Word-of-Mouth Referrals Rule—Here’s How to Get Them!

Oct 25

There’s something really special, and even underrated, about a word-of-mouth referral. IYKYK. They’re genuine, organic, and (most importantly) trusted. When someone recommends your business to a friend/acquaintance, it’s because they’ve had a positive experience that they think is worth sharing, and that kind of personal endorsement carries far more weight than any ad or promotion ever could.

And such referrals even often turn into long-term, loyal customers, making them the most valuable kind of leads by FAR.

For service providers: This is not an easy, quick fix answer. To encourage referrals, you need an air tight process that wows clients from start to finish. You need to practice the old adage “under promise, over deliver”. Some ideas for going over the top:

write and send a handwritten thank you note upon starting a project
send a Christmas / New Year gift that’s personalized in some way to the client (if you know they live by the beach, send a coastal smelling candle)
mid-way through a project, send a quick (unneccesary-to-your-process) email thoughtfully checking in on their experience working with you / your team so far
throw in extra deliverables that weren’t necessarily included in their project (just make sure your pricing allows for this margin)

For e-commerce businesses: Create exceptional packaging. Without a physical storefront, your “unboxing” experience is the only real touch point you have with customers outside of your website. Make sure it’s beautiful and unique so your customers can’t forget. Some ideas:

order embossed / letterpress thank you cards that you can write a tiny hand written “thank you” on that go in every package
customize your customer notification emails so they’re less templated and more personalized (add a message from the founder!)
throw in a small free sample or gift with orders around the holidays to delight customers
include QR codes on packaging that link to exclusive content

And after you complete a sale or service, to maximize your possibility of getting word-of-mouth referrals, focus on 1) staying top-of-mind (through email marketing, social media, email check-ins, etc.) and 2) staying mindful of your timing about asking for referrals (yes, you can ASK for referrals; not weird, not too much to ask—just keep timing in mind!)