Referral Marketing: WOM to the Rescue!

Did you know that 80% of people STILL find their next job with the help of their network? Even with ALL the technology we have at our disposal ... WOM (word of mouth) still reins supreme!

So ... if you're reading this and you've recently lost your job because of the recession ... here are three things you need to do right now to empower your network to help you.

1) Establish your GOAL. What kind of position do you want? What company would you like to work for? In that company, who do you need to meet or interview with? The more specific you are, the easier it is for your network to help you!

2) Create a template email for your network. Remember ... if you make it easy for people to help you, they will. A template email that says exacly what you'd like them to say is perfect. When your network finds a prospect for you ... they don't have to think and can use your template to introduce you to that person quickly and efficiently.

3)Provide your network with materials. The people in your network who are going to help you need resources. Think about it ... what do they need to have at their disposal to increase their success of referring you to a prospective employer? Resumes? Business cards? Press releases about you? Articles you wrote?

The odds are that your network will find you your next position ... so why not do YOUR part in helping them to be successful! Give them the information and resources they need to make you look great and stand heads and shoulders above your competition ... just like in referral marketing.

Referral Marketing: Social Networking

150 million users on Facebook!
36 million users on LinkedIn!
4.43 million users on Twitter!

I got these numbers from the web last week ... they've probably increased significantly by now!

If you haven't begun to work an online network of some sort by now, you're missing out! It's one of those things that certainly is not going to go away ... so you might as well get on board. I have a profile on LinkedIn, Plaxo, and Facebook. Personally, I like LinkedIn. It's easy for a non-techie like me to use it (otherwise, forget it).

But the BIG question is ... can it actually help you find new business in this economy? Yes ... absolutely! Imagine this scenario ... you're sitting in your pajamas browsing your best friend's LinkedIn contacts only to see the name of the CEO you've been trying to meet for the last two months! Or this scenario ... imagine browsing the contacts of your best client only to find 5 perfect prospects that they could introduce you right now! Can you find business? Absolutely!

Here's the caveat ... business won't just miraculously show up on your doorstep simply by setting up a profile on a social networking site. Just like face to face networking, you must dedicate time in your schedule to work that system to reap the benefits. I recommend at least one hour per week initially to get started learning the systems and reviewing who your people know and then activating your network to make connections for you.

Stop wasting time. Stop being afraid of the social networking sites. Get on board today and stop leaving money on the table!