It’s About Who You Know: Referral Networking 101

When you start a business, many friends, peers, and ex-colleagues will cheer you on. But will they be there when you need some honest referrals? Referral networking is the core of any business. They spread the word about your brand, create your identity, and help you move forward. And the best initial business referrals are always those who know you. So how to turn your peers into your referral marketing? Let us find out!

4 Ways to Turn Peers into Business Referrals

1. Interact to Find Mutual Goals

When asking your peers to be referrals, keep an open mind. While they might know you, your brand is still a mystery. While discussing your goals, brand identity, and sales point, ask them what they think about your plans. 

Are they on the same page and mentally invested in your business plan? If so, then you are in luck! A referral who wants to experience your products and services will seek to learn everything before investing in your plans. You can take this opportunity and help them understand how you handle your firm, your financial expectations, and last resort planning. 

If you are on the same team, you have almost cracked business referrals 101.

2. Pre-Pitch To Yourself First

Confidence is key. So before you head out to pitch your business plan to potential referrals, pitch it to yourself. Check how you speak, tone, body language in the mirror, etc. Listening to yourself talk will help you note additional things like:

• The best one-sentence description of your company
• Your brand’s motto
• Your potential clients
• How is your brand different from others with same products?

Integrating these little snippets into your pitch will help you be more fluent and confident. It will show your referrals what you are doing and understand the risks of owning a brand. You can always customize your pitch depending on who you are pitching to. The goal here is to pool positive feedback and willingness to market you. 

3. Add Value to Their Favors

The best way to get to your referral’s heart is to have a personal connection and gratitude towards them. So when your business referrals successfully pull in more clients, return the favor with a unique token of appreciation. 

It can be something they like and was on their wishlist, a nice family dinner, or anything that makes them feel appreciated. Your business referrals will help you grow when you treat them with the utmost respect. Another way of showing that they matter taking their suggestions into your business plans. 

When a referral feels heard, you are on the right track. 

4. Ask for Your Referrals’ Help

When in doubt, ask your referrals for advice and tips. Remember, they have direct interactions with your potential clients. Hence, when it comes to knowing changes in demands, your referrals know best. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, when it comes to referral marketing, the best way to successfully utilize your team is to know them well and interact with them daily. 

Of course, if this is your first time and you need professional help with referrals, contact us today and learn all about our referrals app for business.