Building A Referrals Strategy For Quality Lead Generation

So have you a referral strategy in place? There are many tasks involved in building good referrals for your business – but ultimately there is only one key reason why someone would even consider referring you…

You Provide A Quality Service or Product

If you are confident that your products or service are good quality, provide value for money or solve a problem effectively then you will no doubt have a happy following of clients who appreciate your business. Knowing this these people would no doubt refer your business to a friend should the opportunity arise.

Ensure your product or service is consistent to ensure clients are constantly happy. This way you will build an army of sales people.

Give Them A Nudge

So you know that your clientbase are happy, they’ve told you and you have even used their testimonials in your marketing  – so what can you do to nudge them into referring your business?

Stay in Touch

Your client may not always need to buy from you, so they only see your business when they need it – so make sure you stay in their minds. Attack them subtlety from every angle. Include them in regular email mail outs, direct mail campaigns, send them greeting cards on special occasions – or even their birthdays. Why not fill their desk with branded merchandise – so everywhere they go they see your branding – mouse mats, mugs, pens, desk pads. if you can think of something unique that maybe useful to them (and affordable to send out) then get it branded. The more you are in the thoughts they will remember your business when in conversation.

Dangle the Carrot

If you want to ensure that they are referring you – give them something in return. Can you think of an incentive to encourage more referrals? Maybe it’s cash, vouchers, discounts or promotions that can be used against your business or maybe other well known businesses or shops. What about a competition – Win a holiday, win a car, win iTunes vouchers, win a Christmas hamper – the list could be endless. If you know your client base, then you will know what would interest them to give them the possible push they need to making that vital referral.

Remember, it costs money through advertising usually to attract a lead, a referral is free – however knowing what the referred lead could be worth to you – it’s definitely worth rewarding the referrer.