Ask For A Referral – An Incentive Can Help!
Asking for a referral is a good way to get more customers.
A referral, in marketing terms, is the act of someone telling another person about the great (hopefully!) features of your business or products, or indeed about your good self.
A referral is someone telling someone else how good your business or product is, and hopefully passing on your contact details, so they can contact you, look at your website, Facebook page etc to buy your goods or services.
If someone you know and trust tells you that they have brought your blue widgets before and they are great, if you are looking to buy some blue widgets you will most probably be more inclined to have a look at the blue widgets your friend has told you about and buy them.
A referral often pre sells the goods or services referred to. An easy sale for you!
Who should you ask to give you a referral?
Anyone – if you do not ask you do not get! That is not strictly true to be honest, you ask someone that knows you or has previously enjoyed your services or products in the past.
Friends and family are a good source of referrals to start with – if they like you and you get on with them! If they hate you or have had a bad experience with you, they might not give you a good referral!
Current and previous customers that have brought your products or services in the past – if they have has a good experience they may well be willing to give you a referral.
Current and past colleagues you have worked with – they usually like to help mates.
Offer An Incentive For A Referral.
If you offer an incentive for a referral, this might encourage people to make referrals to you.
Below is an incentive used by Vistaprint
Although this is not strictly a referral, offering a discount or bonus to someone to either forward on your details , or provide you with their details so you can make them an offer they can’t refuse, is a great way to potentially increase your customers and sales.
Asking for referrals can be an effective and cheap way to increase your customers and sales – give it a go and let me know how you get on.