When starting a business, one of the most important factors one has to consider is how he or she is going bring in customers. In this article I will list my top five ways to implement referral based marketing into your arsenal. Once armed with this knowledge plus the many other articles spread around this website you will be able to bring in clients at will.
You want to pre-frame them into accepting offering up referrals as part of your commitment to each other.
This should be stated in a way that explains how and what you will do for them and when the client is sufficiently satisfied they will refer persons or businesses back to you.
Concluding this first way is to have the personal promise to ones self that you will in fact provide nothing but excellent service thus almost requiring a client to refer a customer to you. If you don't know how to get tangible results then it may be time to reevaluate the business that your in.
2. While prospecting for new clients make sure to target ones with some of the same character traits that best fit you. You do not want to accept just any clients. If you have impeccable service then you must demand that you have the most qualified clients as well.
Speaking along the same lines of having business referral program ideas in this discussion, you will want clients that share the same traits this can also be done by contacting your existing clients and set up what is called advantageous pricing for them if they refer qualified individuals your way. Say $100-$200 off the next monthly bill.
Depending on the price point of your products or services is. Just what ever it is make sure you are not taking too large of a hit and know your closing numbers. It will be easier to clearly make those numbers work for you.
3. Join affinity groups or approach closely related businesses that come into contact with your best matched referral. For me, as an internet marketing specialist I work closely with web designers and new business groups. You see, you cut through half of the population and get closer to those who can help you. I would sit down and simply jot out all the complimentary businesses that surround your potential clients. Then figure out how to approach them and offer them truly beneficial way's you can help them otherwise this method will bring in very few results.
If you can become just a little savvy when it comes to bringing in referrals, you will be able to see how much time and marketing budget dollars it will free up. As you can see referral program ideas are not that hard to come up with.
4.In fact that is one of the main selling points I use. If a client of mine is hesitant to offer referrals then I know I can tell them “look, my business is mainly word of mouth and without me having to spend most of my hours of the day trying to acquire new clients, I am able to offer my self and time up to you the paying customer. Which in turn let's me provide you with more value and ultimately more profits.”
By nature us human beings are only interested in what's in it for us and if you can show the client the benefit in them taking action, then the whole process becomes much easier.
Putting together a comprehensive referral based marketing machine is a process that should not just be glossed over and attempted to be implemented. You must sit down and really think about how you can get business referrals and lead your client to them by the easiest means possible.
5. One final suggestion I have is to dig into your perfect customer for them. Many times people will want to sincerely help you and offer up referrals but they simply do not have the time and it is often awkward if the subject does not come up for someone looking for a service you may provide.
Here is an example of how you can take this idea and put it to good use. Head to a local office supplies store and put together a simple 8″x10″ laminate card with your preferred professions on it and see what happens. You can also offer with that a small sheet of paper for some contact information to be provided.
There are many ways to get the ball rolling when it comes to business referral programs and you just have to provide turn key systems that will let them refer to you without having them think to much about it. When I was just getting started with my business this is what I had to do.
And now even though I have a solid business running I do not stray away from getting referrals as it is the best way that I see to get business. Unless you are stuck on a deserted island and the only time you get into contact with others would be to advertise in a paper on the next island, I would still put in place several ads speaking about half priced offers for referrals and things of that nature.
I want to get rid of the negative connotation that comes with asking for referrals. Switch your mindset and just offer tremendous value in order to get those new customers in. New customers or clients often means new revenue sources and the ability to up sell them later on in the relationship.
Some of the best idea's for referral based marketing come from the great marketer Jay Abraham and I would advise any serious business owner to head over to his website as he has plenty of free resources that would help you immensely.
In closing I see business referral based marketing as the only way to get started on a shoestring budget. Even existing businesses can benefit from this method if they have not implemented it yet.
Now if you need help with your referral program ideas check back to this website from time to time.