

• All first time attendees MUST be silent.  No business cards may be distributed by visitors.
• At the conclusion of the meeting any businesses which may have overlaps will have the opportunity to discuss solutions with the Leadership team.  Any unresolved issues, will be presented to the Chamber for final decision making.  For example, if the advertising agency in the group also develops web sites, they may not talk about their web site development in the group, even though they offer them in the business.(Overlaps are businesses after the same dollars from the same clients.)
• Personal conflicts between members of the group are to be resolved between the affected members.If businesses are unable to resolve differences then it is to be presented to the Chamber for decision making.

If a Leads Group member would like to speak on more than one investment type within the leads group(that could potentially be filled by another Chamber member) a payment of a second Chamber dues and leads dues are required.  For instance a financial planner cannot talk about insurance or mortgage, even if it is part of their business.  Every Leads Group member must register their investment type with the Chamber, via the application.

Testimonials

These should focus on members of your Primary Group, or those in another Chamber Leads Group who represent a business category not filled in your group. Testimonials should never be given for anyone who is in conflict with a group member.

Guests – ALL ARE SILENT

• Members must provide complete information to the Chamber AND the Chair (or other Leadership in the group) before bringing a guest to a leads meeting, information required includes: name, company, title, type of business, phone, fax and email information.
• If a Group member visits another group, they will notify the Leadership Team of the group they are visiting before they visit.
  
  What is a Lead?
  • Must contain name, company, title, industry or product sold, address, phone, fax, email and website if available.
  • A lead is the name of a specific person who is in the market for a product or service that the member can provide.Because of the work of the passing member, they are expecting a call from the member.
  • A lead can also be anything specifically tagged as a lead by the member of the group.For example, if a member declares to the group that a booking for a speaking engagement is a lead for them, it is until they retract it.

  Passing Leads-What are the possibilities?

  • To members of your primary leads group
  • To members of other Metro North Chamber leads groups
  • To the Chamber (New Chamber members)
  • A REFERRAL is to a Chamber Member (who is visiting or not)

  Switching Your Group Membership

  If you wish to change your membership from one group to another the Chamber and the Leadership of both groups must be notified and involved in the decision—moving is not automatic.The Chamber does maintain a list of companies wishing to enter leads group, you do not automatically move to a newly created opening

  Joining a Leads Group
  • To become a member of any of the Leads Groups, membership in the Chamber is required.
  • The Leads Group is responsible for having the new member fill out the Membership form and getting a copy of it to the Chamber.
  • New members to a group are not reviewed by the membership at large.
  • Each group mentor will hold an orientation for new members.

  Leads Passed to an absent member, or a Chamber Member

  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to contact the Co-Chair regarding leads you may have missed.