Are you Getting Enough Referrals? Try This.

It is a terrific idea. I had a friend that did this only one day a week & it worked out great for her.

somewhat large gatherings can be a waste of time but pick a past client or otherwise and spend some time with them. Try to make sure they have a job with a ton of fellow employees or other connections. Then use this strategy.

Wow, that would be 156 people in one year. 

Most people don't meet one-on-one with that many people in 3 years!

thanks for sharing.

I ran the largest network of dermatology and plastic surgery centers in the US...at the proverbial end of the day, 85% of new patients came from referral....

Great suggestion Carolyn.  You're a mentor in Mentor. I'm sure you've heard that so many times it makes you sick, but I couldn't resist. I have a firm grasp of the obvious.

That's a really good idea. Small enough to remember and implement, large enough to work if done consistently.

A great plan for anyone with a local business to promote. 

Carolyn, this is a good tip and reminder of how much fun it is to meet up with friends, acquaintances and past clients one on one.

So simple and such a great idea. Really, thank you!

Carolyn, great post.  Our business is truly relationships. Today, I took my car to the garage and saw a client whose home I sold 10 years ago.  We arranged to meet for lunch and gave her my card.  The gent sitting beside her also asked me for me card.  Then the sales representative who had been very helpful also asked for my card (he is planning to sell!!).  Of course, he gave me his card in case I decided to purchase a new car.  After leaving the garage, I visited WalMart and met up with another acquaintance and we agreed to have lunch together.  I love going for lunch and this system works well for me.  I did the Buffini System when I was a new agent and it was extremely helpful getting started in the business.

This is a great tip Carolyn.  It is so simple and easy to try out.  Even if it doesn't work for some, they are only out a few dollars, as opposed to, many hundreds on a marketing piece that may not work.  I'm a fan of the 'belly to belly' style of interaction. Thank you for the advice, which I will now make a priority.

I've read to do that, but just have a really hard time. It's just my personal idiosyncrasy. Need to work on it!

Carolyn:  Very smart message.  Each of us could use that nudge to pick up the phone by simply connecting with past clients.  You just never know!

We combine our "touches".....one on one...which may or may not include a meal....as well as groups, mailings, etc. Picking up the phone....any connection enhances top of mind awareness of who we are and what we do.

Hi Carolyn we love the post, but how do we get long distance referrals since most of our buyers are not in Florida?

What a great idea - so simple and cost effective.  The personal touch is still the one that counts the most when it comes to your sphere.

Absolutely love this Carolyn - it only ever happens one on one, so all those folk who stalk networking events and swap business cards are really fooling themselves big time.

Bob Miller from the Ruiz/Miller Team, you actually have a lot of options. You can bet that people who have already bought into Florida will have friends and family who'd love very much to join them.

So you can begin asking "who might you know who lives out of State but would love to come and live in Florida to be near friends and family?" (For example.)

You can do this one-on-one live in Florida, and you can do it via phone or Skype with people long distance.

It's firstly about the relationship, and then about the skill/knowledge behind the questions.

I was reading the responses to Carolyn's Blog and I just did a double take, actually it was a triple take. Has Dr. Paddy Deighan become a Realtor? From Plastic Surgery to Real Estate.......very interesting! LOL

One on one is the best. You have to commit the time, but it pays off.