Posted by Sundi Hayes in Surprise! I read your blogs. Well, I’m making my way though them anyway. I read all kinds of blogs every day. Coaching blogs of potential clients; training blogs of dream clients; speaker client blogs; blogs of coaches, trainers and speakers I’d love to be potential clients… The stalker list goes on and on.
Today, I found a post by Steve Scott, Referrals: Running your own business in a bad economy. In his post Steve says, “Small business growth and growing small business are not done by accident. They are done by design.” He followed up with the ultimate question, “How do you get referrals?”
I can’t agree more with Steve’s statements. Great small businesses don’t happen purely on luck. The deal is, the person working so hard to build a great small business loves what they do so much they don’t realize they are actually w.o.r.k.i.n.g.
So, here are my top three ways to get the easiest referrals:
Get ‘em while they’re HOT! When I client gives you a compliment immediately say thank you and ask if they know someone else who could benefit from your _____ skill.
Make an offer! Go through all the people you know and find the top two or three who have referred to you in the past or who you feel could be perfect for this opportunity. Send these three people a personal communication offering a set amount from contracts generated by their referrals for the next three months. Make the time long enough they have opportunity but brief enough to create urgency. Adjust the $ or % depending on your comfort level.
Diversify your connections! Look for individuals who compliment your service and also know companies or individuals in your niche. Make a similar offer as above or enter into a mutual agreement with them.
My most impressive referrals for my virtual assistant services have come from these three avenues. How about you – What do you do to get referrals?
Nibbling away -
Sundi
