HOW TO RUN A REFERRAL PROGRAM

Happy February! We survived the holiday rush and the hump that is January. If your schedule is anything like mine, it feels slow and spacey! I was over-booked through the end of the year and then it felt like overnight I had more room in my schedule. This does not have to be a bad thing!! Today I am talking about one of my favorite ways to get new clients on your books, referrals!  Social media, advertising, and promotions are all successful ways to build your business, but the most efficient and cost effective way to bring in more clients is word of mouth. Your clients are a walking advertisement—use this to your advantage! A referral program will keep your current clients coming AND get new clients in the door. There are a few different ways to approach a referral program and some tips to keep in mind. 

There are so many possibilities when it comes to running a referral program. When weighing your options, here are some questions to consider; Do you want to reward both the returning client and the new client, or only the returning client? Do you want to give a dollar amount off, a percentage off, a deal on retail, a free add on service, or have a punch-card-like system? Does one referral equal one discount or do they need to refer multiple clients? If they refer multiple clients do they get a greater discount? Is the discount applied one time or as long as their referred client returns? As you can see, you have options! 

Once you make the rules of your program one of the easiest ways to implement it is with specialty business cards. Create a business card with your information and a place for your clients to write their names on, that way when a new client brings in the card you know who to reward. Give these to your clients to have on hand. It’s important to keep this part simple and organized for all parties! 

TIPS!

Quality work will speak for itself! It is easy for clients to pass on your information if they are getting the best experience they can. 

A program that rewards both the referrer and the referred is going to be more successful. It is already an incentive for your clients but it can make the difference for a doubting new client. 

Bring up the program to your clients, It can be as simple as asking if they’d be willing to spread the word. Also, spread the word yourself—post about your new referral program online! 

Don’t forget the clients who helped you build a clientele by continually expressing gratitude to all of your clients. 

 Running a referral program can be intimidating but once you break it down, it’s a simple way to grow your business!