A few weeks ago I wrote about reciprocating — how best to give back to your network. Here’s another way to give back, and one that I use myself.
Often, my past clients and customers refer my products and services to their friends and associate. And I’ve always expressed my appreciation by sending them a personal thank you note.
However, a year ago, I decided to survey all my clients and customers to see how else I could show my appreciation, that would also be useful to them.
I got a lot of great information!
I found out that “one size doesn’t fit all”. Some people were interested in getting discounts off my products and services, others preferred a referral fee, and yet others were quite happy with a simple thank you note from me.
Using this feedback, I created a referral program (also known as Affiliate program), for my comprehensive “Effortless Networking” product.
I designed it to be open, so that anyone can participate in this program by signing up online. So people other than my clients and customers can also participate.
Those who actually have a copy of this program are obviously better able to explain to people why they’re recommending this product to them.
However, those who don’t own the product are still able to send me good quality referrals because they may have worked with me in another capacity, or may have experienced what I offer in another way (such as, through my articles, free Q&A calls, workshops, etc.).
In any case, I am able to thank each person who refers this product to others, by giving them a commission on the price of the product. And having found out that many people appreciate getting a referral fee, I give a generous 50% commission.
Of course, people can — and do — refer me business without participating in this program. However, this is *their* choice.
As I mentioned earlier, different people value different things, and I always want to offer them one or more options.
So if you haven’t done so already, ask people in general, and your sources of referrals in particular, how they want to be thanked or rewarded when they help you out.
Then use the information to build a program or system to regularly and consistently thank them — in a way that’s useful and valuable for them.
By the way, if you want more details about my referral program, click here.
Till next week,
– Sri