Getting referrals is the key of any successful business especially if you are running your own business with a fixed ad budget. If you’re not getting referrals, then you had better have an absolutely gigantic advertising budget the likes of which few business owners have, and which those who do wish they did not need to spend.

Why do you need referrals? Referrals are virtually cost free leads that are targeted to your business. The actual referral cost is little because referrals are a direct result of you providing your existing clients excellent products and service. So, the cost to your company of all of your referrals is only the money and time you spend selling to your existing customers. If your product or service is top-notch and you make your clients feel special, they will give you referrals.

Every referral you get is a lead you did not have to buy, did not have to cold-contact, did not have to qualify, and did not have to pay to advertise for. Each referral you receive has essentially been pre-sold on your service, the cost to you is zero, and you know your clients are satisfied.

It is not hard to figure out that by getting referrals, you are virally growing your business. It works just like that old TV commercial about the great hair shampoo that impressed a woman so much that she told two friendsand they told two friendsand so on, and so on

A referral is an individual who wants to speak with you. It would be a person who is set on purchasing from you, or could at least be contemplating it. It is not an individual who finds your approaching them disturbing. You do not have to spend a lot of precious time trying to qualify this person.

So, what are some of the ways that you can use to start getting referrals?

1. Simply make it a rule to ask for them. Make it a mandate at your company to ask for a referral each and every time you are in contact them, either to service them or showing them a new product. If you compose e-newsletters, have a section in there every time where you always ask them to show anyone they know who could use what you offer.

2. Always give incredible customer service to your existing clients, and always send a thank you notice every time they buy from you.

3. Keep personal relationships going with your clients. Try to acknowledge their birthdays, and reward them for remaining clients by giving them special promotional customer discounts off just released products to show them that you really care about them.

4. Exchange website links with any clients who run businesses via the Internet.

Remember, getting referrals is the way to have your business explode, and make yourself a fortune.

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Filed under: Marketing and Advertising

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