Top 10: Building Your Referral Network
Become active intwo types of associations – one related to your industry, and one with a general business focus. You’ll meet experts in your area and successful entrepreneurs from all areas.
Share your knowledge freely; give presentations for a local associations. Write articles for publications that reach your target audience.
Provide referrals to not only highlight your credibility and connections, but to generate referrals from those for whom you’ve generated business.
Recruit cheerleaders – a group of friends, family members, or colleagues who not only cheer you along, but sing your praises to others they know.
Create an informal advisory board to help you plan and solve problems. They may be associates from a trade show or conference, someone you’ve volunteered with, or former clients.
Do a good job for your clients – most important of all. When you do a good job, you’ll get repeat business and new clients.
Be visible at the local level. Be active in your local business community. Volunteer for nonprofits in your field, attend Chamber of Commerce mixers, and participate in other activities.
Use technology to stay connected to your market and accessible to your customers. Voice mail, cell phones, desktop publishing, email, and the Internet can all help.
Have a backup network. If you can’t complete a customer’s work, have a method in place to handle the situation. This ensures the work is finished, and the customer will appreciate your professionalism and reliability.
Ask for your client’s business again, and suggest that they give your name to others. Let them know that you’d like to work with them again, and that you’d like more customers just like them.
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