Friday, May 06, 2011

Referral Marketing: Strengthen Your Relationships


Have you ever noticed that some over the counter drugs are listed as "extra stength"? If you really have a splitting headache, you might grab the extra stength version of Tylenol as opposed to regular strength. Why? Because the hope is that the extra strength variety will do more for you. The assumption is that if there is more strength in the product, you will see and feel results faster. Right?

That's exactly why you need to strengthen your relationships. The more strength in your relationships, the more they can and are willing to do for you. The more they do for you, the more results you'll see.

Referrals don't come from people ... they come from the strong relationships you have with people. So, how can you strengthen your relationships? Here's one example:

A friend of mine (who happens to be a client and referral source) discovered earlier this year that his wife has breast cancer. Once they were able to breathe again, they decided that they were going to participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Mother's Day. They put out the word for others to support them. I organized a small team to join the walk and raise funds for the cause. Several other clients of mine gave donations to support my friend.

Supporting the efforts of your referral sources does not go un-noticed. When you offer your support out of kindness and authenticity, relationships gain strength and durability. Who can you support today?

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