Getting referrals from customers is one of the key components of growing your business. After all, you can’t reach every potential customer by traditional advertising means; sometimes, you have to rely on word-of-mouth marketing and brand evangelists.
When you get more referrals from happy customers, you get more business. That’s how it works. More people talking about your business to their friends, family, and people they meet on the street increases your business’s reach and gets your name swirling around in the heads of potential customers.
But how do you get more referrals? Do you ask people to tell others about your business? Do you wait for them to do it themselves? Turns out, there’s no solid answer to getting more referrals, and reaching more people comes from a mix of telling people yourself and waiting for others to do the referring for you.
If you need some tips on how to get more business referrals, we’ve got a great list of a few things that you could be doing better in order to get high-quality referrals!
It’s Okay To Ask
You might think that it’s a bit weird to ask people to brag about your company to others, but it’s actually not as awkward and unprofessional as you might think. I’m sure you’ve been on Facebook or Twitter before and seen a business say “Like and Share our post!” They aren’t holding a gun to your head, forcing you to do what they request; they’re suggesting it. You have complete control over whether you share the post with your followers or not.
Similarly, when you tell a satisfied customer to “let your friends know about us!” you’re not being pushy. The customer has complete control over their decisions, and if they like you and what you have to offer enough, they’ll be more than willing to refer others to you! This type of self-promotion is advantageous to your business. But remember to never cross the line between self-promotion and self-indulgence.
Know When To Ask
I think there’s an old Kenny Rogers song that goes “You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em”… anyway, this strategy rings true for referrals as well. If you’re going to ask a customer to tell others about your business and help spread the word, you have to wait until the right moment. Did you recently help a customer find exactly what they were looking for, or just got a positive review from someone? Then it’s the perfect time to ask. Did you accidentally overcharge them for a product, gave them bad customer service, or something else that would upset a customer? DO NOT ask them to refer you to others. The only thing you’ll get is an even more upset customer.
Listen To Feedback
Do you listen to feedback? I mean, do you REALLY listen to feedback? If you do, then you’ll know that people have very strong opinions about your business, both positive and negative.
The best way to gauge how people feel about you, and if they’re likely to be a good referral partner, is to do online surveys. Whether that’s through Google Forms, SurveyMonkey or some other survey tool, it’s important to gather, and pay attention to, feedback. These surveys let you know if you’re meeting customers’ expectations, and if you’re on the right path to getting more referrals.
Go Above and Beyond
Customers don’t want you to just do the minimum amount necessary to earn their approval; they want you to “Wow” them. If you “Wow” your customers, you’re more likely to increase your word-of-mouth marketing, that is, people telling other people about your business. And isn’t that basically what a referral is in the first place?
You want to impress your customers to the point that they’re willing to go out and tell others about your business.
You can also add incentives, such as discounts and prizes, for current customers who refer your business to someone they know. It’s the simple things that lets customers know you really care about making them happy.
If Asking Isn’t The Answer, Let Your Business Speak for Itself
If you feel like there’s no need to tell your customers to spread the word about your company, then congratulations, you’re already succeeding at earning more referrals! You’re on the right path to success.
You see, when people really, truly believe in your business, they are more than willing to brag about you and let others in on what they might consider “their little secret.” It makes it seem like they’re getting insider information on a hot new company that’s destined to skyrocket in popularity in the future.
This is where you get what’s know as Brand Evangelists (no, I’m not talking about Joel Osteen here). A Brand Evangelist is a super loyal customer, who enthusiastically tells others about your business without you ever having to suggest it. They’re your most powerful referral tools because they do the work of spreading the word about your business with no incentive other than they love what you do!
Getting more referrals is essential to flourishing as a business owner. Make sure you’re always listening to your customers and learning what’s important to their needs. Before you know it, you’ll have a whole army of loyal customers who take pride in being able to tell others about you!
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