With residential customers I have always felt that if they want to refer me they will and to ask seems out of place. Kind of like asking for a compliment. Do you ask for referrals? What is your approach? What type of responses do you get from your approach? Do you find the response differs with high end customers compared to others?
I do not ask. I just practice excellence everyday and try to give every customer more than I take from them.
I leave three cards with each customer and suggest if anyone asks them about their window cleaning they pass them on.
We have streets where we literally have 15 to 20 high end customers due the these referrals.
The only way it works if if we do an excellent job everyday.
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Angie’s list seems to be a hidden exclusive market of its own.it toke bout 8 months to really pay off well. We’ve gotten store fronts, small, med, & large homes too high rise condos & commercial high rise. We’re apart on the 1% of the companies on Angie’s list that has the service award two years in a row. I treat Angie list customers like royalty & get bout 95% of all estimates @ a fair price on both sides.
that’s off-topic but for some reason came to mind to let you know. But to ask for referrals is no big deal. Just tell them if any of your friends need anything you can give them a discount next cleaning.
I usually gave the referee a 5% discount next cleaning for each referral
This is the same approach I take. I generally tell the customer here is a few cards in case they have any friends, neighbors or family members who are interested in our service they can give them our contact info. I get a lot of business off of referral so I know it is a great source of work. I am wanting to make sure I am utilizing this avenue to it’s fullest with the best approach. Thanks for the in put.
Joseph,
I have only ran across one customer who is on Angie’s list and she gave me a good review. I have not got any business from it but I have not done anything extra with it either. Are there things you can do to increase your visibility on their website?
I built my business off 15 years of referrals, I didn’t do any advertising until I built my website last year. I don’t get a disproportionate number of referrals from one specific group and I have even had them from 1X only customers. The most important thing is to try and build a personal relationship with your customers, make them feel like you’re not just another service guy working at their home, it seems people really appreciate that and they’ll call you back and tell all of their friends. Make sure you do most of the inside work while your guys do the outside stuff, it gives you a chance to network with your customers. This day in age people seem to appreciate contractors that will A. Call them back B. show up when they say C. Perform quality work D. Trustworthiness. These are some of the qualities that seem to create referrals.
Incentive is always a good approach. Gift cards in 3-4 packs , that can only be used one at a time, with a nice piece of lit to inform the to pass them along.
Get something nice nice and it’s like printing currency for your company. There are a few really creative ways I’ve heard of guys doing this. Good idea in my book.
i’m going to start using the gift card technique for referrals but with a twist that i think will really crank up the response rate. a killer referral program is the great, largely untapped gold mine that deserves more attention than it gets from most businesses.
Hey thanks for the input guys. I do get plenty of referrals now but I am narrowing down my market this year so I want to make sure I am utilizing all my sources of acquiring new customer to their fullest. I think I have enough high end customers that if I push this year with marketing I can be exclusive to this market which is what I want. I will also be targeting a specific commercial market as well. I like to get as many ideas as I can to draw from and sharpen my approach 
Caleb I completely agree. I think referrals are key in the high end market, which is why I want to refine my approach. I also think creativity is key in standing out and getting more response as well. You can dump a ton of money into marketing but why not take a little time to refine your approach and maximize your results.
you have to build your company with badass reviews from your existing customers. Angie’s list gives you printable reviews that your customers fill out and you or them mail it back to Agee’s list for an instant 50 of your most favorite customers great reviews. Then the Angie’s list members that read the reviews and that really need those reviews to hire the company they want inside their home. Just be 100% professional because you get graded on everything by the hard-core Angie’s list members. In 2 & a half years and tons of new ages list customers my company has 1-b for price category.
if you want the full lowdown just call my business partner, the 866 number below, his names Bryan. He set it up & we’re averaging bout $6,000.00 a month from the Angie lady. It’s still rising slow & steady. I’m sure it will double by fall. I love that Angie…& I’m single
Joe Thanks for the info I will look into it. MY only concern with Angie’s list would be pricing. How sensitive are Angie’s list consumers on pricing?
Bringing your “A” game every day while delivering unquestionable results.
Less than a typical customer for us. They are higher income people and looking for the best company, not lowest price (which is why they are members to begin with)
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I usually stick with the national average. Which is $11.00 something for each 1 over 1’s. Unless the job is far away, then I charge extra for the drive time. Over 90% estimates go for it.
Joe, where did the national average number come from ? I’d say it’s about right but wonder where you found the information.
responsibid sidebar?
This year I am cutting back on my marketing. Last year I spent way too much and didn’t see the results overall that I wanted. This year I am scaling back my marketing to only the higher end areas and I raised my prices to become more profitable. I am going to make more of an effot this year to ask for referrals. I have always offered a discount to clients for every referral, so their next cleaning is cheaper. This year I am going to go with gift cards and send out cards. I started out sending cards to every customer after each service and at Christmas time. I asked for referrals on every card I sent and got a fair amount of referrals. I just got lazy the last couple years and have not followed up with the card campaign. It worked well and for some reason, I got cocky and felt I didn’t need to do it. Bad decision.
I also agree that great service and getting to know your clients is a very big part or it. You have to gain their trust for them to think about referring you to their friends and family. And of course you have to remind them to refer you too.
What he said
