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Frequently Asked Questions about the NECA Connection
Since the "new and improved" NECA Connection electrical contractor referral database service was rolled out in June 1999, hundreds of NECA contractors have logged on and tested the system. While all NECA members are now included in the database, some contractors find that their company does not appear on the list for a project in their local market.
- Why doesn't my company show up when I search for a project in the local area?
- How can I change the default values for smallest and largest jobs desired?
- I've changed my contractor profile and made some address and email changes online, but some of the items were unchanged when I looked again. What's wrong?
- How do I expand my geographic market area beyond my local chapter/division?
- How do I get a username and password?
- Who can view and edit my company profile information?
- Do I have to have a web site to appear in the search list?
Why doesn't my company show up when I search for a project in the local area?
There are two reasons that a NECA contractor does not appear on a search list. The first, and by far the most common, is that a project value is specified which falls outside the range determined by the smallest and largest job criteria in the contractor profile. Try searching without putting in a project value. The default values in the contractor profile are calculated from gross payroll information, and they are intended to be a rough guide to shorten the list of contractors to a manageable size list. Each contractor should modify the project size figures in their contractor profile to fit the size projects they want to be considered for. It makes sense to have the smallest job size large enough to eliminate the jobs that you would not want unless they were for a preferred customer. Hopefully, you are serving your regular customers well enough that they are calling you instead of searching the NECA Connection.
The second reason is that the class of business code selected in the search
(i.e., residential, industrial, commercial/institutional, etc.) does not
match the class of business codes in your NECA member record. Make sure
that you are searching under a class of business that you have indicated
in your NECA member survey. Changes to the codes can be requested online
by using the "Edit Address" link on the member directory search
page on the NECA "Members Only" private website.
How can I change the default values for smallest and largest jobs desired?
From the NECA "Members Only" Private Website, you can click on the box that reads "My NECA Connection Profile". The job size values are on the "Contractor Profile" edit page that you reach from this link. You can also add a description of your company that will show when a prospect clicks on your name in the search results list.
You will also find a link on the page to "Edit Address". If
you have a Website, be sure to include the address beginning with "www".
A customer searching for an electrical contractor can click on your web
address and go directly to your Website from the search results. You can't
ask for better traffic to your site than a potential customer who is ready
to purchase the very services that you have to sell.
NECA Connection profile changes (smallest job, largest job, company description, extended market areas, etc.) are accomplished at the time you make them. NECA membership staff reviews changes to your member address information before the changes are made in your member record. This may take up to five days so you will not see an immediate change online.
How do I expand my geographic market area beyond my local chapter/division?
You can change your contractor profile to include other areas beyond your local chapter and division from the contractor profile edit page. Select the states that you wish to include in your extended market area. Then select the union jurisdictions for your selected states on the screen that follows. You do not need to select the union jurisdiction of the chapter and division where you are a member, as that is your default local market area.
How do I get a username and password?
You can obtain a username and password directly from the NECA private "members only" Website. You can do this by clicking on "My Account" in the pop-out box from "Log-in" in the left-hand navigation of the NECA home page (www.necanet.org). This will take you to the "My Account" page. Then, select "New User" from the options on the page. You will need to know your company NECA Member ID number and the company telephone number that is listed in the NECA Book.
Who can view and edit my company profile information?
Only your company NECA accredited representative or such other individuals as the accredited representative designates have security access to view and edit your company information. The accredited representative may designate such security access to the company profile information by contacting Vivien Illes at NECA headquarters by phone (301-657-3110 / Ext. 621) or email (vai@necanet.org).
Do I have to have a web site to appear in the search list?
No. You will appear in the list if you meet the criteria for the search. However, if you have a website, the web address in the search list provides a hot link to your site. The NECA Connection can deliver a hot prospect to your website, but then your site has to sell them on using your company. Use your site to show how your company provides the benefits your customers are looking for. Design your site with the customers' wants and needs in mind. Its one thing to talk about quality, safety, and training; it is more effective to show how those features of your company benefit the customer. Think like a customer.