Satisfied customers know other people and business owners who might need you too. A recommendation is the warmest lead there is. That's why it pays to actively ask for one.
What does this mean in practice?
With a referral, a satisfied customer recommends your business to someone else. This can happen in person, by phone, via social media or through a referral programme with a reward.
Why does this matter for your business?
A customer who comes through a recommendation already trusts you. They decide faster and negotiate less. It's the warmest lead there is and the cheapest way to win customers.
Examples and best practices
- Ask for a recommendation when the customer is satisfied, for example right after a successful job.
- Make recommending easy: ask a specific question, hand over a business card or share a link.
- Thank people for a recommendation, even if it doesn't lead to a customer.
- Let the person who recommended you know how it turned out, if the new customer is happy with that.
How we do it at Ikoon
People who are recommended to you often check your website first. With a unique, custom design, an Ikoon website makes a good impression straight away. With Automatic follow-up and Automatic review collection, you ask customers for a review afterwards. That's also a great moment to ask for a recommendation.