Referral Reward Strategies Brainstorm (and Beer!)

Who says business talk can't be fun?

Come on down to Boundary Bay Brewery to enjoy $1 off your pint of Bellingham's Best Beer (arguably the Pacific NW's Best Beer).

(Did you know Boundary Bay also brews their own root beer?)

Meet fellow Bizniks as we explore the question of the hour: "How do you reward the sources of your referrals?"

We will tap into our collective expertise so that all of us become better at meaningfully and systematically rewarding the act of referring business.

Happy Hour at Boundary Bay Brewery also features mini-sized munchies of popular favorites, including Beer-B-Q Pork Sliders, Beef Tacos, Black Bean Tacos & Chicken Quesadillas.

See you there!

• 
  Posted by Tshombe Brown, Portland, Oregon | Aug 27, 2008

  Hi Tom --

  I'm glad you will be attending! I'm looking forward to meeting you in person and sharing ideas.

  See you in a week --

  Tshombe

  Bellingham Business Coach
• 
  Posted by Lori Richardson, Bellingham, Washington | Sep 02, 2008

  Tshombe, I will be in Seattle on Wednesday - drat! Hope it is so great that you'll do it again...

  Lori

  Small business sales coach and fundraising auctioneer
• 
  Posted by Tshombe Brown, Portland, Oregon | Sep 02, 2008

  Thanks, Lori! Sorry you can't make it, but I'll definitely do it again. I really appreciate your support. Have a great time in Seattle.

  xo

  Tshombe

  Bellingham Business Coach
• 
  Posted by Maggie Lohkemper, Bellingham, Washington | Sep 03, 2008

  Tshombe,, I'm, sorry I won't be able to make it either, have an eye doctor appt. at 4;30 and aftter she gets done with my eyes I'll barely be able to use my eyes. So going home to rest my eyes.
• 
  Posted by Tshombe Brown, Portland, Oregon | Sep 03, 2008

  Thank you, Maggie! It's good to hear from you. I know what it's like after an eye appointment and rest is the perfect remedy!

  I'm looking forward to seeing you at the next event.

  Be well, and take care.

  Tshombe

  Bellingham Business Coach
• 
  Posted by Tshombe Brown, Portland, Oregon | Sep 08, 2008

  You all missed some great beer and awesome apps!

  We had only one attendee (Yours Truly, but I always have a great time whether in the company of others or on my own), but that didn't stop me from surfing the 'net for ideas.

  Here are a couple of suggestions that don't exactly address the question specifically. They also aren't particularly new ideas.

  However, since so few entrepreneurs bother to do any of these at all (let alone consistently), putting a system in place to make "thank you" second nature in your business would be a great differentiator that would set you apart from your competition.

  We'll have to do this again, because it would be great to get some real-live perspectives/ideas. I'm thinking I'll post it to the global Biz Talk for feedback. . . .

  Of course, you can also post here your thoughts.

  ---

  Basic Ways to Reward a Referral

  • Thank the person immediately via phone or email.

  • Follow up immediately with a handwritten note.

  • Be specific and clear about why are thanking them

  • Keep the referrer informed of progress. How did you follow up? Did they become a client? Of course, such disclosure would need to be permissible and ethical in your profession.

  • Send gift that matches the referrer’s interest. This means you have to do your research!

  • Set a budget for referral gifts

  • Whatever you do, have a referral system so that it's consistent and automatic and becomes another component of "how you do business"

  • Encourage the referral her- or himself to thank the referral source for referring them to you

  Bellingham Business Coach