Best Referral Programs

As Raving Fans, Your Customers Will Refer You at The Drop of a Hat

Brace Yourself... They're Coming.

Personal & business referrals are THE most powerful marketing technique available and a great business marketing idea.

And... satisfied customers are literally worth their weight in gold.

They’ll have greater impact on your future sales than any amount of marketing can do.

A referral from someone you know, trust & regard as worth listening to, is extremely valuable and damn near impossible to buy.

It gives you & your business instant credibility.

Personal Referrals.

Don’t believe me?

Most of us look for the quickest & easiest way to do anything, including buying something or looking for a particular service.

I’ll bet you do it.

I do.

If I want to buy something that I’m unfamiliar with, I start annoying the crap out of everybody I know by asking if they anything about XYZ.

I did it recently when I wanted to purchase a large screen LCD TV.

All I really wanted was one of my ‘Mr Knowledgeable’ friends to say, look Peter just buy a Sony Bravia because they’re the best and you’ll love it.

You see… instant credibility!

Definitely one of the best referral programs.

Business Referrals.

They can be natural and based on the genuine pleasure someone experienced when they purchased something.

Or.

They can be manufactured.

What, some of the best referral programs are manufactured?

OOoh!

If you convert your customers into raving fans there’s a big fat chance that each one will tell someone else.

And… if that someone is unhappy with a current supplier and just happens to hear you raving about an alternate supplier, guess who he’s likely to call.

No prizes there.

Now… we all know the facts about how many people an unhappy customer talks to (I’ve actually forgotten), and they go something like this –

• An unhappy customer will tell 12 of his/her friends or acquaintances about their bad experience.

• A happy customer will only tell 4 of his/her friends or acquaintances about their good experience.

Best Referral Programs a La Naturale.

If they receive ‘good service’, most of the time they’ll think nothing of it and they’ll say nothing simply because it’s not worth mentioning.

I’m not boring you am I?

But when they receive mind-blowing service, that’s when they start raving, particularly in business to consumer marketing.

That’s why you need to give your customers brilliant service each and every time, without fail.

Always Over Deliver… it’s worth saying again… Always Over Deliver.

Developing a strong business relationship with your customers, based on trust, respect, and honesty is the way to go.

An unsatisfied customer will be quick to spread bad news about a business.

Your customers are your most valuable asset and your best source of natural referrals.

And… once you have built a strong rapport with them, never be afraid to say –

“Excuse me old boy, do you know anyone else who could use our services?”

The Old 80/20 Rule.

“The what principal?”

Approximately 20% of your customers will generate about 80% of your sales so concentrate on the top 20% of your customers when asking for referrals.

(Or to use the Bourbon & Coke analogy... 20% of your drink is responsible for 80% of your headache)

These are your best and most dependable customers and are more likely to refer you to more high value customers.

Focusing on referrals from your top 20% of customers will be a far more productive use of your time.

Best Referral Programs – Systemized.

Yes, it’s alright to offer your customers rewards and discounts for their loyalty and referrals.

Free or discounted products and services are usually welcomed by every customer.

For example, offer a special reward for a specified number of referrals.

Ask new customers who referred them to your business and send a thankyou note to the referring customer along with a discount coupon for your product or service.

Advise your top customers they’ll receive a gift if they refer someone and the someone they referred will also receive a gift.

But be careful!

Make sure the prospective customer’s gift is of higher value than the gift your customer received.

Why?

Well I’m glad you asked.

You don’t want the prospective customer thinking the customer has received payment for introducing him to you.

Commit yourself to providing your customers with superb service, and give them more than they expect.

Make sure you supply them with excellent follow up support and provide a clear path for them to ask questions and make comments following their purchases.

Generosity, in terms of time and service, is an attractive attribute for any business.

So... what are the best referral programs?

Don’t stress about it, customers will gladly give referrals to your business if they’re confident that you’ll give their friends and acquaintances special treatment.

Modern Net-Wit:

"Life is too short to stuff a mushroom"

...............................................................Shirley Conran


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