Regardless of the business you’re in, the #1 source everyone wants more of is REFERRALS

Referrals carry more weight than any other source of new business generation

Referrals increase the word of mouth about your brand and mean that someone who the person already trusts validates you and your brand.

In a recent survey, LionDesk users said that even in a weak economy they can always rely on referrals to generate new business.

So you have to ask yourself, are you doing everything you can to stay in touch with your past clients to ensure you’re the person they refer when the opportunity arises?

Here’s a quick story

A real estate agent recently shared that she doesn’t want to bother her friends by talking about real estate. She said that they know she’s a real estate agent and when the time comes they’ll refer and hire her. But when asked if there have been times that friends didn’t refer or hire her the answer was a disappointing, “Yes, it happens often”. 

The point is…

Don’t be afraid to “bother” friends by talking about what you do. Be afraid of what will happen if you don’t.

Of course, you communicate with your referral audience differently than cold leads. You’ve already built a personal relationship.

Keep it simple:

That’s all people want.

How to stay top of mind to get more referrals

Listen, no one wants to be overbearing, but there are ways to stay top of mind without bothering your network. Here are some of our tips:

Let people know you’re a real estate agent, loan originator, title rep, or small business owner. You can weave it into conversation when meeting people, and should definitely post your successes, stories, and tips on social media! Social media is a great way to stay in touch with your network indirectly.

Let people know you want to help if they or anyone they know needs help. This is important, because you are giving before you ask for anything in return. Offer guidance, let people know you’re there for them. You can even create a post on social media with great tips, those who are interested will come knocking!

Let people know you’re available and trustworthy. As much as you don’t want to bother people, people also may not want to bother you. Keep reiterating that you’re available if anyone needs help, and provide people with valuable insights to build trust.

Want more tips?

Click here to grab our 5 Ways to Get More Referrals Guide

Don’t underestimate the power of Karma

And, just as much as you enjoy receiving referrals, don’t underestimate the power of good ol’ karma.

In that same survey, we asked users “do you expect something in return for giving out a referral”.

The #1 answer was No, followed by Yes, and then “well, it depends”.

Depending on your business regulations, giving a referral to another person may result in a “fee” or what many real estate agents refer to as “mailbox money”. 

But there’s something much more lucrative than a referral fee.  It’s a referral coming back to you.  

Building relationships and trust with other people in your business is one of the most important things you can do to build a lifelong successful business.  Just as important as the relationships you build with your clients.

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