Hello Group,
I know that you all understand the importance of referrals and
the impact they have on all of our businesses. Yesterday I was
cleaning windows on a commercial store front and I ran up on a sweet
little referral statement from a local business. I took down the
saying and restructured it to fit my needs and promptly had it placed
on my website.
I just wanted to share it with all of you and am interested in
seeing what some of you may have on your websites regarding referrals
or that you use on invoices, business card or the like. I realized that prior
to posting this slogan/reminder that I was not pushing the envelope enough
regarding referrals. I don’t think any of us can afford to not push referrals
at every opportunity.
Here is my referral slogan:
Referrals Mean $$$ at Jencor!
Jencor has been built on referrals - They are the cornerstone of our
business. We rely on satisfied customers as the primary source of new
business. Your referrals are both welcome and most sincerely appreciated.
When you refer a customer to us you are expressing your faith and
confidence in the services Jencor provides. You can rest assured that
whomever you refer, their cleaning needs will be met exactly the way
yours were.
Ask us about how you can save money with referrals.
Thats pretty good Dwight. I might have to use something similar to that soon. I really want to start pushing our customers for referrals this next year.
I saw a line the other day for this same type thing. It was at the bottom of an email that a company sent me. I had inquired about a payroll service. At the bottom of the email read:
“The best compliment you can give me is a referral!”
I thought it was very smart. Simple. Brief. Yet to the point without any fluff.
I took down the saying and restructured it to fit my needs and promptly had it placed on my website.
Giant kudos on this. Taking what we have learned and immediately implementing it is one of the secrets to supercharging our wc businesses.
I use this right now:
[INDENT]"Can We Buy You Lunch?
Have you ever tasted the legendary pizza from
Banfi - Forest Hill Village’s best-kept affordably
elegant dining secret? Refer a friend to
Paneless Perfection Inc’s 10-star-rated services
(according to homestars.com) within 10 days of
the date on this invoice, and if they decide to
entrust us with helping them brighten and freshen
their home like you did, then we’ll happily send
you and your special someone to Banfi for a well-
deserved night out, and we’ll pick up the tab for
the first $35 for you!
Call a friend right now and start making plans to
experience Banfi in the village! Call a friend right
now, and take them to Banfi on us!"[/INDENT]
Kevin,
I did, and if my wife would hurry up and finish it, I am sure I’ll thoroughly enjoy it. I am almost ready to steal it from her. I do say, Kevin, your advice has gotten her in motion where I had troubles motivating her. Thanks for that, pal!
Right now I am reading a book on Phrases and Sales Lines. It’s got some good advice too. Can’t wait to start putting all this together.
Perfect timming on this topic, I was about to ask how you guys handle it.
I really like the idea of being referred based on my biz performance, if I did a good job and the whole experience was pleasant for the customer, and then, they refer me to someone else, that’s a touchdown for me.
I’m also aware that you need to motivate them to do so, but I don’t feel like my target market will see this very well, or even be ashamed to send us somebody and ask for a “reward”, I don’t know if this is sort of confusing.
I’ve seen tons of topics saying about don’t do certain thigs without charging for it, or is a scraper is needed is another price and stuff like that, but is THERE where I feel that I’m making a difference, taking the time to do a perfect job. I know that isn’t always cost effective, but most of the time we are talking about an extra 10 mins, it takes that little to amaze a customer sometimes.
Is cheaper to have repeat business, than looking for new customers all the time.
I’m getting started, into my 6th months, and pretty much my 1st month working on my own, no employees, so I have to proceed like I’m building the foundation of my business, which is true.
Sorry for one-more-too-long-to-read post.
I’m predicting a very interesting thread if we all colaborate.
PS BTW the back of my business card reads :
"[I] The finest compliment I can receive is a referral to your family, friends, neighbors and business associates"[/I]
I really like that! I have considered doing something similar as I already offer $10 per referral that brings me work over $150 and I have a “Referral Benefits” sheet that details exactly how it works.
But a $10 Gift Certificate to a popular lunch eatery might be more appealing as they can actually live the discount. I’m thinking now…hmmm.
As most knows, my business is focused on storefront and commercial.
I ask for referrals, after cleaning a pharmacy, I asked the owner, does he know anyone that wants their windows cleaned, and he referred me to another pharmacy of the same company.
Today, I sucessfully bid on a job that a cleaning comapny was subcontracting. After agreeing on the terms for the one location, I asked him if there are any other locations that he wants me to bid on, and he gave me a list of 6.
Like the McDonald person asking if you want fries with that, always remember to ask a new client, do they have anyone they know that would want our services. Keep asking and you shall receive!
I have considered doing something similar as I already offer $10 per referral that brings me work over $150 and I have a “Referral Benefits” sheet that details exactly how it works.
