business internt

Is there anything more effective than a recommendation from a friend? The credibility that a friend or even an acquaintance has cannot be bought with money. The above referral was actually emailed by a satisfied Sport Clips™ customer to his friend, along with a coupon for $3 off. This is just one of many referrals sent by Joan & Chuck Matheny customers.

Article text:

Is there anything more effective than a recommendation from a friend? You can’t buy the credibility that a friend or even an acquaintance has with money. The above referral was actually emailed by a satisfied Sport Clips™ customer to his friend, along with a coupon for $3 off. This is just one of many referrals sent by Joan & Chuck Matheny customers.

The Matheny’s own two Sport Clips™ stores. Sport Clips™ offers an atmosphere where men and boys feel comfortable getting their hair cut. Each chair is equipped with a TV showing a sporting event, the sports theme is everywhere, and the most important service is the MVP. The MVP includes a shampoo, a neck massage, and a hot towel -- you have to try it!

In September 2005, Chuck was looking for a way to communicate with his customers without having to buy expensive ads. He also wanted to improve first-time customer retention. He decided to try PromoterZ™ in one of his stores to see if it would help. He is so pleased with the results that he is now using the system in his second business. You can read the details of Matheny’s experience here.

I’m biased, of course, because I think PromoterZ™ is an easy and inexpensive way to generate referrals, and I hope every business owner chooses it. However, it's certainly not the only way to encourage your customers to tell their friends about your business. Mity Lite, the maker of the world-famous lightweight and durable folding tables, attributes 40% of its sales to its sales reps always asking, “Who else do you know that would appreciate the quality of our products?”

Another company that attributes a large portion of its sales to referrals is Bike Friday. Here is a description of CMO's referral The company also uses a referral rewards program. Customers receive a set of 12 prepaid postcards with their name and that of the Bike Friday expert who sold them their bikes. Each time a customer meets someone whose interest in their bike has been piqued, they fill out a card and drop it in the mail. Bike Friday then sends information to the contact. In addition, this interaction is recorded in the database so that riders who make a referral receive a bonus when their prospect buys a bike. Customers can choose either a $50 check or a $75 credit toward future products. Day accumulated enough referral credit to purchase a $2,000 bike last year.

The referral program has helped the company gain more than a third of its 10,000 customers; it is also helping to increase sales. In the last three and a half years, the program has generated $1.3 million in sales. In 2004, 29 percent of sales came from referrals.

Customer referrals work, and as the advertising clutter continues to grow, they will become more and more important. If you are not already doing it, think about how you can make it easier for your customers to tell their friends about your business. It will be worth the effort

Bullion Bay