Word of mouth about your business and referrals from friends, family, and business acquaintances is SO SO SO IMPORTANT! With the constant inundation of direct emails, phone calls and direct mail pieces we receive on a daily basis, it can be quite overwhelming!
So, in a world such as this, where we can Google anything and see how many "stars" that business has received from customer ratings, the importance of a GOOD REFERRAL is as good as gold! Word of mouth and connecting with people who will appreciate your business, and seek what you offer, is invaluable.
A part of a good referral system is reaching out to FELLOW PROFESSIONALS in your area of expertise. How can you support one and other? How do you complement each other's strengths? Knowing this, and what you can bring to the table, allows for very positive working relationships to develop and a great referral system to be implemented.
The Huffington Post's article, "Why Every Business Needs a Referral System," gives some insight into this topic and is worth a quick once over for every business, big or small —,
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-wayshak/why-every-business-needs-_b_3767485.html.
Recently, I helped my client, Dr. Nancy of
Half Moon Dentistry for Children, with the task of developing a letter to reach out to fellow professional colleagues. Taking the time to sign and mail out a letter is much more personal than an email. It shows that you've spent some time and effort in reaching out. Of course, follow-up after mailing the letter is also key in this process! But, reaching out to other professionals can be a win-win situation — the client's needs are taken care of and all parties involved get the job done.
So, if you haven't already done so, revisit your strategy when it comes to referrals and how you deal with them. It might just be the boost you and your business needs!
Dee :)
