To help you get the best results in networking, word-of-mouth marketing and with strategic partnerships, I have identified 6 core disciplines that you and your business should focus on without which, you definitely won’t achieve the results you desire.
- Identifying Your Ideal Customers
- Creating a WOW Experience
- The Power of Know Like and Trust
- Building a Vibrant Community
- Storytelling in Your Business
- Social Proof Strategies
In each of these 6 core disciplines, there are things you can start immediately that will make a difference but, mastering all of them will put you head and shoulders above everyone else you compete with in your industry and in your markets.
Identifying Your Ideal Customers. If you don’t know who your ideal customers are, or if you can’t describe them to anyone else, how is anyone expected to send you any referrals, never mind the good or great referrals.
Creating a WOW Experience. Everyone says they offer great customer service and yet when it comes down to it, they’re just words. Have you ever heard a business owner say we offer terrible customer service?
We don’t normally find out how good your customer service is until we make a purchase, and by then it may be too late. If you want to get more people talking about you and referring potential customers to you, you need them to say WOW, even before they become your customers.
The Power of Know, Like and Trust. It seems obvious when we hear this phrase that we want people to know, like and trust us.
If we don’t know you, there’s no chance we’ll recommend you. If we know you but don’t like you, you’ll never get a referral from us. But if people trust you, not only will you get referrals, you’ll get the best referrals and more of them.
Building a Vibrant Community. This is not just about getting involved in the community where you live or online, though you should definitely do that, this is about you and your business being able to build your own community of raving fans. Your tribe. These are the people that will talk about you and recommend you without hesitation.
Storytelling in Your Business. Everybody loves a good story. Whether in books, movies or on the TV or radio when we’re watching, listening to, or reading stories we become engaged, and this will help us build our community and engage our customers and prospects in a way that endears them to us.
Social Proof Strategies. Social proof is of course testimonials and reviews, but it’s also much more than that. It’s the phrases and statements that people say about you when they find people to refer to you. It’s the things people say about you in conversations and when telling stories about how you helped them. It’s the comments people make online when working with you. It’s how you’re introduced to a potential new customer.
These 6 core disciplines will help you create the systems and strategies for your business to generate not only a consistent flow of referrals and recommendations, but also a lot of great content out there so that when people are searching for someone to help them with what you do, they won’t think twice about giving you a call.
You can either work on all three, Networking, Word-of-Mouth Marketing and Strategic Partnerships or start with just one or two. That’s your choice and will depend on the time you have to commit to the processes and where you feel most comfortable.
No matter which path you choose, these 6 core disciplines will serve you well in developing the systems and strategies for your business.
If you have any questions send me an email at steve@letstalkreferrals.com or sign up for the Let's Talk Referrals Community to learn more.
Steve Black, Referral Maker
My passion is to help small businesses get access to the systems, tools and resources to help them get better referrals, better customers and have better businesses.