| Businesses that are active in their community and | | | | who are truly appreciative of your companies |
| can successfully gather referrals will prosper with | | | | performance to share it with friends. Consider |
| success. Customers who have been referred to | | | | offering a rebate on their service if they hand out |
| you are more likely to spend a greater sum of | | | | both cards. Track this by having a coupon on the |
| money than a non-referred customer. Community | | | | back of your business card and put your |
| involvement is proven to spark referrals, build | | | | customers name next to it. Tell them when you |
| your brand, add credibility and create good will. | | | | receive these coupons back you'll be sending |
| Community involvement is a powerful way to | | | | them a rebate as a thank you. To begin your |
| long term build a strong brand. Sponsor a town | | | | network program: |
| Little League team, donate to a school auction, | | | | |
| sponsor a community event, participate in your | | | | 1. Be clear with customers. Don't just ask for |
| local church, raise money for a local charity, be a | | | | them to refer you please? If you're a carpet |
| guest speaker, assist at career day in your local | | | | cleaning service ask them if they know friends |
| school! There are endless ways to get involved in | | | | whose homes are carpeted? Hand them a coupon |
| your community and the results are phenomenal | | | | and say would you mind giving this to them and |
| long term. Businesses need to be involved as it | | | | each customer we receive we'll clean a room for |
| will: | | | | free as our thank you next time out. |
| - Offer you free Press | | | | 2. Network with other business owners and make |
| - Build a loyal dedicated customer base | | | | sure to refer business to them, it'll come back to |
| - Offer you the opportunity to network | | | | you. |
| Referral marketing is much like social marketing in | | | | 3. Leverage all your other marketing sources. Use |
| that it typically won't cost you anything. Though | | | | your social media, website, mailers to consistently |
| most businesses can say they've received | | | | ask for referrals. |
| referrals, few businesses can truly say this is how | | | | Referral marketing and Community involvement |
| they build their business. Fear of asking for | | | | are not overnight solutions for growing your |
| referrals is typically the number one reason | | | | business. These are long term brand building ways |
| holding people back. Create a system to follow | | | | your business will dominate the local area. Make |
| and force yourself to follow it. Carry business | | | | your brand the first thing that comes to mind |
| cards and when you hand them out always hand | | | | when a customer is thinking of your service or |
| out 3 and ask for 2 of them to be handed out to | | | | asked if they know a business like yours. Start |
| referrals. Entice customers by sharing with them | | | | today and you'll be on your way to business |
| that you build your business by providing top | | | | success! |
| notch service and in return you ask that those | | | | |