Baked by Melissa’s Post

Do you love asking for referrals❓ If you do, some might consider you a unicorn❗️If you’re like most people, including me, you do not have a horn coming out of your head. Asking for referrals can be awkward and cause some anxiety and most often it doesn’t yield significant results. 👉🏻 My suggestion to combat this challenge is to change your language and instead of asking for a referral, ask for an introduction. Here is a hint for you, it would be most helpful to know who you would like to be introduced too. So do a little homework, play six degrees of separation and at the very least be able to describe in detail that person/people who can make a difference to your business and change your results. Try it out and let me know how you did❗️

Bhaiya, I need a referral? Hi #linkedin friends! The challenge in obtaining referrals lies in our desire for easy access, while in reality, they must be earned through building meaningful relationships and providing value. Be Clear About Your Ask: When you ask for a referral, be clear about what you're looking for. Specify the type of opportunity or connection you're interested in. This makes it easier for the person to provide relevant referrals. Choose the Right Timing: Timing is crucial. Don't ask for a referral out of the blue. Choose a moment when the person is likely to be receptive and has the time to discuss potential opportunities. Build Strong Relationships: Before seeking referrals, establish a strong relationship with the person you're asking. Ensure they know you well and can vouch for your skills or products. Provide Value First: Before asking for a referral, provide value to the person you're seeking it from. This might involve helping them with something, sharing useful information, or contributing positively to the relationship. Utilize Social Media: Leverage professional platforms like LinkedIn to seek referrals. You can directly message connections or post a status update expressing your interest in specific opportunities and asking for referrals. Craft a Personalized Message: When reaching out, craft a personalized and thoughtful message. Mention your relationship, highlight specific reasons you value their opinion, and explain why you believe they might have valuable insights or connections. Make It Easy for Them: Facilitate the process for the person you're asking for a referral. Provide them with relevant information about what you're looking for, and make it easy for them to connect you with the right people. Express Gratitude: Whether or not the person provides a referral, express your gratitude for their time and consideration. This helps maintain a positive relationship even if they are unable to assist at the moment. Follow Up: If you receive a referral, keep the person who provided it informed about the outcome. If the referral leads to a positive opportunity, express your appreciation and keep them in the loop. Remember, seeking referrals is not just about asking for favors but building and nurturing relationships. The more genuine and reciprocal your approach, the more likely you are to receive meaningful referrals. In my latest podcast, I explore the art of requesting referrals. Here's the link for you: https://lnkd.in/gnZx3K86 #referral #careergrowth #opportunity

What’s your mindset around referrals?   Do you get fired up? Or do your palms get sweaty? 👇   Let’s get one thing straight – for a referral to be meaningful to each person GIVING, BEING, AND RECEIVING the referral – it needs to be purposeful. There needs to be reason and meaning behind the referral.   If there is only one takeaway you get from reading this post, I want you to notice the last text from the image above, “I appreciate you looking out for me”. Let that soak in – the person being referred actually APPRECIATES being referred! It’s a safe bet to say – because there was a reason and meaning behind the referral.  ️ So how do we create these kinds of appreciated experiences? Well, one of the reasons we FAIL to capture referrals (and fail to capture GOOD referrals) is because we don’t help the people who have a meaningful reason to give us one. When you ask for referrals, does your language focus on you? “Who can you think of that’d be a good referral for me?” OR does your language focus on the person you’re asking for one from AND their potential referral, “Who else can you think of that we could help?”… “Based on who you are, who do you know that would appreciate this kind of (return, results, information, support…)?”   When you ask for referrals, are you just describing what an ideal lead is for you? Or are you describing who you believe you’re best suited to help? Are you giving people authentic meaningful reasons to refer you? “I’m not looking to connect with just anyone, the folks I think I’m best suited to help are those that have a lot going on – they’re operating on a lot of cylinders but they’re running themselves ragged. Who do you know that wishes they had more time in their day?”   When you get a referral – are you just grabbing the name, number, and rushing off? Or are you slowing down to capture the pre-approach? “What made you think of Zach? What do you respect about him? Why do you think he’d take my call?”   Simply put – when you ask for referrals – make sure you know the reasons people can be excited to give you one.

I LOVE referrals. But I never expect them. A new rule for me going forward: before we make some elaborate and detailed plan for referrals, let's just make a few casual ones first. I send someone your way that you can help, you send someone my way that I can help. That's all. Let's do that a few times first and make sure it's a win-win-win. The client benefits. You benefit and then I benefit. Once we've done that few times, sure, let's see if $$ needs to change hands. But over the past few years I've spent probably 50 hours working in calls, emails, systems and processes to refer from folks in our industry (that I am sure mean well BTW) and then have received ZERO from it. So from now on, let's try it this way first. Thoughts? (ai pic for attention as always)

Asking for referrals is tough. At least for me. But they are so important. Here are a few tips for those that struggle too. -Take an audit of the “centers of influence” in your network  -Put together a list of “friendlies” that you feel confident asking for help -Conduct research on their connections and think through the request  -Be very clear and concise on the referral ask, making it as simple as forwarding an email  -Send a thank you note after the referral has been made, regardless of whether or not it worked -Keep your contact up to date with any developments (important if you want more referrals) -Ask how you can return the favor (most important) Would love to hear any creative suggestions I missed. 

