How To Generate Referrals

    Posted by Pete Caputa on May 19, 2008 8:57:00 PM

    I was planning on writing a more thoughtful post about the different types of "inquiries" a business can generate. Incoming Leads are good. Introductions are better. Referrals are the best.

    Why? Because if a client refers you to a prospective client, your client infers that you are trustworthy and an expert at what you do. Clients have first hand experience with how you help them. So, they are in a better position to communicate that to someone. They also are most likely to recognize when your service would be useful for someone because they've experienced similar challenges that your prospective clients face. By referring you, they also are saying that what you do - works for them. They are establishing quality, service and your committment to your clients' success. All the things that prospects usually doubt until you've established those things yourself. 

    Assuming that the prospective client knows and trusts the opinion of your client, much of the hard work of overcoming skepticism, overcoming suspicion and identifying [some of] the needs of your prospective client is done. 

    Dave has a great post about what it takes to get referrals from clients.

    In my experience, it's simply a case of showing how much you care, going the extra mile, under promising and over delivering, and setting proper expectations. I think it's important for your salespeople to let their clients and customers know early on, that one of your goals is to help them so much that they feel compelled to deliver three new clients just like them. This forces your salespeople to be more aware of that goal moving forward, providing them with a better opportunity to actually get those introductions.  
    Do you get referrals from clients? Why? How? What do you do to get them? How do you go the extra mile? When do you ask?

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