HOW TO TURN YOUR BUSINESS INTO A REFERRAL-GENERATING MACHINE

Ah, referrals.

Everyone loves them.

But most people leave it up to ‘fate’ as to whether or not they receive them.

In today’s post, I’m going to be sharing 3 of my best-kept secrets for generating a steady stream of referrals in your online coaching or service-based business so you can spend less time marketing, and more time doing what you do best in business.

Let’s dive right in.

But first – a mindset shift.

You might be thinking – but Megan, referrals are something I receive – not exactly something I can create.

And you’re spot on, however, there are some key strategies we can put into action to dramatically increase the likelihood of receiving rock-solid referrals on repeat.

Here are some of my favourites:

2) OFFER AN INCENTIVE

If you want to sweeten the deal and make it a priority for others to start sending referrals your way, you’ve got to make it juicy enough for them to prioritize taking action. Remember, it’s your responsibility to make people care. 

Offering referral bonuses and incentives is a great way to encourage others to send clients your way. Your incentive could look like a 10-15% signing bonus, a fixed finders fee, an in-mail gift, or discounts and bonus access to you or your offers.

3) FORM STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Referrals aren’t limited to past and existing clients. Look for complimentary (*not competing) businesses that serve the same customers as you and partner with them to generate more referrals.

For example, back when I was working as a brand designer and digital marketer, I partnered with various digital marketing agencies that would refer clients to me in exchange for a commission on the total project value.

This worked exceptionally well when they needed work to be completed outside the scope of their current offers.

I worked under their brand, they got to serve their clients even more powerfully and I benefited from a consistent flow of referral work. It was a win-win for everyone.

Another example of strategic partnerships could look like a hairdresser leaving a stack of business cards that offer a free hair consultation at a local skin and nail bar – and vice versa.

Both industries serve similar clientele but aren’t in direct competition because their services differ.

Finally, joining networking groups and events such as BNI, and others, are also a fantastic way to drive referrals from multiple networks. This strategy can work wonders if you’re a natural networker, and I work with clients who are fully booked and actively leverage this as their core marketing strategy.

4) BE DAMN GOOD AT WHAT YOU DO

This is my little bonus tip for you. You can ask for referrals and attend networking events until the cows come home and still not receive a single client through any of these strategies.

If you want others to refer people to you – it’s up to you to be damn good at what you do.

Don’t just deliver a result – become a merchant of ‘wow’ in everything that you do for your clients and customers. Focus on delighting your clients in every way you can and watch the referrals stream into your business.

One of the best secret sauce hacks to create raving fans who cannot wait to tell others about your work is to focus on delivering an exceptional experience to your existing clients.

JOURNALING & REFLECTION

Here are some of my favorite reflection questions from today’s topic:

* Am I leveraging asking for referrals as part of my regular client-getting gameplan? Do I have a system in place to make this easy?

* What incentives or bonuses can I offer to my existing and past clients to make sending leads my way a priority for them? How will I inform them of this incentive rewards program?

* Is there anyone in my network that would make an ideal, mututally beneficial, referral partner for me? Can I set up a meeting with them to discuss logistics?

* Are there any local networking events or groups that I could join to stimulate the flow of referrals in my business?

* What are 3 little things I could tweak in my current delivery process to truly delight my clients or create a better result for them?