Let Me Sing Your Praises: The Power of Asking for Referrals

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How much of your business depends on referrals? Hopefully a lot! There is nothing better than somebody else talking about how great you are at what you do. Word of mouth is flat out the fastest and most effective way to get more business.

Why? Too many choices can be overwhelming, so we go to a reliable source, somebody we trust. It’s no shock then that Nielsen reports 92% of respondents to a recent poll say they trusted referrals from people they knew.

Here is an example I’m sure you can all relate too. One of the most frustrating but exciting parts of our businesses usually centers around some sort of a website. I’ve heard it described as valuable beachfront property.

Diving into speaking a few years ago, I had to ramp up quickly. People started to call me—thanks to friends referring me—but I had no appropriate website. In my book, Deal Your Own Destiny, I talk about how much I relied on solid referrals in every aspect of the business, including finding web designer, Susan Reid. Now our website lady, Susan was fast and reliable. In the decades during which she’s been in business, Susan’s never had to advertise.

Picture what life would be like if your inbox was flooded with messages every day from people who wanted to work with you. If 80% of your business comes from 20% of your clients, which is true for many of us, don’t be shy about asking for referrals. The best time to ask is right after your clients are raving about your work. Remember they have clients, peers, and networks that trust them as a reliable source. Your clients are brand evangelists for you and your company. Let them sing your praises!

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Deal Your Own Destiny

Kate Delaney is a leading business and motivational speaker, as well as a host for NBC Sports Radio Network. An Emmy-award-winning journalist, Delaney has interviewed more than 15,000 people, including…

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