In my http://www.InstantReferralSystems.com program I teach that, if you're doing things right, you should be getting 90% of your referrals through complimentary businesses.
That confuses a lot of people because when they think of a "referral" the first thing that pops into their mind is their customers.
But truth be told, it's difficult to get referrals from your customers.
Here's Why It's Hard to Get Referrals from Customers
The truth is that it's easier to get referrals from complimentary businesses than your customers.
Why?
Reason # 1
Because it's very difficult to motivate a customer to talk about you...even if they're in love with your product or service. They're just too preoccupied with other important things.
Reason # 2
It's difficult to set up a "system" with a customer to continually get referrals.
It's much easier to get referrals from complimentary businesses because businesses are very "systems" oriented, meaning that they often do the same thing, the same way every time - - but people don't.
So it's easier to insert a referral system into a business process than into a person's life.
NOTE: I didn't say that it was impossible, just a bit more difficult.
Here's a Real Live Example of What I'm Talking About
Perhaps the biggest untapped source of referrals comes from non-profits organizations and charities.
You see, charities have two big problems.
Problem # 1 - They need publicity.
Problem # 2 - They don't have money.
BUT, charities usually do have one BIG asset - - they have a loyal group of followers who will do almost anything to help out.
That's an opportunity for you.
Do you remember a couple of articles back in which I showed you how a local apartment complex did a joint venture referral deal with the local Papa John's pizza restaurant?
If not, here's the link to see the pizza box and flyer.
http://url123.com/hzb36
(copy and paste link into your browser)
Well, this same Papa John's manager approached each of the local elementary schools and proposed a joint venture referral program.
The manager positioned the referral program as a fundraising effort for the local schools.
(Remember, non-profits need money!)
The Papa John's Pizza Night Referral Program
The manager proposed that each elementary school circulate a promotional flyer to all the parents of the students.
The flyer presented the family with several great pizza dinner offers and promised to give 20% of the proceeds to the elementary school.
The offer was good for a specific day.
Would you like to see the flyer?
Here it is...
http://url123.com/h3ny7
(copy and paste link into your browser)
Papa John's was flooded with a huge amount of business during these promotional days (My family contributed to that day's sales).
Why Was This Referral Promotion Successful?
This promotion was a huge success because it was a win-win-win for everyone!
1. The elementary school won because they got free money.
2. The student's families won because they got a great deal on a pizza dinner.
3. The pizza business owner because they got a load of business and a bunch of new customers.
That's the mark of a WINNING REFERRAL SYSTEM!
Winning referral systems produce positive results for everyone, which in turn, motivates complimentary businesses (in this example...a non-profit) to participate in your referral program.
How hard do you think it was to get the local elementary schools to participate in this program?
Probably not very hard at all.
They knew they had a need (money.)
They saw the opportunity.
They signed up.
What Is Stopping You From Taking this Same Referral System and Applying It to Your Business?
Every single day I get emails from people who say to me, "David, will your Instant Referral Systems program work for my particular business?"
My response is always the same.
"It depends."
"Do you have the ability to look at a referral system that's working in another industry and modify it to work for your business?"
If so, then you'll find at least 40-50 referral systems in the http://www.InstantReferralSystems.com program that will work for your business.
If you can't take off your "My business is different" blinders then none of them will work for you.
The fact is, just about any business could use the referral system that I showed you today in some way, shape or form.
You don't have to do it with elementary schools. There are plenty of other non-profits out there that would jump at the chance to partner up in a referral program with you.
And there are even more complimentary businesses that don't compete with yours that would also like to do a joint venture referral program with you.
______________________________________________________
Would You Like to Discover More Unique Referral Strategies Like The "Papa John's Pizza Night" System?
______________________________________________________
This is just one of over 105 referral strategies that I
explain in detail in my best selling Instant Referral
Systems program (http://www.InstantReferralSystems.com)
If you want to triple the amount of referrals you're
currently receiving and you...
...hate imposing on your good customers who have become
your personal friends.
...feel like a multi-level marketer begging friends and
family members for the names and contact information of
their close friends.
...get tired of trying to memorize silly referral
scripts to manipulate your friends.
...dislike the embarrassment and shame you feel when
being rejected.
...get sweaty palms and a sick feeling just getting up
the nerve to ask for a referral...
...then you probably should take a few moments to visit
the http://www.InstantReferralSystems.com to see what
it's all about.
To your success.
Papa Johns Pizza Night Referral System - To learn more about this author, visit David Frey's Website.
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David Frey
(Visit David's Website)
David Frey is the author of the
best-selling manual, "The Small Business
Marketing Bible" and the Senior Editor of
the "Small Business Marketing Best
Practices Newsletter
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