Enjoy listening to this awesome Trailblazer podcast on Spotify, featuring Caerusnet Facilitator, Wendy Caverly of Caerusnet Connections.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4yvUJ6wPdJX8gfeJZ2MC7e?si=ayxgkmtGQjGBJCsW7WU5qw
Episode Description
Pt. 1: Why is having a referral network important to all types of businesses? It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Pt. 2: What advice or what do you say to owners that focus mainly on networking events vs. joining a referral network to actually building relationships? Referral networks are not just business people. They are both personal and professional. What are some general networking tips that could help listeners get the most out of this method? Does this change if long term habits change? Pt. 3: I am sure you have heard business owners focus on building relationships with the Chamber of Commerce or even being involved in their DDA, Main Street or Convention & Visitors Bureau. These are great organizations to help grow businesses so why should a business join a regular referral group? Pt. 4: What types of industries benefit from a referral network? Why when businesses look at referrals they tend to shy away if they are a retail or restaurant business? Pt. 5: Why is the CaerusNet and CaerusNet Connections philosophy of give to get so important and so different?
For more insightful business discussions, be sure to add Trailblazer to your Spotify favorites to be informed of new additions when they happen!
people who contact me. So I’m a captive agent with some of the flavor of what an independent agency may have. It’s a very unique and fantastic operating model that allows me to help more people with their various insurance needs. I was promoted to Executive Sales Representative in 2016 and by consistently helping people I’ve been able to earn one of Liberty Mutual’ s highest honors, the Liberty Leaders Award 11 times, being one of the top 180 reps countrywide.
Share a success story about why giving referrals/bringing visitors are beneficial to you. Bringing visitors is really key as it helps the whole group especially a visitor that I already know well to introduce them to the group. If they have my endorsement it would work out for them. Timing is everything so making the opportunity available to someone to visit a meeting and check it out really makes it exciting. I’m also a basketball coach so I was talking to one of my parents who is a realtor and we had an opening so I invited him on a Monday and he was at the meeting the next day on Tuesday! I was excited that the timing all worked out so quickly and that he wants to make Caerusnet a part of his overall marketing strategy. I like that I can just invite people to the meeting, it is well run and same format each week so I know it will work for those who consistently come.
meeting is like. After the meeting I let them know that I think they would be a great addition to the group. I’ve found many of the visitors at other networking events or larger gatherings find it hard to make end roads. Caerusnet helps them make more of an impact. I’ve also found ways to create a referral by thinking about who I talked to at other networking meetings and mention that I have someone I trust and work with all the time and invite them to the next meeting. I want to be as genuine and real with people as possible…nothing fake about how I say it or how I’m trying to make the connection. I feel that if I can bring someone into Caerusnet and then they start seeing referrals happen they can really be a great member. But it has to be honest and genuine. 
Tips on how to be successful in Caerusnet? Be open and willing to get out of your comfort zone and meet other professionals who are looking to connect and have trustworthy sources to refer their friends and clients to. I also encourage people to try for themselves personally some of the services other professionals offer and see if it makes for a more solid connection and this often happens by to doing Trust Builder Meetings with each other. Always be thinking of who you can refer to each day. Keep a referral slip right by your desk so it can be top of mind when having a conversation. Also, don’t quit, show up and participate. Find common interests with others both personally and professionally. It’s a great way to make a friend and strengthen a relationship. I try hard to invite friends and people I’ve personally done business with as I know their work and the quality good job they will do.
Let’s take a moment to recognize 
an individual simply trying to make it and thrive in today’s complicated entrepreneurial vacuum.
In the not too distant past, both the Brighton Tuesday 8AM and Canton Thursday 1PM Caerusnet teams were both experiencing shrinking pains. Each team was losing more Members than they were gaining and it got to a point that it was necessary to call a “time out” from the regular meeting agenda. At one time, each team was in the mid-teens. However, each team was reduced down to a size of approximately eight Members each.
dysfunctions it created. Each Member was asked if they still had the desire to be part of an active referral team and to help it attract new Members … or if they had enough and wanted to throw in the towel.
Steve Zyskowski, Caerusnet founder and Facilitator of the two teams commented, “When teams lose a lot of Members, it can be an energy drain on everyone as it’s disappointing to see people quit. But the fact of the matter is, not everyone is cut out to make it in the world of referrals. Businesses go out of business every day. People change professional fields. Some people aren’t focused. Some people are distracted. No matter, I take what I do very seriously and am here to help teams be successful. The Members of both Brighton Tuesday 8AM and Canton Thursday 1PM all recommitted to making greatness happen.”
Members each), today both teams are fast approaching or have passed the 20 Membership size mark.
Caerusnet Michigan recently received notification that it was awarded Best of 2019 Business Marketing Services!
