Here’s the truth about referrals: Nobody normally wants to ask for one because it can be rather awkward. Fortunately, there are a few ways to get around that.
Here are a few tips on how to get more referrals for your small business without really asking for it.
Give away gift cards for new customers
After or selling your product or completing your service with a customer, send them a thank you package that includes:
- A handwritten thank you note
- A small token (e.g. candy, corporate giveaways)
- A new customer gift card (e.g. $10 discount)
The gift card should be clear that they’re only for new customers. This enables existing customers to introduce you to other people. At the same time, your customers get something to give away for free.
Best of all, this is a way for you to get more referrals without asking for referrals.
Offer a new customers discount via email
Building off on the physical gift cards idea, you can email existing clients after they buy your product or service. In the email, you thank them and give them a discount for new customers.
Say something to the effect of:
“As a thanks, we wanted to provide you with a free gift that you can share with your friends and family, and it’s a new customer discount!
Just forward this email along to anybody who might be interested in our products or services and we’ll honour this new customer discount.
This email will give more customers an opportunity to share while helping out friends or family. It’s essentially a free gift card, but without the physical component.
Share the gift card on social media
This uses the same gift card idea for new customers, except you share it on your company’s social media. To widen your post’s reach and get more referrals, tell your followers that if you share your gift card with their friends and family, you’ll give them one as well.
All you have to do next is track the campaign, then send a direct message with your coupon code to anybody who shares it.
Use a platform that can handle referral programs
What use is an referral program online if you don’t have a platform that will help you manage it? You’ll need a few basic features like:
- Email automation
- Social media scheduling
- Customer relationship management
- Discounting and payments
- E-commerce
Develop a community of devoted fans
The most effective way to get more referrals without asking for them is to provide an outstanding customer experience that people will never forget. This means you should have:
- A high quality product or service; and
- Great customer service.
Having these elements will win over fans. The more ardent fans you can amass, the more people they’ll tell about it. Because people want to tell others about great brands and their positive experiences.
Some added benefits to a great customer experience:
- Having repeat customers, which will increase your lifetime value per customer.
- A return on investment in your marketing.
Bonus tip: Delegate to high performers
Producing a great product or service, providing stellar customer service, and growing a large fanbase aren’t outcomes you can achieve by yourself. It takes a team of top talent to make it happen.
Remote Workmate can help you with that. We form and manage cost-effective, high-performing virtual teams, so you can focus on what you do best. We do this by:
- Evaluating applicants via a gauntlet of exams.
- Endorsing to you the best ones.
You simply interview the candidates and ultimately choose your Workmate.
Contact us and let’s talk about your startup’s needs.
