Henry Baker helps business owners, entrepreneurs, consultants, coaches and authors attract more clients, get them spending more, returning more often and referring more people. For a FREE report "How to Double Your Profits in 117 Days or Less -- Even In Recession" head to http://www.henry-baker.co.uk
For many small business owners, the current poor economy means spending money on marketing has stopped.
But, profitable marketing is the last thing that should stop.
Without a steady flow of new customers things will just get worse.
However, not all customer acquisition campaigns cost money.
The best free marketing strategy is simply referrals.
Here is a simple 4 step system any small business can use to maximize their referrals.
- ASK – As we all know, ‘if you don’t ask, you won’t get’ and that is certainly true for referrals. Most customers are happy to provide referrals if the service has been good. And if it hasn’t, that needs to be fixed anyway. The best time to ask is immediately after a ‘happy’ purchase.
- Set the Right Expectations – From the moment you acquire a new customer you should make it clear that you rely on referrals to keep your costs and prices down. To facilitate that you will be asking for referral contacts if they are happy with your service.
- Reward – When you receive a referral make sure you go back the person who made it and give them a gift to thank them e.g. a box of chocolates, something you sell etc. This will both increase that person loyalty to you and make future referrals much more likely.
- Follow Up – Once you have a new referral make sure you follow up with them quickly. Be sure to mention where you got there name (having asked if that’s OK), and give them something physical to pass on to other people. That may be vouchers, offer cards, sample etc.
In conclusion, now is the time to focus attention on existing customers and clients.
There is more profit buried in their than most businesses would know what to do with.
Get out there today and put a referral SYSTEM in place.
Dedicated to others success,
Henry Baker.
Copyright Henry Baker 2009
- Related Articles
- Related Q&A
- Home Business Success Marketing - Over 95 Million People Can't Be Wrong!
- Small Business Success Relies on These 14 Criteria
- How To Be A Business Success
- For Beginners: Secrets of Real Online Business Success
- Ignite Business Success in 2007
- Business Success Secrets
- How to Successfully Market a Small Business
- The Five P’s of Business Success
Bumper Stickers Can Surely Promote Your Products
By: Sara Criss | 30/12/2009Stickers are recognized as adhesive printing items. They are normally used for an extensive range of purposes i.e. marketing, promotion, charity, gifts, entertainment, social, cultural, economics, political, and religious purposes. One of the most fascinating perspectives about stickers is that they would contain four varied types of elements concept, content, design, and print.
Only Businesses that THRILL win in the long term!
By: Rahul Rane | 30/12/2009Around 80% of startups close down within their first year of operation. While some of these go down simply because of part time involvement of the founders, lack of persistence and fizzling out of passion, a large percentage go down during their transition from a Startup(Micro) phase to a Small Business phase. A business can aim for the long term only when the owners have vision and concentrate on building a value system based on THRILL – Trust, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Loyalty and Love.
Social Security Benefits - Get the Help at the Time of Disability
By: Naveen kumar sharma | 30/12/2009The social security and supplemental security income disability benefits are intended to provide support to those who are not capable to work because of a disability.
Why You Should Buy Wholesale Towels
By: Dave Williams | 30/12/2009If you are planning to buy towels in a lot, it will always be well worth it go for wholesale varieties. This is because, buying wholesale towels saves you a lot of money, as these are available in huge discounts when you are ordering in bulk.
Medical Translation- A Popular Area of Translation Services with Unique Requirements
By: Albert Carter | 30/12/2009Medical translation requires great attention to detail as medical translation requires great accuracy. This article talks about the special requirements of medical translation projects.
Top Ten Tips to Improve Business
By: Business Coaches | 30/12/2009How come some of the biggest businesses empires like Enron, Lehman Brothers, and many more have collapsed suddenly? Were they not being managed by professionals? Were they not able to hire all those success teaching mentors who have been minting money selling their lectures and books on tips to manage businesses successfully? These questions raise the doubt that there might be a very same rat creeping down your establishments, too.
How I’ve avoided work at home scams
By: John Woodman | 29/12/2009How to avoid so called scams when it comes to the working at home buzz and opportunities.
Stop Unwanted Phone Calls by Using a Reverse Number Lookup
By: Sal Lingo | 29/12/2009Unwanted phone calls continue to increase at an alarming rate. Many of us get these calls at all times of day including in the middle of the night The people who call you get your phone number from a variety of ways. You can always use a reverse number or reverse phone lookup to find out who they are. Here are a 3 key ways to help reduce those annoying phone calls.
This One Idea Can Change Your Life Forever
By: Henry Baker | 02/05/2009 | EntrepreneurshipHave you ever been sat eating dinner, having a shower or driving your care when an idea pops into your head? Ideas come to us all the time. And ideas can change your life. Here's how to make them do just that....
Free Marketing that Attracts the Best Customers and Clients
By: Henry Baker | 01/05/2009 | Small BusinessWhile we're in recession it is of course important to use as many different marketing strategies as possible that deliver a great return. Here is the single best free marketing campaign and how to implement it.
How to Make More Money By Offending Your Clients
By: Henry Baker | 21/04/2009 | Small BusinessOne of my favourite mentors once told me “If you don’t offend someone every day, you’re not trying hard enough”. When I first heard him say that I was a little kinda ’shocked’. Offend people - how’s that gonna help? Surely I’ll just alienate the people I want to attract as clients. But interestingly, that is not necessarily the case. Here's why...
The Free Marketing Plan that Cannot Fail
By: Henry Baker | 04/04/2009 | Small BusinessAre we finally approaching the bottom of the recession? Are things going to pick up? Well, according to the BBC this morning and a Bank of England report, banks are 'getting ready' to 'free up credit'. What does that mean??
How to Create a Rock Solid Cash-Flow, Even In Recession
By: Henry Baker | 27/03/2009 | Small BusinessOut of all my recession proofing secrets, this is by far the best way to bring rapid stability to your business and give you such an enormous advantage over your competition they simply will not know what 'hit them'.
How to Beat Recession by Attracting Affluent Clients
By: Henry Baker | 27/03/2009 | Small BusinessAre you concerned about the recession, the 'credit crunch', rising fuel costs, rising food costs, falling house prices and the effect they are having or will have on your business? Perhaps you're already seeing less new clients, fewer return visits and more price resistance? In these uncertain times, working hard, having the best location, the best products and services, the best staff and the most competitive prices will not always be enough to guarantee survival. Prospering in un-prosperous t
16 Customer Generating Strategies for Recession
By: Henry Baker | 27/03/2009 | Small BusinessThe fastest way to dramatic business growth even in recession is to do as many things as possible to increase your success in the following areas: