Referrals are absolutely crucial to the success and sustainability of your business… In case you’ve forgotten this “bread and butter” strategy, try this quick quiz: Take a look at your last ten clients. How did they find you? Where did they come from? Chances are damn good that the majority of your clients came from referrals. When I looked at my last ten clients, seven of them came from referrals. Wow, that’s 70% of my biz as a result of being recommended by someone else.
Obviously, you’re going to get referrals if you do great work and cultivate your business relationships. Word of mouth is a powerful lead generator, and becoming known as the “go to” person in your niche is a beautiful thing. Of course, this works both ways. What comes around, goes around. You need to refer potential clients to your colleagues, as well! Referrals make the world go round…
In the 1994 film “Swimming with Sharks,” Kevin Spacey played ruthless movie mogul Buddy Ackerman. One of his signature phrases was “You gotta give action to get action.” While Buddy would never win “boss of the year,” he had a point about reciprocity. Give first. Make referrals. And offer incentives to those who refer you…
Now it’s time to put my money where my mouth is with referral incentives and “Bortone Bucks!”
First, how do YOU want to be referred? Fill in the blanks and email this copy back to me if you want me to send clients your way: “I help (your target market) get/make/have (result you get for them). I am the go-to person for (your niche or specialty). *
So… if you were referring me, you might say: “I know someone who helps entrepreneurs get more clients with video marketing. Lou Bortone is the go-to guy for online video.”
Finally, to make referring me even more fun and profitable, here’s how the “Bortone Bucks” referral plan works: Bortone Bucks are kinda like real money, except they are only redeemable for “motion graphics” video production services. (Fine print: BB’s are non-transferable, are not redeemable for cash, and must be used in the calendar year they are earned. Promotion runs from 6/1/11 to 12/31/11 only.)
• Refer one new client and receive $500 “Bortone Bucks.” (This is enough to purchase a custom :10 logo reveal video!)
• Refer two new clients and receive $1,000 in “Bortone Bucks.” (This will buy you a :15 animated video promo!)
• Refer three new clients and you earn $1,500 “Bortone Bucks!” (Now you have enough to get your own :30 animated video promo!) How cool is that!
Check out the “done for you video” samples at www.DoneForYouVideo.com, and you’ll see the kind of kick-ass videos we can create for you and your referrals…
And remember, you’ve gotta give action to get action!
*Props to Michael Port and the Book Yourself Solid referral strategy, from which much of this is derived!
No related posts.
