Wouldn’t it be nice to open an email from someone and read this:

“My friend recommended that I buy your products because she has been very happy with them.”

Or answer a phone call from someone who says the same thing?

Wow!

New sales without cold calling.

New sales without sending an email.

Just new orders.

Lots of new orders.

Sales coming in because customers recommended you or your products or your company.

Awesome!

This actually happens on a continuing basis to a successful business in Chatsworth, California.

In fact, they tell me that more than 150 of their current active accounts have come from referrals over the last two years!

This company’s products and services must be very, very good to attract this number of referrals who continue to buy from the company.

What is the secret to their success?

From their website:

“Our mission is to create quality products, quality services and quality relationships.”

From the referrals they receive, it seems their mission is accomplished.

This is one of the compelling testimonials they received:

“I just realized that we have been working with [company name] since 2007. I wanted to take a moment of your time to thank you for the excellent customer service you have provided me over the past several years! We make most of our inkjet cartridges in house, however the Dell’s and Lexmark’s that we have trouble with and are known problematic cartridges, we get from you with excellent results.”

But not every business is lucky enough to attract referrals without asking, so what is the best way to ask for a referral?

The best time  to ask is after a happy customer has thanked you for your excellent products or fast delivery or anything else they love about your products or services.

How to ask:

First:  Don’t ask “Do you know anyone else who can use our products?”

Reason: This question makes it too easy for the customer to say “no.”

Better: “Who else do you know that can use our products?”

Reason: This is an open-ended question that prompts the customer to THINK about an answer.

Here is a thought for you:

If you set a goal that you will get two referrals each day from your customers, at the end of the week you will have 10 new prospects and they won’t be as a result of cold calls.  Nice!

To learn more about how to get good referrals plus specific and creative ways to increase your sales, join my e-Course.  I would love to work with you and help you achieve and surpass your goals!

Ann