In today’s fast-moving world of small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, one thing remains true: word-of-mouth is still one of the most powerful forms of marketing. Referrals carry built-in trust and credibility, making them a quiet but powerful driver of bookings and sales.
Now, let’s dive into the power of referrals—and how you can turn them into consistent, repeatable growth for your business.
By the end of this, you’ll walk away feeling like a smarter, more confident business owner, better equipped to implement systems that actually bring in more bookings and sales. Not a bad way to end your day, right? So grab your go-to beverage, and let’s jump right in.
Why referrals matter ☝️
Referrals are not just warm leads; they are a testament to the satisfaction of your existing clients. Consider this: According to a Nielsen survey, 92% of consumers trust recommendations from friends and family over any other form of advertising. Referrals carry a unique weight, providing a genuine endorsement that money can't buy.
Asking for referrals ❤️
Timing is key: Request referrals shortly after you finish delivering your service or your client purchases your product and enjoys the benefit of it. Don’t wait too long to ask.
Be direct and specific: Clearly express the type of clients you are looking for in your referral ask.
Offer incentives: Consider rewarding your clients for successful referrals to create a win-win situation.
To keep things simple for you, I’ve gone ahead and shared the exact referral request email/message I send out to happy clients when requesting referrals.
Be sure to adapt it to fit your personality and business:
Remember, a well-executed referral strategy can substantially impact your sales. In fact, a study by Goethe University revealed that referred customers have a 16% higher lifetime value.
Reach out to past customers 🤝
I recommend reaching out to each of your current and recent past customers with the messaging in that template. Just pick whichever platform makes the most sense, whether it’s email or a social media platform.
Note: You’ll notice in the previous template that I financially incentivize people to make referrals to me. That’s not necessary and may not make sense for your business, but if it’s something you can offer, I definitely recommend it.
Here’s a link that can help you in scheduling those appointments with clients and customers:
👉 Get your free 14-day trial of Book Like A Boss
The evening read 📖
Normally I share a few links with you here focusing on different perspectives of my weekly topic. But today I’m sharing just one link - a post I highly recommend you read when you’ve got a few spare minutes.
I’m not interested in sharing extra fluff for the sake of fluff. If something is valuable, I’ll share it with you. If it isn’t, it gets the axe.
Kirsty Sharman, the founder of Refferal Factory outlines quite well in his LinkedIn post why referrals are paramount for your business.
Nuff’ said.
That’s a wrap 👊
Referrals are the backbone of my favorite type of marketing: word-of-mouth. Referrals has been the largest generator of new sales and customers, propelling my growth to over 60,000 people and growing.
And with zero startup cost involved, just a cup of coffee and an hour or two once-per-week, you can quickly get started reaching out to current and past customers to draw in a few new customers for your business, plus reward those who support you.
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