3 Reasons Why Your Business Can’t Get Client Referrals

Name a more potent marketing tool than client referrals, we dare you.

Word of mouth referrals are a quick and efficient way to build your business and accelerate your profits ­– and the best part? They are absolutely free.

Spending cash on advertising and digital ads can be money well spent in the long term, but it makes sense to exhaust all low- and no-cost growth options first – especially when your business is new.

If you have one ideal client who is satisfied with your work, chances are they have 10 friends and colleagues who would also benefit from those services. What’s more, potential clients will listen and trust people they know more often than a Facebook ad, so you’ll also be more likely to land the sale.

Case in point: Iron Advisory. As a brand new business, thanks to our amazing clients we have managed to build our client base from just three clients to over 100 consistent customers in less than 12 months from referrals alone – not one cent of paid advertising!

Yet, all too often, we hear that our client’s customers aren’t referring, and their business growth has stalled.

So why aren’t your best clients referring your services to others?

·        You aren’t asking them to: It sounds simple, but not everyone will think to spread the word. When closing out a project with a satisfied customer, be sure to ask them if they know anyone who might need your help.

·        You’re telling them how busy you are: Even if business is good, you don’t always need to shout it from the rooftops. If your customers think you’re too busy for new clients, they’ll be less likely to refer you.

·        You don’t have a client referral program in place: People love a good incentive, and any rewards for referrals don’t need to break the bank. A strategic client referral program can have customers knocking down the door in exchange for even a small discount or bonus service to the referrer.

Any good marketing plan should include a client referral plan. If you'd like to learn how to optimise yours.