Referrals are Our Lifeblood. Here's How to Get Them.

Written by Susan Dunn, Coach


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7. Here's something else I could possibly get. You know howrepparttar new hairdresser asks you who on earth cut your hair that way? Don't badmouthrepparttar 106433 person who refers. If they aren't good, you shouldn't be referring with them. If they are good, say so. Don't try to steal their client. Use your emotional intelligence and stay inrepparttar 106434 loop.

8. To get referrals, give referrals. That's how I got started. I have a free drawing on my website and there's only one winner a month. I referrepparttar 106435 ones who don't win to coaches who need pro bono clients to work with. In that way I build relationships with others who're in a position to refer to me somewhere downrepparttar 106436 line. I refer for other reasons, and sometimes for no reason at all except to refer.

9. Premiums, reciprocal arrangements, referral fees. These are ethical in some fields and not in others. If you can, use them. Offer referral fees. Gives gifts and premiums. Most of all, give thanks! If you can't, discount your services, give extra sessions, keep your core group at their original hourly fee when you raise your rates and let them know.

Support possible referral sources in their endeavors--donate a door prize forrepparttar 106437 seminar they're giving, offer to invite some of your clients to it, do a joint-presentation whererepparttar 106438 other person can see you at work, point out (to a vendor) that if your practice/company builds, you'll be buying more X, Y Z from them. Let them get to know you and your work product, and then suggest referrals. There will be plenty of opportunity over time forrepparttar 106439 topic to come up. If it doesn't, bring it up.

Strike whilerepparttar 106440 iron is hot. A good time to ask for referrals is right after you've delivered a good product or service.

Carry backup materials with you at all times--business cards, flyers, and brochures that describe allrepparttar 106441 things you do and give contact information.

The major problem is few of us understand fully what another person outside our field does, and your major task it to find ways to bring uprepparttar 106442 range of things that you can do for someone. To do this properly you need time withrepparttar 106443 other person. Therefore build a relationship so you'll be around them enough to do that.

10. When someone refers someone to you, it isn't over, it's just begun. When someone refers a client to me, withinrepparttar 106444 bounds of confidentiality, I keeprepparttar 106445 referring person informed. I write or call them to sayrepparttar 106446 contact has been made and that I appreciaterepparttar 106447 referral. I inform them of stages inrepparttar 106448 process, withrepparttar 106449 client's permission, i.e., "I've scheduled Carmen to takerepparttar 106450 StrengthsFinders profile," or "Carmen and I will meet on ____." I let people who refer others to me know how much I appreciate it. I always call them and ask them if their client/friend/spouse/business partner was pleased with my services. I ask them for more referrals.

Done right it's a slow process of integrity and good services. It can easily take a year for someone else to feel confident in referring someone to you. It builds slowly but once it reachesrepparttar 106451 tipping point, it's exponential.

Be sure to let other people know when you've referred people to them, becauserepparttar 106452 contact is not always made. I callrepparttar 106453 other person or email them and let them know I've referred so-and-so to them.

One way you can hone your skills at making these connections is to work with a coach. There's an art to getting referrals.



Susan Dunn, M.A., Clinical Psychology is the author of "Referrals: How to Get Them & What To Do With Them Once You've Got Them." She's a personal and professional development coach and helps professionals market their services. Email her for free ezine.


Leverage Your Time Now!

Written by Dr. Donald E. Wetmore


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3. Attend a Speed Reading Class The average person reads at about 200 words per minute and spends a couple of hours each day reading. What if you could double your reading speed? What takes two hours can now be done in one hour or you can continue to spendrepparttar same amount of time reading, but read twice as much. Sign up for a speed-reading class. I teach one. It’s a six-hour seminar and atrepparttar 106432 end ofrepparttar 106433 day everyone inrepparttar 106434 class will at least double their reading speed and significantly increase their comprehension.

4. Develop Your Communication Skills A lot of your personal success inrepparttar 106435 future will be in direct relationship to your ability to competently and confidently communicate what you know both orally and in writing. Make it an ongoing commitment to continue to improve your speaking and writing skills. You’ll save time and have a more successful career.

5. Develop Your People Network Personal productivity in large amounts has to do withrepparttar 106436 good cooperation of other people. Someone who does not enjoyrepparttar 106437 good cooperation of others can surely be productive but not as productive as one who enjoys that cooperation. On an on-going basis, develop your list of personal contacts, your networking list. Always offer to help everyone on your list whenever you can. (“To have a friend, first be a friend.”) Do it right and your network will be there for you when you need it.

Dr. Donald E. Wetmore-Professional Speaker Productivity Institute-Time Management Seminars 127 Jefferson St., Stratford, CT 06615 (203) 386-8062 (800) 969-3773 fax: (203) 386-8064 email: ctsem@msn.com Free Timely Time Management Tips: Visit our Time Management Supersite: http://www.balancetime.com/ Professional Member-National Speakers Association since 1989




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