You have a business; unfortunately, you don’t get referrals. Maybe your customers find it hard to pinpoint one particular service they can remember when talking to potential referrals.
You must ask yourself, “Are you offering spaghetti or meatballs?” When someone asks what your business offers, are you giving them a lot of non-memorable noise, or are you pinpointing something you know that they, in particular, will remember? I want to help you leave a mark when explaining your services to your clients and targeted audience.
Once you have figured out how to leverage the meatballs and not the spaghetti to get referrals, here are additional tips on how to get referrals online and offline so you can experience a steady influx of qualified leads.
Understand the Power of Referrals
Referrals come from satisfied customers who trust your products or services enough to recommend them to others. When someone you trust refers a product to you, you are convinced it will give you the desired results. These word-of-mouth recommendations have a higher chance of conversion as they come from a trusted source.
Providing quality services is a sure way to have existing customers talk about your business whenever an opportunity arises.
But you shouldn’t rely on word of mouth alone; instead, make a conscious effort to tap into your referrer’s social circle for a higher ROI. Let’s see how.
How to Get More Sales Referrals
Here are tips to help you get more referrals fast:
1. Provide Exceptional Customer Experience
As a local business owner looking to rise above your competition, ensure your company:
- Provides outstanding service to your customers
- Actively listens to customer feedback and addresses any issues.
Go above and beyond to leave a lasting impression and increase the likelihood of receiving referrals.
2. Implement a Referral Program and Offer Incentives
Implementing a well-designed referral program will turn your existing customers into brand advocates, actively promoting your business. An effective way is by offering incentives to the referrer and the referred customer. Whether it’s a discount, reward points, or exclusive benefits, ensure the incentives align with your target audience’s interests.
3. Leverage Social Proof
Do you have a social media presence? If you don’t, then it is time you did. Social proof is a powerful tool for generating referrals.
Social media can be your “marketplace,” where you can show expertise in your niche. How can you leverage it to your advantage?
Well, display customer testimonials, case studies, and success stories on your social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and your website.
These provide evidence of your credibility and the value you bring to your customers. Additionally, encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on popular review sites, as positive reviews can attract new prospects and drive referrals your way.
4. Cultivate Strategic Partnerships/Give Referrals
Collaborating with complementary businesses can open up new referral opportunities. Identify non-competing companies with a similar target audience and explore partnership opportunities.
For instance, if you are a wedding photographer, partner with a wedding planner or a bridal boutique and can benefit from each other. By recommending each other’s services, you tap into a larger network of potential customers.
5. Offer Sharable Content
Have unique sharable content to make it easier for your referring clients to share with their business networks. Keep sharing valuable content so your customers can always have you on their minds.
- Organize webinars and seminars on your niche
- Post useful blog posts
- Have live Q&A sessions on your social media networks
6. Stay Connected and Engage with Your Network
To generate referrals, stay in touch with your referrers, industry peers, and other professionals through regular communication channels like newsletters, social media, and networking events. Engage with their content, provide value, and be genuinely interested in their success.
7. Ask for Referrals at the Right Time
Your customers have their schedules and system for how they do things. You also have a laid-out procedure for how you do things. So when asking for referrals, choose the opportune time to do it.
It is inappropriate to ask for referrals when your company is restructuring or when presenting an invoice to them. A suitable time is when there is good news, such as discounts.
8. Don’t Insist
If a client is not warming up to the idea of referring customers to you, respect their decision. A negative past event could make them uncomfortable sending referrals. Continue offering top-notch services, and maybe they will refer someone because they genuinely want to.
9. Thank Your Referral Sources
In addition to offering incentives to your referrals, you can go a step further and thank them personally.
A personalized video or email message to your referrer will have a more positive impact since they will feel you value their efforts and leads.
10. Make Your Business Remarkable
Are you wondering about how to get referrals without asking? One way is by making your business outstanding by offering what your competitors aren’t. Inspire confidence by providing top-notch services and valuable information in your blogs, ebooks, and social media content.
11. Act on Feedback
Another way to get referrals online is by acting on feedback. The internet has made sharing information easy and fast. Ensure you are alert on what goes on in your company’s socials. Check whether clients are complaining or are happy with your services.
How you answer negative comments or feedback will also either break or build your company’s reputation. So, always act fast and strive to professionally answer your clients’ questions or concerns. When it gets overwhelming, you can use the services of social media managers to keep tabs and update your followers.
12. Let Them Feel Like Partners
Learn how your client uses your product or services and offer more of the same. Let them know you heard them and they are the reason you’re offering more. This way, they feel like partners and not just clients. They will also warm up to referring more leads your way.
Conclusion
Referrals can be a great way to get warm leads and drive sales in your company. Although you may be focused on marketing your business using sponsored ads, you should not neglect the power of referrals, as it is one of the best ways of getting new customers without spending money.
Start implementing effective strategies such as a referral program, providing exceptional customer experience, leveraging social proof, cultivating strategic partnerships, and staying connected with your network. And watch as your business experiences substantial growth through the power of effective referral strategies.
At SwingPointMedia, we help businesses by creating engaging content that increases social shares and engagement. Contact us today to learn more about how to increase your referrals through content creation.
SwingPointMedia
Local businesses, especially the ones that are maybe too small to be managed by a marketing company, often struggle to be found by new customers on the internet. SwingPointMedia recognizes this and has created a podcast for local businesses, sharing strategies and tactics that can be applied to help you grow. In addition, SwingPointMedia offers affordable guidance and coaching to local business owners who want or need to “do it themselves” with a goal to reduce and eliminate wasted time and money chasing the wrong “best strategy” for your business.
Want to learn more? Contact us today – Jeff@swingpointmedia.com