7 Sure-Fire Ways to Build Your Referral Business

Smiling businessman on phone

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Growing a small business is tough work, especially when it comes to marketing and sales. The sales function itself is a time-consuming process with a constant need to fill your "sales funnel" with fresh, qualified prospects. Finding the best-qualified leads from your business usually does not come from a cold contact situation, but from building a strong referral business. 

Benefits of Referrals

Referrals make sense for most small businesses for the following reasons:

  • Referral marketing reduces your sales expenses and sales cycle. With less time cold calling prospects, your small business can focus on customers and their circle of influence.
  • Referrals can build your level of satisfied customers. The cycle self-perpetuates with more satisfied customers referring others to your company.
  • Referrals increase your sales revenue. According to world-renowned sales trainer, Tom Hopkins, in "Sales Prospecting for Dummies," your closing ratio for non-qualified leads is 10 percent versus a 60 percent close ratio with referred leads.

Business referrals from word of mouth marketing are powerful and cost-effective. All you really need to create a steady stream of referrals is happy customers who feel compelled to share their experience with others.

Position Your Business

So if the prospect of building the referral end of your business is so enticing, why do so few businesses do it? Because they use the wrong approach in building referrals and have limited success. Follow these tips to ensure your business is positioned to successfully build referrals.

  1. Set a Target: In business, measure the results to improve performance. Set a clear goal with a timeline. Example, 10% increase in referral business over the next 10 weeks.
  2. Perfect Timing: Conventional sales wisdom claims the best time to ask for the referral is immediately after the close. This tactic is far too aggressive. Give your clients time to experience your service or product before asking for a referral. Ask for the referral at close only if your client is already delighted with your business.
  3. Focus on the Top 20: Not all customers are referral candidates. Find the top 20% that are ecstatic about your business and ask them for referrals. Make sure their network is the type of client you want.
  4. Give and You'll Receive: Give your clients extra service and follow-up support before asking for referrals. When you give willingly to your customers, they will return the favor.
  5. Identify the Right Type of Customer: Inform your referring clients of the type of customers you can help. Provide a clear picture of the customer demographics will help your referral marketing.
  6. Create a Rewards Program: Provide special rewards to your referring customers on a regular basis. If a customer provides you with 5 sales, offer them something special, e.g. discounts.
  7. Say Thank-You: Lisa A. Maini, President of My Marketing Manager, recommends that businesses establish trust in order to build referrals. Lisa says, "Create a basic thank you letter that can be personalized and sent to each referral you receive. Treat your referral sources with the utmost of care and you will not only build a foundation of trust but keep hot prospects coming to your door."

These tips are simple but when executed on a regular basis they can drive your referral business and build sales revenue. Start today and watch your referrals grow.