The Secret To Getting Referrals by Wesley Murph
in Marketing / Marketing Tips (submitted 2012-02-05)
If you have any kind of product or service you want to sell, then there are many different ways to advertise your "goods".
You got:
Social Media
Direct Mail
Flyers
Radio
Internet
Etc... etc... etc.
But...
Hands down, the best way to sell more is to get referrals from your current customers, clients or patients. Everybody in business knows this. And yet, how many actually know how to stimulate referrals? How many can get a predictable number of referrals? How many do much to get referrals?
That's what we'll cover in today's article.
Give it a read if you want to know "the secret" to getting referrals.
The Secret to Getting Referrals:
Some time ago, I picked-up a client that had no choice but to grow their sales, or they were going to go under. There were a lot of reasons for their dire predicament. But the main reason was the fact that three new competitors moved to town. And each competitor was driving my client's profits down by undercutting their prices.
I don't like competing against "low priced" competitors because I feel that value is something worth paying for.
And since my client delivered more value than each competitor, I knew we could get his business back on track if we just let "new folks" know about the extra value my client offered that was worth paying for.
So what did I recommend my client do?
A number of things.
But the main piece of advice I offered, was to set-up systems that automatically asked each and every customer to refer a friend.
And a few months into doing this, my client's business got back on track.
Why?
Because his customers were the ones who knew why he was better than each of the three new competitors. And so, when they told their friends all the benefits of using my client they had major influence and credibility since their recommendation came from an independent third party.
My client couldn't believe his results either.
And all we did was set up half a dozen referral systems.
And by simply actively asking for referrals we got them.
And his business grew as a result.
Truth be told, too many small business owners make the mistake of thinking their customers, clients or patients will refer their friends, family members and co-workers on their own... without being prodded to.
This is a big referral marketing mistake.
Which would be like farmer hoping Mother Nature will protect his crops from pests.
My point?
The biggest secret to getting referrals is to implement systems that automatically ask your customers for them.
And one last thing:
If you are serious about growing your business, then more than likely all you need are a few more good ideas like the one in this article.
So ask yourself this:
Where can you turn for more good ideas like what you just read in this article?
In my humble opinion, you have to be careful where you look for good ideas because there are a lot of folks claiming to be a 'business expert'.
But:
Saying is one thing.
And doing is another.
And so...
If you connect with my style and would like more sales and marketing tips from someone who spends their own money "doing" this stuff, then take a look at my author's box below.
About the Author
Wesley Murph is the author of "The Little Black Book of Small Business Marketing Secrets: 10 Proven Ways to Add New Customers, Repeat Sales and Referrals to Any Small Business!" which includes a campaign he wrote for a client that pulled a whopping 35.7% response to an ice-cold list. And even though Wesley rarely accepts new clients, you can get more tips like the one you just read by going to...
...where you can pick-up 3 free reports including:
Report #1: The 10 Most Important Elements to a BLOCKBUSTER Marketing Campaign
Report #2: 3 Effortless Ways to Get 10 New Customers using the B.I.N. Method
Report #3: The Simple Marketing Strategy that Puts New Customers into Your Business Almost Instantly
whereby the original author's information and copyright must be included.
