Referrals are one of the most common ways for salespeople to generate leads and new revenue, but many struggle to do it easily and efficiently.
This is frequently because they haven’t considered why their customers should suggest them. In other words, they don’t have a referral-generating mechanism in place.
If you are curious to learn how to get referrals for jobs, scroll down as I discuss the 14 most effective methods for getting referrals!
What Are Business Referrals?
Business referral is, in short, when someone in your network promotes your company to a prospective client.
This might occur naturally during a discussion or as a consequence of deliberate referral marketing efforts.
How To Get Referrals Easily
While most sellers understand the value of recommendations, they don’t know how to use their networks to produce sales referrals on their own.
This occurs for a variety of reasons.
Many salespeople are hesitant to seek recommendations. They don’t want to come out as “salesy” or anxious for a job. It might also be insecurity; they’re unsure if they’re providing value and benefit to their customers.
If you want to know how to get referrals online, keep reading.
1. Exceed expectations
One of the most effective strategies to get recommendations for your business is through word of mouth. However, it is mostly based on loyalty, implying that it is something that must be earned.
You must delight your consumers (or potential customers) if you want them to rave about your service.
2. Add a customer loyalty program
Clients who suggest your business the most are likely to be your most loyal customers. Create a customer loyalty program that recognizes these groups and rewards them for campaigning on your behalf.
This system might be based on points, or it could be a paid membership. It might potentially include more than simply client referrals. Make sure your consumers feel valued and inspired to become loyal.
3. Retain existing clients’ interest
You should continuously invest in both your and your client’s business’s relationships, giving strategies to keep people engaged with your brand.
Customers will think of you all the time if you stay at the top of their minds.
Instead of being three months away from a purchase and still having not heard from your company, they’ll be thinking about how pleased they are, and it won’t be as difficult for them to find a connection who might benefit from what you have to offer.
4. Provide a template
It’s critical to keep in mind how busy your clients are while asking for references.
Rather than asking and hoping they would find the time, be more proactive in your approach and provide a fillable template to take care of some of the heavy lifting for them.
If your client objects to you sending it out, don’t try to persuade them. No one likes pushy people.
5. Make it possible to share the experience
Give your clients a cause to talk about your business if you want them to suggest you. You must always innovate in the area of client experience as you go about your daily tasks.
It’s likely that the solution rests in a new delivery method, going above and above on a specific job, delivering more value than you promised, or thinking of methods to make the entire process more delightful and exciting.
6. Make most out of LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one of the best sites to get referrals.
Rather than haphazardly seeking references, increase your chances of success by completing your study first.
Furthermore, you’re using a public social media platform and sales prospecting tactics to find network connections who could be interested in your offer, which means this is a cost-free means of collecting recommendations.
LinkedIn’s Advanced People Search tool makes it simple to find eligible second-degree contacts who can introduce you to your clients.
7. Start a customer referral program
Adopting a customer referral program allows your team to be proactive when it comes to gaining new references.
Since you have an orderly system in place, your consumers will notice your confidence and feel more comfortable sharing essential information with you.
8. Offer incentives
No one likes to work free, am I right?
Offer something beneficial in exchange if you want to sweeten the deal and ensure that your consumers truly scan their networks for a solid reference. Give something back to your consumers for providing you with leads.
It doesn’t have to be anything particularly expensive, just a small token of appreciation, like a Starbucks or Amazon gift card.
9. Look for ways to get a good reaction
You wouldn’t ask your manager for a raise right after you missed your monthly KPIs, so requesting a recommendation while you’re under-delivering on what you promised a client would be inappropriate (not to mention ineffective).
The best referrals occur when a consumer has had the opportunity to experience the value that you can provide.
Keeping your clients informed about the results they get from utilizing your product or service will make them pleased, and they’ll want to tell their friends about you.
10. Create a variety of advocacy opportunities
If you’re getting pushback from customers when you ask for referrals, the first thing you should do is back off and give them some space. It’s not critical that you understand why they’re declining.
However, when some time has passed, consider reaching back to them with an alternative offer to advocate for your firm without having to recommend anyone: writing a review, serving as a case study, or submitting a testimonial.
Your customer’s lower-effort behaviors will nevertheless bring prospective new leads to your organization and won’t jeopardize your connection with them.
11. Align your values with those of your clients
Before approaching your clients for a reference, do some research to find out what they genuinely appreciate. Then you can link your incentive or recognition with those ideals, and you’ll be able to show them how much of an impact a recommendation will have.
If your customers utilize your product for charitable fundraising, or if you know they’re personally or professionally committed to advocating for a cause, you may give them a gift in their name in exchange for referrals.
It’s crucial to remember that you should be authentic in your values rather than just using them to help your business.
Customers can tell when you’re faking it, and they won’t hesitate to call you out on it.
12. Act on positive feedback
You must establish yourself as referral-worthy in order to receive additional referrals.
It’s critical that you gather and act on client feedback on a frequent basis to ensure that you’re meeting and surpassing their requirements and expectations.
13. Distribute your content across different platforms
Before speaking with a salesperson, a large percentage of consumers look at three to five pieces of marketing material. This indicates that before your current leads became customers, they weren’t bashful about gobbling up all of the materials you’d spent so much time and effort putting out.
This emphasizes the significance of carefully disseminating material to ensure that it reaches qualified prospects. And, given that your potential consumers are currently using your products, including a simple ‘Share This With a Friend’ link in your automatic offer emails or on your thank you sites might help you do exactly that.
14. Refer other companies
If you ask a client to refer others to your company, they may expect you to reciprocate.
You’ll bring significant negotiating chips to the table if you offer to refer your consumers to other businesses. Customers will believe they are being fairly compensated for the information they provide.
But be cautious. When you suggest your present client to someone else, your connection with them is jeopardized. Make sure you direct them to an excellent firm like yours, or they’ll blame you for their misfortune.
Getting Referrals – Conclusion
There is no such thing as the “best” technique to obtain referrals.
The best course of action is to assess your company’s requirements and existing goals, define how you want to attain those goals, then reach out to the customers most suited to provide referrals.
Good luck with your efforts!