How To Get Consistent Referrals
by Rita Zamora
How many times have we heard the saying “Hope is not a plan,” and thought “Yikes! I should probably take a look at my marketing calendar.” Many of us get caught up in day to day operations and completely forget to plan. It’s only when referrals are low or non-existent that we begin to think about marketing.
When was the last time you communicated with your referring clients? Generally you should be in touch with your clients monthly to bi-monthly, minimally- depending on your field. If you can’t remember the last time you contacted your clients, you may benefit from a referral marketing calendar.
It can be difficult, stressful, and sometimes completely ineffective to plan and execute marketing activities on a whim. Schedule time each week to review, update, and develop your referral marketing calendar. After you’ve entered activities on your calendar, print out the current month and hang it near your desk. Be sure to also document the following:
1. Money invested.
2. Time invested.
3. Results derived.
4. Repeat activity or reject activity (based on results/return on investment).
Keep special occasions in mind when planning your activities, such as holidays, and events related to your particular business.
Why not take time now to plan your late summer, fall and even holiday season activities? Plan today for referral success tomorrow and produce a steady, consistent stream of referrals for yourself.