Building a Referral Machine

Building a Referral Machine

Ask any good business owner how he generates most of his business and he will instantly tell you that he does it through referrals. Ask him to explain his referral system to you and you are very likely to get a blank stare. Only this week I asked the vice president of two large companies what type of referral system they had in place. Both said, they didn抰, referrals just happen. So does death, but it doesn抰 mean you should wait around for it!
Referrals are the life-blood of any good business. There is simply no quicker way to build your customer base and increase your income than to double or triple your referral rate, but to make that happen you have to have an effective system!
Let抯 start by looking at the psychology of referrals. The first fact you should know is that contrary to what many believe, most people actually like to give referrals. There are three reasons for this:
1) The first is ego. When someone buys something new he wants his friends and neighbors to be impressed. He wants them to know what a great deal he got. When was the last time you met someone who bought a new car and told you what a schmuck they were for buying it?
2) The second reason is that most people like to feel important, they like to be the center of attention or information.
3) The third reason is that people like their friends and neighbors to share and experience the same things they do!
Many people are bashful or just downright scared of asking for a referral. They don抰 want to seem pushy, desperate or, heaven-forbid, both. While I assure you that most people really do like giving referrals, you can make the process even more painless by re-framing the way you ask for a referral.
When a parent singed up a child for karate lessons at my school, I immediately went for a referral, but rather than asking outright that the student bring in some friends, I positioned it like this. 揗rs. Smith, often when a child comes into the first class he can be a little tentative because he doesn抰 know anybody and everything is new. We抳e found that the best way to counter this is to have him bring a couple of his friends into the first class with him. That way I can guarantee that he will settle right in, and, of course, there is no charge for his friends.?
Other such conversations might be: 揥ho else at work would like to help out by sharing this opportunity with them before the prices go up??or 揅an I help anyone else in your organization save time by employing this service??or, 揥ho else can I help become a more productive part of your team??
How you phrase your request can make the process a lot easier. So too can your timing. The very best time to ask for a referral is right after you have completed a sale. This is the time when excitement and anticipation are always at the highest level.
The first commitment you must make to double your referrals is simply this: ask for them. Not sometimes, not when you feel like it, not when you are having a good day, not if you feel the prospect likes you, but ask every single time in as many different ways as you can. There are seven key groups from which you can gain referrals;
1) Ask new clients to buy again. The reason we get referrals is so that we can sell more products, right? Well, the first thing to consider before we ever work on the referral stage, is, can we sell anything else to the new client in front of us right now? A new printer to go with the computer? Or some lessons to go with the new golf clubs they just bought?
2) Ask new clients who else might benefit Even if your most recent
customer doesn抰 want to buy something else from you, it's almost
certain that he knows someone who has similar needs. Everyone is an opinion leader to some group.
3) Ask non-customers for a referral Even when a sales presentation has not been successful, there is no reason why you should not ask for a referral. Who else do you know who might be interested in a, whatever your product happen to be?" Notice that I did not ask if they knew anyone, for that almost always brings an instant NO response. I asked who else they knew, suggesting that there must be someone. It抯 a subtle difference that makes a huge difference in the response you will elicit.
4) Ask ex-customers Just because a customer is an ex-customer doesn抰 mean he or she can抰 or won抰 refer you business. Make it a point to stay in contact with ex-clients. I frequently get referrals from ex-customers who have since moved on to other things but still have friends or contacts in my industry.
5) Ask business suppliers for referrals. Remember, you buy goods and services from others. You are a good customer to someone. That someone should be glad to give you referrals. Be sure to remind your suppliers that you are always in the market for new leads.
6) Demand more referrals!
As a speaker I actually demand referrals from my clients by including a clause in my speaking contract that includes, as partial payment, the guarantee of two referrals for a job well done. Consequently I have massively increased my referral base.
7) Getting referrals from your competitors. Competitors can often be a good source of referrals. Sometimes you get a job that you don抰 want. It抯 too small or you and the prospect simply don抰 hit it off! In these cases, instead of letting the prospect bounce around to three or four more people, take the proactive approach and refer them to someone who can help them at once. They in return will refer people to you!
When a customer gives you a referral that results in a sale, at the very least, you should send him a 搕hank you?note. Every time you thank a customer for a referral, you have the opportunity to repeat the cycle by asking for another referral. Always end each 搕hank you?communication, by asking if the customer knows of anyone else who might benefit from what you have to offer.
Make it easy to get referrals
When I sell one of my audio programs I often include postcards, fax sheets or reply cards to encourage an instant response and referrals for my programs. The easier you make it for other people to promote you and your business, the more they will do it.
Referrals are the life-blood of any good business or service, but they work a whole lot more predictably and effectively when you develop and follow a system so that good leads don抰 just slip through the cracks. Oh and if you know anyone who needs sales or marketing help refer them to me!
Andrew Wood is a sales marketing expert author of; Selling With Confidence, Building A Legendary Reputation, Conquering Your Market With a One Man Army, Making it Big, Legendary Leadership, and The Traits of Champions.