Shattering The Myths About Referrals

It has been proven that one of the best ways to build your client base is through referrals. But if you’re like many agents and advisors, you’re not quite sure how to persuade current clients to regularly offer them up. Do you know what may be stopping you from getting the referrals you deserve?

The following are a few myths that have spread in the financial industry. Breaking these myths may help you acquire more qualified referrals than you’ve seen in the past.

Myth #1: Asking for referrals is the easiest way to get referrals.

Agents and advisors know that asking for referrals is the most direct way of letting clients know that you want them. However, many are reluctant to ask. This reluctance makes asking for referrals anything but easy–and for good reason. There are positive ways of asking, however.

Asking for referrals may imply that you are in a negative position and need more business or that you are trying to grow a large (and not personal) firm. Moreover, when aggressively asking for referrals, it can be all about you, your business, your sales. In fact, asking for referrals may not be a natural extension of the relationship you’ve developed with the client. That’s why we sometimes “forget” to ask, even when we’ve been told that asking could help us increase referrals.

Some of this industry’s top producers receive 100 or more referrals each year without direct solicitation. How do they do it? They say it’s the relationship they have with their clients. How would you rate your client relationships? A periodic, proactive call, review meeting or handwritten note can change the way a client feels about you and your organization. It may sound simple, but consistent unexpected acts may give clients just what they need to comfortably, and without prompting, tell others about you.

Myth #2: My clients tell me they “don’t know anyone” who needs my services.

Have you ever heard a client say, ‘I don’t know anyone’ when you made mention of referring? Do you think that’s true–that they actually don’t know anyone who may benefit from your services? Chances are they know lots of people; they’re just not motivated to give you names right now.

One of the most successful strategies I’ve seen for giving clients a reason to immediately refer is an event called, “Don’t Miss the Boat.” This is similar to a client appreciation event; however the only people invited are clients who have referred others to your firm.

You tell your clients, “Mr. Client, don’t miss the boat! We’re doing this big event on October 15th on the Detroit Star, that dinner boat on the Detroit River. It’s going to be a gala event with music and dinner and dancing. You and you’re wife can get all dressed up! But, don’t miss the boat, because the only people we’re inviting are those who have referred clients to us by the event date.”

This event gives clients an immediate reason to think of someone. Yes, it may be a little gimmicky, but we’ve never seen this strategy fail and it has consistently produced referrals of 40 or more per event!