The best ways to ask a client for referrals

Lewis Sanders III

One of the easiest ways for a business to get new and loyal customers is through the age-long method and most basic form of marketing: referrals.

Referrals are, no doubt, one of the most powerful selling tools and least expensive methods of gaining new customers. Based on the Wharton School of Business, a customer referred tends to cost a lot less to acquire and has a far higher potential for retention and loyalty.

However, as powerful as referrals can be in bringing in new customers, most business owners don’t go out looking for referrals from their existing customers instead they believe that “their works would speak for them.” This method, though it works sometimes, it should be noted, is a very passive way to get new customers, especially in this current economic situation.

Business owners have to break the ice and take charge of asking their customers to help them spread the words about their products and services.

In this article, we would identify ways you can ask a client for referrals without being pushy or making it sound awkward.

BUILD VALUE

Before you can ask for referrals from your client, you would need to have built value over a consistent period with the client. You shouldn’t ask a new client to refer someone to you immediately when they try out your product or your service. Instead, you can create value for the clients by allowing them to experience an unparalleled level of services with you.

That way, it would be quite easier to ask the clients for referrals, and they would be glad to oblige.

ASK FOR REFERRALS PHYSICALLY

Where it is possible, you should ask for referrals from a client physically because people are more likely to do something for another person, especially if the person is standing in front of them. Also, you would gauge their responses better than when requesting for a referral over a phone call or even over a mail.

However, in situations where you can’t be physically present, then you can still request for referrals over mails or phone calls.

PERSONALIZE YOUR REQUEST FOR REFERRALS

For people or businesses who might be unable to meet their clients physically to request for referrals, the next best option you have would be to personalize your referral request with each client. These might mean you have to send a direct email or a personalised message or even place a call through to them.

The reason you would be doing the above is to avoid your referral request sounding bland, broad and generic. Referral request of this type mostly don’t achieve their aims.

USE INCENTIVES

Everybody loves to be gifted. You can tap into this by offering either monetary rewards or gift items for every successful referral each client can get for you

The incentives do not have to be overly expensive; it could be something simple and classy. All you are doing by using incentives is to thank them for referring more clients to you.

FOCUS ON YOUR STRONGEST RELATIONSHIPS

One rule of thumb to apply when requesting for referrals from a client would be to ask for referrals from clients who you have built a strong professional relationship with.

Clients like these are the ones who might have indicated they enjoy working with you or the ones who were extremely pleased with the level of your work when you worked with them.

A client in this class would be glad to help you bring in new customers so that others may experience what they have experienced too.

Reference:

https://thrivehive.com/word-of-mouth-marketingideas-and-examples/ https://blog.hubspot.com/service/how-to-ask-forreferrals https://referralrock.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-referrals/

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