I’m cutting straight to the chase today: How do you ask for referrals without awkwardness or hesitation? Let’s be real—it's kinda awkward, right? You want to reach out, expand your network, and maybe find that next big opportunity. But how do you ask someone for a referral without sounding too pushy or, worse, desperate? Referrals can be a game-changer. But let's face it, asking for them can feel a bit tricky. I’m keen to get insights on this. How do you approach someone for a referral? What strategies work for you to make this request confidently and effectively? I look forward to your response!

Have you ever missed out on potential new clients because you were hesitant to ask for referrals? Asking clients for referrals can certainly feel daunting. Perhaps you’re wondering: how do we even approach the conversation? There are generally two types of approaches to asking clients for referrals: 1️⃣ The Case Study Two-Step Approach - Start by asking the client if you could do a case study on them—this is a great compliment! The process of building or completing the case study is an easy segue into asking for a referral. 2️⃣ The Direct Referral Ask Approach - An opportune window to request a referral is right after receiving excellent feedback from your client. Have you used either of these approaches? If so, let me know which one is your favorite in the comments!

Have you ever felt hesitant to ask for a referral? Your network wants to help you succeed. Here’s how to make it happen: 😇 Be Genuine: Reach out with authenticity. Share your goals and why their referral means so much. 💰 Provide Value: Highlight how you can bring value to the referred person or business. This isn’t just about you; it’s about mutual benefit. 🎯 Be Specific: State what kind of referral you’re seeking. Specificity makes it easier for them to think of the right person. 🙏 Express Gratitude: Always thank them, regardless of the outcome. Gratitude strengthens relationships and keeps the door open for future opportunities. 📩 Follow Up: Keep your network informed about the outcome of their referrals. This shows appreciation and keeps the relationship strong. Remember, asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a step towards achieving your goals. What is holding you back from asking someone for a referral today?

Love referrals? Eager for more? For years, I had a calendar invite to myself, every last Friday of the month, titled: “Love ‘em up”. I got the idea from a coach who encouraged us to regularly reach out to our warm market to stay top of mind… “love ‘em up' ' she said. So, being a coachable business owner, I did what she said and committed to the practice. 📅 So, every month, I’d see the reminder, and….? …. never know what to actually DO to get referrals. I’d typically end up texting my BFF, Courtney, a random picture from high school… ✅😬 Except… I didn’t actually know what to do to nurture referral relationships.  This year, I’ve taken a new approach. I’ve deleted all the reminders to do manual outreach, following up, or nurturing. Instead, I committed to doing 2 simple things: 1. Making our offer so good, referrals are inevitable, and I get messages like this from clients, regularly and naturally…  2. Having an “EASY YES” process in place, we can rinse and repeat every week Want to see how it works? DM me “REFERRAL” and I’ll share our template!

Want more referrals? Then stop reciting your memorized, canned referral presentation🙅♂️ It’s like when a man gets asked to pray in church. His voice goes up 3 octaves👀 That’s how you probably sound when you ask for referrals. Your script might sound like this👇 👉 Now I want to ask you for referrals. 👉 You lean in. 👉 You look tense. 👉 You beg for 3 names. It becomes awkward all the way around😬 Sound familiar? ❌ You might as well say… Ok, now I’m going to put the hard-sell on you. I gotta get some names so I don’t lose my job. 2️⃣ problems occur here… 1. You lose some credibility. 2. You sound desperate. Neither of those will help you crush your revenue goals🙅♂️ And it doesn’t make you more referable. ✅ But there’s a better way… Instead of waiting until the end of your client visit. When the pressure is high. And you’re tired. Do this…👇 In the middle of the client review, ask them, "Mind if I ask you a personal question?" If you wanted to remodel your home, how would you find the person to do it? 👉 Would you do a google search? 👉 Would you call the number on the flyer in your mailbox? 👉 Would you ask for a referral? Their #1️⃣ answer: I’d ask my friends who they would recommend🙏 Well, that’s kind of what we’re doing here. We’ve remodeled your financial situation so you now have confidence and peace of mind. Some of your friends may be struggling with the same financial problem you had when you came to us. But they don’t know how to find us. Would you be willing to introduce our firm to them?🤷♂️ You want to see how comfortable they are with you. Remember… Just because the client works with you. Doesn’t mean they are comfortable referring you❌ Asking, “Would you be willing…” helps define the start of a referral relationship. And they view you as the caring professional you want to be💪