Most small business owners have a developed strategy of growing their businesses through referrals. It is the best channel to explore and focus on for credible business growth, but needs to be worked, just as any other marketing campaign.

We have some options for a referral campaign:

  1.  Do nothing and hope that someone will talk about us.
  2. Ask each customer for a list of names that you can use to do warm calls
  3. Provide customers with flyers and business cards to hand out when they see a good referral opportunity
  4. Offer cash-back options or recognition for successful referrals
  5. Develop a MLM strategy that builds wealth for those in the referral structure

No matter what your strategy is for referrals, the following rules apply in order to attract attention and remain top of mind in your customers conversations.

  1.  Show up on time, all the time
  2. Do what you say you will do
  3. Complete what you start
  4. Say Please and Thank-you
  5. Be honest at all times
I like to add one for the people in Johannesburg: Smile and look me in the eye when you talk to me and I may just remember you.