Referrals are one of the easiest and most cost effective sources of new business you can get. Plus, they come in knowing just how amazing you are because they heard about you from a trusted source. Who wouldn’t want more of these great customers? To start seeing an increase in referred business, take advantage of these three prime times to seek referrals.
The best time to ask for a referral is after you’ve completed a project for your client. Not only is your client experiencing buyers’ euphoria as they ooh and aah over your work, but you’ve probably built a good relationship with this person over the past few months. That’s one advantage you have over the big box retailers; you’ve worked with your client over the course of months, while they’ve hired an $8.00/hr cashier to interface with customers for about 30 seconds each. It is at this time that your client is ready to provide a good referral, because they know their credibility will be upheld. Credibility is a huge factor in someone’s decision to refer customers to you.
Another great time to ask for referrals is, strangely enough, after a project falls through. When someone decides not to move forward with a project, providing a referral absolves them of the guilt of saying “no”. Use this with discretion, but if someone simply cannot afford your work, perhaps they have an aunt or a neighbor who can.
The third opportunity to ask for referrals is…any other time! Get involved in the community, attend conferences, and talk to local business owners, affiliated companies, and other woodworkers. Talk to the talkers, and build long term relationships. Remember, asking for referrals occasionally will only get you the occasional referral. So ask for referrals often, and make it worthwhile for the client to provide them by rewarding them with a gift certificate or discount on future work when their referrals turn into new business. This small token of thanks will be well worth it!
Have you had luck getting referrals from customers, other woodworkers, or local business owners? Share your referral triumphs and tribulations with us!
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in