REFERRALS ON ACTIVE RAIN - NEED SOME DEFINITIONS

I'm new to Active Rain and the last two days I got three referral alerts.  One from an agent selling a house about 12 miles from my area with a referral fee of 0%.  The other two are from one agent selling two houses in an area about 8 miles from my area with a referral fee of 2%.   Both of them are seeking agent/broker.  These three properties are in the Multiple Listing Service of my local board.  Are these consider referrals? I always thought referrals are for properties out of town.  Am I wrong?   If I have a customer looking for properties in these areas, all I have to do is go to MLS.  Referral does not play a part on these scenarios.  I am acting as a cooperating agent.  In both instances, they are not referring a listing or a buyer to me.   I need some definitions so I can reply to these two referral alerts.