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: Economic Stimulus

Have you heard of the economic stimulus strategy called "Make A Referral Week"?

Make a referral week runs from March 9-13, 2009. The goal for the week is to generate 1000 referred leads to 1000 deserving small businesses in an effort to highlight the impact of a simple action that could blossom into millions of dollars in new business. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our country and a job-creating engine of the economy. Make a referral week is the small business approach to helping revive the economy.

From my perspective, passing referrals should be a lifetime business strategy. It should remain top of mind every day ... not just for a week. Perhaps developing a catching viral referral strategy will help people to realize what those of us who focus on referrals have known for a long time ... referral business truly is recession proof! During a recession, people not only stay close to home physically, but mentally as well. Generally, people will take less risk during a recession and that includes who they choose to do business with when they have a need. Because of this tendency, it's smart business to begin to spend more time with those people who know you, like you and already trust you ... for those people will have a greater potential of referring you.

So, if you need to focus on passing referrals for a week in order to get that ball rolling for yourself ... then do it! Circle March 9-13 on your calendar and pass as many qualified referrals as you can during that week to help the economy. But from where I sit ... why wait until March 9th to get started? There's a lot of people you can help now ... today ... so why not start NOW?!

If you want more details, have a look at Make A Referral Week