Customers are everything. Aside from the obvious, the Wharton School of Business found that a referred customer has a 16% higher lifetime value than a non-referred customer. Hubspot is here to tell us how you can go about asking for a referral.
Before jumping into how to ask, we must first determine who we’ll ask. Do this by identifying your advocates. Think of customers who you’ve shared a long, positive relationship with.
Once you’ve identified some good candidates, first ask if they’re willing to give feedback, which you can turn into a testimonial for your website. After collecting some testimonials from willing customers, it’s time to ask for a referral.
How to Ask for Referrals
- Build value first, then ask. Don’t jump the gun. This is your customer, so show them the unparalleled service you offer before you ask for anything. Share relevant content with them and keep them up to date with your products and features that will benefit them.
- Offer incentives for referrals. Although your great service helps, a little push in the form of a reward always lends an extra hand. Offer items like Amazon gift cards, discounts on invoices, or a donation to a charity of their choice. Tell them the first 10 to respond with a referral will receive the prize. This helps to expedite the process.
- Share their work, too. It’s crucial to always generate goodwill. Be consistent about passively, yet proactively, referring them by sharing their blogs, publicizing their product launches, or leaving positive reviews. It’s a two-way street after all.
These are just half of the tips Hubspot offers, so give the rest a read. You’ll also find 45 great templates when asking for referrals.
