Networking:

An activity by which groups of business people gather to build rapport and gain contacts, with the goal of growing one's business.

Leads Group:

An organized group of business people who refer one another to their business contacts, and who usually meet on a regular basis to exchange those referrals.

Pledge Of Allegiance:

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Our Card-Box:

"Each of our members are encouraged to keep a supply of their business cards in the card-box at all times. This box is passed around each week. Members and visitors should take anyone's card they need, and members can re-stock their own cards.

This allows our members to always have the other member's cards for handing to referrals."

Code of Ethics:

"Upon my acceptance to ABL, I agree to abide by the following Code of Ethics during the tenure of my participation in the organization:

• I will provide the quality of services at the prices that I have quoted.
• I will be truthful with the members and their referrals.
• I will build good will and trust among members and their referrals.
• I will take responsibility for following up on the referrals I receive.
• I will display a positive and supportive attitude with ABL members.
• I will live up to the ethical standards of my profession."

Elevator Pitch:

"A short summary used to quickly and simply define a person, profession, product, service, organization or event and its value proposition.

The name "Elevator Pitch" reflects the idea that it should be possible to deliver the summary in the time span of an elevator ride, or approximately thirty seconds to two minutes. The term itself comes from a scenario of an accidental meeting with someone important in the elevator. If the conversation inside the elevator in those few seconds is interesting and value adding, the conversation will continue after the elevator ride or end in exchange of business cards or a scheduled meeting.

A variety of people, including project managers, salespeople, evangelists, and policy-makers commonly rehearse and use elevator pitches to get their point across quickly."

Reality Check:

"A couple of referral slips from the previous meeting are selected, and the receiving member is asked to discuss the outcome of the referral.

It is our belief that this helps to prevent the passing of bogus referrals."

What Is A referral:

"A referral, as defined by ABL, is a person who has agreed to be contacted, or to contact, the person who the referral is intended for."

Example: Your client asks if you know anyone in real estate. When you mention that you have a very trustworthy agent in your ABL group, your client asks you to have the agent call them. Your client is now a great referral for the realtor! The realtor can now make a warm call to your client since your client is expecting, and wanting the call!

What A referral Is Not:

If someone drives past a lot with a "For Sale By Owner" sign, that is not a referral for the realtor. That would be the same as a cold call, and the realtor is perfectly able to make cold calls on his or her own.

One-On-One:

"Each member is encouraged to have a one-on-one meeting with each of the other members, usually scheduled at at a place and time outside of an ABL meeting. This gives both parties a chance to ask each other questions about their business, and to build rapport and trust.

Only through a greater understanding of each other's business, products and/or services can we become effective salespeople for each other."

Tagline:

"An often repeated phrase associated with an individual, organization, or commercial product; a slogan."

Dues:

"Our current dues are $150.00 per year, just over $10.00 per month paid annually. Your membership term will run for twelve months from the date you joined."

We Help Our Community:

"Since we are a non-profit organization we spend our money for the good of our community.

Each year, we adopt at least one under privileged family and provide them a Christmas, including gifts for the children and food for the family.

We also select at least one college student and provide them a one time $500 - $1000 gift to use as they see fit."

Quality Over Quantity:

"Some networking groups force you to bring at least one referral every single week as a requirement of your continued membership. They brag about their number of referrals generated.

If you don't have a referral a couple of weeks in a row, you might be tempted to make something up to keep from being thrown out of the group!

We understand that this doesn't help anyone. We would rather you turn in good referrals that usually result in business no matter how infrequent. As a result, the number of referrals you turn in is not tied to your membership status."

No Manditory Meal:

"Some networking groups force you to purchase a meal at each meeting as a condition of your continued membership. This often doubles the true cost of being a member of the group.

While we also meet at a restaurant, you are not required to purchase anything."

No Corporate Fatcat:

"Some networking groups are actually franchised businesses that keep some money, and pass some upstream until finally, the founder on his yacht gets his cut.

Why make someone else richer? Networking should be about making yourself more successful, and hopefully, rich.

All of our money stays in our community!"

No Exorbitant Fees:

"Some networking groups charge:

• An application fee.
• An annual membership fee.
• A weekly meeting fee.
• A mandatory weekly meal purchase.
• And some even force you to purchase "Training" materials.

That's a lot of fees!

We charge only $10.00 per month, paid annually each July 1st."

Industry Exclusivity:

"We allow only one person or business from an industry to be a member.

If you join our group as a widget salesman, you will be the only widget salesman, and all of those leads would go to you!

Check out the list on the left sidebar to see if your industry is already represented."

Seven Minute Presentation:

"During your presentation, the floor is yours. You may show products, explain services, answer questions, give demonstrations, or any combination thereof.

This helps all of our members to learn about, and trust, one another. Which in turn makes it easier to find referrals for them."