Most business owners would agree that business referrals play a crucial aspect in business success. Business referral is an arduous, hit or miss strategy. Moreover, this business strategy can either grow your business or be the bane of your existence.
As such, in Business UnpluggedTM, blogger Carol Roth asked her network of business owners, experts, advisors and entrepreneurs to share their best tips for getting business referrals. Topping the list of tips for the best way to get business referrals came from BCB authors.
For Charlotte Canion, author of the book, “You Have to Laugh to Keep from Crying: How to Parent Your Parents”, the best way to get business referrals is using her book as a marketing tool.
According to Charlotte, “My book was published a month ago and I’ve booked 5 speaking engagements. It has been getting rave reviews and 5-star ratings on the topic of Senior Health. My book has catapulted me to a new level of confidence and is opening doors everywhere. One of the best ways to get referrals is to write a book on your subject; it gives you enormous credibility.”
Another BCB author who shared her strategy to get that elusive referral is Kirsten Bloomquist. She is the author of the book, “PowernowTM: How to Step into Your Most Powerful Mind INSTANTLY!” and has been using this book as her way to get business referrals.
For Kirsten, “I find the best way to get new business referrals is to publish a book- not an e-book, but a physical book. What happens when you hand someone a business card? As soon as you turn your back, they throw it away! Nobody throws away a book. It is the best form of a business card/resume. Also, it sets you apart from others in your industry, while boosting your credibility.”
Chloe Hung, an actuarial Coach, and author of the book, “Strength in Numbers: An In-Depth Look at Actuarial Science for Math Enthusiasts” shared her strategy as well. She revealed that the secret is the quality of a business relationship.
She said, “As a business owner, the number of business referrals you get depends on the quality of your business relationships. I focus on developing deep and meaningful relationships with people. I believe that it is much easier to get business referrals if people trust and like you as an individual. Hence, I start by first connecting and creating genuine relationships with every single person I meet. Never approach someone with the ulterior motive of getting a referral out of them.”
When it comes to getting business referrals, Suzanne Duncan, coach and author of the book, “All By Myself, & Rocking It: How to be Successful at Single Parenting” has a different approach to getting them. She found that video testimonials are the best form of business referrals.
As per Suzanne, “I find a video testimonial to be the best form of referral. Ask a series of questions such as, “Where are you in your journey? What prompted you to…? What is it you want to achieve? What is your biggest ‘road block’? What tips/insights can you give to others embarking on this journey? What have you found that has been of assistance to you? What has been the biggest take away from working with me? Would you recommend my business to others? Where were you beforehand? What is different now?”
Get more tips to getting business referrals HERE.
Great strategies, ladies! We are proud of you!
Carol Roth is a national media personality, ‘recovering’ investment banker, investor, speaker and author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Entrepreneur Equation. She is a judge on the Mark Burnett (Shark Tank, The Voice, Survivor, The Apprentice) produced technology competition series, America’s Greatest Makers, airing on TBS and Host of Microsoft’s Office Small Business Academy show. Previously, Carol was the host and co-producer of The Noon Show, a current events talk show on WGN Radio, one of the top stations in the country, and a contributor to CNBC, as well as a frequent guest on Fox News, CNN, Fox Business and other stations.
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