As a professional business person, you will need lots of referrals. Your success as an entrepreneur depends on it! Read this article to learn how to get referrals from happy clients.
If you are trying to grow your business, creating momentum is key. Creating momentum means getting more people to work with you or for you. It’s like a snowball effect that keeps rolling.
People who have used your services or products praise them to their friends and colleagues. These referrals can be via social media, word-of-mouth, or through direct contact with someone.
Business owners often forget about this important component when they are busy running their companies. They underestimate the power of referral marketing.
It’s not enough just to ask for references and take their names and numbers. You must actively listen to what others have to say about you and respond appropriately.
Referral rewards don’t always come in the form of business but instead something else such as friendship or improved working relationships. Either way, it’s worth its weight in gold.
Here are some ways to get more referrals from happy clients. Read on to learn more.
How to get referrals from happy clients 1: Personalize messages
As mentioned before, your past clients are a great source of referrals for business. But you have to remember that they will refer people to you not because of what you do, but because of who you are as a person.
So how can you get more referral business from those happy customers?
First, make sure that you recognize their accomplishments. Whether it’s writing a review or telling their friends about you, take notes!
Next, respond to them with an email thanking them for their business and mentioning some of the services you offer.
You can also ask if there is anything else you could do to help them be happier with their purchases and search for answers. If they say yes, then bypass their suggestions and come up with something new that you can add to their order instead.
How to get referrals from happy clients 2: Make them feel important
As we mentioned before, your clients will not only pay you for your services, but they will also refer you to other professionals. By being aware of this, you can start asking about referrals!
The easiest way to get referrals is by making people feel appreciated and wanted. You should never assume that someone else does enough work or that everything is okay because you’re in the market for such and such service.
If you are always checking up on others, people will begin to feel insecure. They will want to protect their turf and avoid putting out too much effort since they think you have already done so much.
Avoid acting like a know-it-all business person who has all the answers. Act as if you did not know what was going on until just now when these referrals were given to you.
Appreciation is one of the most powerful ways to gain trust and influence. Make sure to tell people how well you do your job and ask if they could recommend you to anyone.
How to get referrals from happy clients 3: Ask for referrals
Asking your clients for references is one of the best ways to get more business. Not only does this show you are interested in their success, but it also gives them the chance to recommend you to others!
As professionals in our field, we’re always looking to grow our network. People who have done work with us before will let other people know about us, which can be very powerful word-of-mouth advertising.
Their comments may range from “She’s great! I love working with her” to “He’s legit – don’t do business with anyone else.” Depending on what they say, you can decide if they’re telling the truth or not!
Closing out contracts with a referral comes with its own set of rewards. You get proof that someone believes in you enough to talk up your services, and they almost always appreciate being asked directly for recommendations.
It’s important to ask smartly though. If you overdo it by asking too frequently or using annoying language like “references,” then no one will feel comfortable letting you use their name. Try instead to ask once a month and make it sound casual.
How to get referrals from happy clients 4: Offer help
As mentioned earlier, your past clients will refer you if they feel that you helped them achieve their goals or met their needs. If someone else did something great for them, ask how you could have done the same thing and offer your services to them!
Most people enjoy being able to talk about themselves and what they’ve achieved. By asking smart questions and offering helpful advice, you can get some great referrals.
Your potential client may even leave you messages or comments telling you all of the things you did to help them and why you are the best choice for their situation.
Running an online business like yours takes time and energy. The more you do one of these two things, the less likely you are to find yourself with no referrals.
By being aware of this, you can put in extra effort to win over new clients.
How to get referrals from happy clients 5: Tell them about your other clients
It’s easy to ask people for referrals, but doing so is very tricky. If you constantly are asking others for business, they will eventually get sick of it!
So how do you stay motivated to keep seeking out new clients?
By telling yourself that this time you WILL earn their referral if you truly put in the effort.
Your colleagues and friends who know you well can be great allies in helping you achieve your goal. They may even offer you some tips or tricks to better help you win over more potential clients.
Thinking of ways to gain referrals from happy clients is an excellent way to boost your self-confidence and motivate you to continue working hard.
Ask for their opinion
Asking your clients how they enjoyed working with you is a great way to get referrals. When done properly, this can work in multiple ways — from getting testimonials, to finding out about new services or products that they use.
Ask your clients direct questions such as “What are some of your favorite things about our relationship?” or “What could we have done better?” This is also an excellent opportunity to tell them about the changes you made that helped make their project successful.
By asking these questions, you give your client the chance to talk about you without being asked directly. Plus, you learn more about what makes them happy which helps you cater to similar people in the future.
Ask how they found you
When someone tells you who their favorite photographer is, or who helped them feel more confident with his or her skills, it’s an excellent opportunity to ask for a referral.
By asking around, you’ll learn some key information that can help determine if you are truly making a lasting impression or finding true success in your business.
People often talk about others they know and what services and people have worked for them, so by asking away, you may be surprised at the level of detail you get!
If you’re looking to take your photography career to the next level, creating a strong community surrounding you and yourself is crucial. People will share tips and tricks along the way as they see you growing and changing.
Give them credit
As mentioned earlier, your past clients are a great source of referrals for new business. But you have to know how to ask about their experiences with you!
Ask if they would recommend you to others or tell them all about what you did for them. If they mention someone else they feel your skills match, ask if they know that person well and whether they trust them.
By asking around, you’ll find out some incredible things – like how you can connect them to the right people, or what services/products they need help promoting.