2. Who’s in the room today?
Please Introduce yourself
Name, Title, Company
“For me, referrals are…”
3. Why are referrals so valuable?
Referred prospects are…
Easier to engage
Likely to be more loyal
Easier & quicker to close
Less sensitive to price issues
Given direct or indirect testimonials
Cost effective leads for small businesses
Gifts you get while you do other work
4. We believe…
…referrals are
a vital source of
new customers
for our businesses.
17. 1. Authenticity Plan
1. Know your “Why”
2. Define your market
3. Identify customer needs
4. Bullseye prospect profile
5. Compelling value proposition
Align your “Why” with Bullseye Prospect
18. 2. Engagement Plan
Build your Relationship Circles
1. Inform Acquaintances
2. Connect Amiables
3. Engage Advocates
Develop a plan
– Target each ring
– Set goals
– Track efforts and results
Engage and energize your Advocates
19. 2. Engagement Plan
• Collaborate
– Bullseye prospect profile
– Create a prospect list
– Share prompting lists
• Ask for referrals
– Who do you know…?
– Don’t keep us a secret…
Extend your referral circle
20. 3. Enrichment Plan
• Create “Wow” moments
• Say thank you
• Connect emotionally
• Own & fix mistakes
Perform random acts of enrichment
21. 4. Reception Plan
• Commit to your Advocates
Acquaintances
• Accept what you get
Amiables
• Be prepared to respond
• Close the feedback loop Advocates
Let no opportunity go unfulfilled
22. What should I do next?
Action Plan Clinics (4 sessions)
Acquaintances
1. Authenticity Plan
– Authenticity Assessment Amiables
2. Authenticity Plan
– Bullseye Prospect Profile Advocates
3. Engagement Plan
– Marketing Mix Matrix
– Referral Scenarios
4. Enrichment & Reception Plans
– Advocate Agreements
23. Action Plan Clinics
Acquaintances
Four 2-hour sessions
Amiables
Monday’s on Mercer Island
Dates Advocates
#122 10:00am – 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5
#123 1:00pm – 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19
#124 10:00am – 10/29, 11/12, 11/26, 12/10
Cost
$96 all four sessions through 2012
24. Follow-Up Resources
Books
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire
Everyone to Take Action (Simon Sinek)
Endless Referrals (Bob Burg)
The Referral Engine (John Jantsch)
The Go-Giver (Bob Burg & John David Mann)
Go-Givers Sell More (Bob Burg & John David Mann)
Give Your Elevator Speech a Lift (Lorraine Howell)
Creating a Collaborative Enterprise (Bob Nitschke)
25. Follow-Up Resources
BizEnrich Experts
Ron Kranz (biz coaching)
Lorraine Howell (messaging)
Zita Gustin (networking)
Michael Hartzell (inbound marketing)
Pete DiSantis (DIY social media)
Bob Nitschke (collaboration)
Editor's Notes
More money is “left on the table” by salespeople who fail to ask for referrals after a successful sales presentation than in virtually any other phase of business.Pull marketing is about people become aware and then attracted to us. Obviously the larger the network the more the community can become aware of our value…the know piece and perhaps like. Referral sources bring in the like and trust piece. I am looking to referral partners as a specific strategic relationship that is a select subset of network and referral sources. Build the network and strategically select those elements that synergistically allow us to find and engage our ideal clients, and to serve and provide value to our clients. Purposeful and strategic relationships build businesses…networks and referral sources expand them.
The best source…My only source… A critical source…Do you have a plan for your referral marketing?
Let’s start with how referrals behave in the marketplace.In fact, let’s talk about magnets. Not just any magnets. We’re going to talk about ELECTRO-MAGNETSElectric motorsLoudspeakersJunkyard cranes
Focus on relationships, not transactionsTreat everyone as a referral source, NOT a prospect
Start with 100 prospectsFilter (subtract) and discard the prospects that won’t produce a transactionAgain, again, again until you end up with 1-10 paying clients.You’ve just discarded 90-99 opportunities to uncover their network of prospects Now, start with the same 100 people Let’s assume each of them knows 100 people that they interact with on some level of regularity.100 X 100 = 10,000 opportunities to uncover your perfect prospects.
Start with 100 prospectsFilter (subtract) and discard the prospects that won’t produce a transactionAgain, again, again until you end up with 1-10 paying clients.You’ve just discarded 90-99 opportunities to uncover their network of prospects Now, start with the same 100 people Let’s assume each of them knows 100 people that they interact with on some level of regularity.100 X 100 = 10,000 opportunities to uncover your perfect prospects.
Don’t confuse effort with resultsReferrals are the results of all your efforts to:Be Yourself, Build Networks, Add Value, Touch Lives, and Stay Open.
Referral mindsetGo-GiverThe YOU Factor
Be Yourself = Be true to your self Stay focused on your perfect client Carve your market nicheDefine your marketAssess supply & demand Know your customers Why they buy from you Buying channelsBuying influences and behaviorsEmotional buying reasons or triggersCraft your bulls-eye customer profileDemographicsPsychographicsCreate a compelling value proposition based on Your passions and expertiseYour bulls-eye client needs
Stop chasing prospective clients. Turn on your referral electromagnet. Build your Referral Circle Acquaintances to know youAmiablesto know you, like you and deliver your messageAdvocates with a commitment for successDevelop a planTargeted for each ring of the circleSet goals (activity & outcomes)Track efforts and results
Nurture your referral relationshipsCreate a collaborative relationshipShare your ideal client profileShare your prospecting listUtilize LinkedIn connectionsIndividuals, groups, companiesPrime the “ask” with a prompting listKnow how & when to ask for referralsStart with ‘who’ not ‘do’ and work ‘is another renter or first time buyer like you’ into your question.” Extend your referral circle Connect it through other circlesNetwork in the business communityTrain your advocates to know how to network for youTeach them how to recognize a good prospectDescribe your ideal client with specificsGreat Referral Advocate Relationships:Are based on realistic expectations Take work and thoughtfulnessNeed communication know-howTurn negatives into positivesMean sacrificesTake commitment from all parties
Wow moments are priceless and so easyCreate them throughout your entire relationship with prospects and clients
Give with intentionality and intensityCommit to learning as much as you can about your AdvocatesAccept what you getBe prepared to respond to opportunities Let no opportunity go unfulfilled