When you run your own business, whether it's as a lawyer in Toronto or a caterer in Halifax, you need to get used to asking other people for help and support. No one can run a successful business in a vacuum, because everyone needs customers and clients. One of the best ways to generate new business is to ask for references and referrals from your current clients. Here are some tips on asking for references and referrals, info on why they're important, and instructions on what to do with them.
So why do you need references and referrals? Because they're cheaper and more effective than advertising. People inherently trust their friends and relatives, so if someone they know tells them about a Mississauga airport taxi, that's the one they're going to hire. They're not going to research and compare. They'll go with what they know. Even using testimonials in your ads is effective, because when it comes right down to it, people want to hear what other people think.
When a customer is pleased with your service, it's important to ask for a reference or referral. Strike while the iron is hot, so to speak, before they forget about you. This is especially important during the early stages of your business when hardly anyone knows you provide wedding venues in Toronto. People are often happy to help, especially if they have gotten to know you or feel they would be able to help you find success in the business world.
Later on in your business life, don't forget about references and referrals. They're still important. In fact, you can make it easy for clients to recommend you to their friends by providing them with cards they can distribute among the other mortgage brokers in Canada who might need a caterer. You might also include a card or survey for a testimonial with your invoice. You can encourage people to fill these in or promote you by offering incentives and prizes.
So what do you do with references and referrals once you have them? Follow up. With references, phone up the prospective client and drop the name of the client who is giving you your reference. For referrals, make yourself available for when the staff of Collision Repair Vancouver want to come in and talk. Make sure you get names from the referring client so you can make them feel at home as soon as they walk in.
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