“If you’re being told “no” too often, join a networking chapter and surround yourself with people who can help you get to a “yes” much easier. And in sales, never stop learning.”
The following rules have been adopted from the best and most successful networking groups in the lead generation industry. Although each chapter can modify the rules for their own use, it is recommended the rules that are outlined here are used to govern your chapter. These are more than just guidelines, they represent the fundamentals of highly successful networking groups and sales departments everywhere.
Attendance for example, is critical to the health and longevity of any organization, but especially for networking chapters. If members choose not to come to meetings, they miss the opportunity to educate other members about the value of the service they provide. If that is lost on your fellow members, you will undoubtedly receive less referrals. New members also need to become familiar with what sets you apart in your product category.
Not only is attendance critical to a healthy chapter, so is the one-minute elevator pitch that every member should be delivering at each meeting. With each pitch you deliver, you are conditioning the other members of your chapter to make you “front of mind” when opportunities arise. It also provides an opportunity for you to continually perfect your elevator pitch, which is always a valuable tool in every sales person’s tool bag.
We at Wiifm NETWORKING believe that the structure and vitality of your chapter will be more solid when each member understands their role as it pertains to every other member. As a Wiifm NETWORKING chapter member, you are part of a unique community that is dedicated to helping you become more successful.
The WIIFM process will do a lot for you and the Wiifm NETWORKING chapter portal will make it easy to manage, but there can never be a good substitute for active members helping each other gain the sales success we all desire and deserve. The Wiifm NETWORKING community is powerful and the right combination of rules that govern our chapter activities guarantees our success.Whatsinitforme.com, LLC does not require that you strictly adhere to these rules, it is after all, your chapter, but we highly recommend that you adopt the rules that keep your chapter vibrant and successful. When followed, your chapter remains dynamic and fresh – and growing.
Wiifm Networking Chapter Rules:
- Only one person representing each product category is permitted to join a WIIFM Networking Chapter.
- A WIIFM Networking Chapter can consist of as many product categories as are available on the website. Multiple groups, as a part of the same chapter, may have to meet at different times, but still be members of the same chapter.
- A person can join more than one WIIFM Networking Chapter but can represent only one product category with each membership. A separate chapter membership can be for the same product category or a different category, but only one category per membership.
- WIIFM Networking chapter meetings typically run for ninety minutes and can effectively accommodate about 30 to 50members,each representing a different product category. Multiple meetings may be necessary if more product categories are represented than can be accommodated by one meeting. All of WIIFM’s product categories, represented by all the chapter’s membership will be available for referral by all other members.
- Multiple meeting sites and times can accommodate additional product categories, but the rule of only one product category being represented per chapter still applies.
Example: If no member in the Tuesday morning meeting is representing the “Telephone System for Business” category, a representative of that product category could join the Thursday morning group, yet still be a member of the same chapter. This way, members of one group can still provide APIX Referrals to all other members, regardless of which meeting they attend. This results in as many as a hundred different members who are looking out for each member’s referral needs - Members must arrive on time for meetings and stay for the entire meeting to minimize disruptions and distractions.
- A member is allowed three absences in any three-month period. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, a substitute representing the absent member can attend in his/her place (not another member of the same chapter). This will not count as an absence.
- It is encouraged that all members submit referrals to other members of the chapter. A minimum number of referrals and/or visitors will be considered acceptable to maintain membership. Chapter leadership should establish the minimum. Members not submitting APIX Referrals nullify the effectiveness of the lead generating potential of that category.
- Visitors may attend chapter meetings for two consecutive meetings before membership in the chapter is considered. A vote to allow a new member into the chapter should take place during the next regularly scheduled meeting after a potential member has attended two consecutive meetings.
- If a member application is submitted, it is up to any other member to voice an objection to the Chapter Leadership if one exists for the applying member. Objections can include: an overlap in product category between two members or reports of negative business practices that render the applicant to be “not referable.” These situations will be defined and handled by individual chapters and chapter leadership and is not the responsibility of Whatsinitforme.com, LLC.
- Any product category reclassification by a member must get approval from chapter leadership, but no member can occupy representation of more than one product category.
- In cases of conflicts with any member relating to the member’s business practices or commitment to the chapter, the Chapter Leadership may place a member on probation or suspension.
- Chapter membership rosters are not to be used by members to directly solicit other members; however, members are encouraged to do business with each other. When a member is ready to explore your services for their company, they will submit themselves as an APIX Referral.
- Any rules not covered herein, may be determined by Chapter Leadership.
ABOUT
Whatsinitforme.com is the brainchild of a career, sales professional who grew increasingly frustrated with potential missed sales opportunities that result from a lack of timely information and action. He believed that things would change dramatically if he only had advance knowledge of who in his vast territory was even contemplating the purchase of a new business telephone system. Simply put, there had to be a better way of prospecting… read more
