Referrals marketing strategy (Part 1)

In my previous entry, we looked at the reasons behind why it was important to have a referral strategy as part of your overall marketing mix. Today, I'd like to introduce you to 3 steps which can help you create a referral marketing strategy:

1) Always have your Business Card on you:

I cannot possibly stress how important this is. How many times have you come across a person which you introduce yourself to and he / she mentions that they don't have a business card on them at the moment. Now imagine this, you're meeting someone for the first time and your introducer mentions that this individual could be interested in giving you your next million dollar deal. You check your wallet and you don't have any name cards. How is this person going to contact you? What kind of impression do you think you've made with this person? Is that the sound of a million dollar deal being thrown out the window?

So remember, always make sure that you have business cards.

2) Think Networking, not closing a sale:

Whenever you mention networking, most people equate that with closing a sale. The first time they meet you they try to hard sell you their business. Have you met individuals like that? I can tell you that I have and it sure isn't a joy to talk to them. Remember, networking is about building relationships and that TAKES TIME. Don't get their card and pitch them the next day. First and foremost it is not professional and second it makes you look desperate. Remember desperate people end up getting nowhere.

3) Join a Hard-contact Networking group:

Sure there are many avenues to networking out there, there's Kiwanis, Rotary, your local chamber of commerce but these avenues are usually open to everybody which means that you can also end up meeting a lot of people in the same business. Thus, consider joining a hard contact network. I'm borrowing this from a brilliant writer, Dr. Ivan Misner He's been called the Father of modern networking.

Now, Hard contact networks are networking group which only allow one profession / trade to be apart of the group. Thus, you will have the opportunity to meet different individuals from different professions and yet be the only profession of your type in that group. Isn't that swell? A good example of a group like this would be BNI.

So, now that you have 3 ideas to start you on the road to developing a referral based marketing strategy, its now your turn to act. There's no time like the present. I'll be back with 3 more strategies soon to develop a better and stronger referral marketing strategy. Till then, take care.