Thread: A referral program that works?

Being in sales I have always learned that if you take good care of your clients they will take care of you. I have turned people away because my product was not right for them and even told them what they should be looking at buying and those people have sent me prospects. Of course I am a likeable guy and people want to do business with people they like. I truly care about my clients not just as clients but people. We will talk about vacations, sports, kids, whatever. I even track their birthdays. That all might sound cheesy but it works. When I ask my clients to refer me to other people they do it knowing I am not going to screw them and take good care of them and if my product is not going to work for them then I won't sell it to them. I don't waste their time and I won't waste mine. The best referral system is a straight forward one, just ask!

Of course you could offer $50.00 for every referral that buys too.

I have a lot of people that just refer to refer people. I hold the same values as you - treat the customers right. I am wondering how I can increase the referral rate though? I'd like to cut most of my advertising and strictly go off referrals... I have seen it done in my industry but it's tough to get a straight answer out of the ones who are doing it, how they do it. I know I'm on the right track, but is there a quicker more efficient way to do it?

I am guessing this is for your martial arts school. How about working with an elementary school. Maybe you could do a presentation for the kids in the gym? Do you offer a camp? I have seen a school by me that offers a camp for the summer. How about a parents night out, they drop off the kids for a free lesson and the parents can go to the movies, everybody is a winner. How about doing a street fair presentation. How about offering lessons for special needs students. My son is high functioning autistic and we are looking for somebody that has patients to teach him martial arts. I know these ideas are not really referral ideas but I thought I would throw them out.

Originally Posted by rocksolid

I am guessing this is for your martial arts school. How about working with an elementary school. Maybe you could do a presentation for the kids in the gym? Do you offer a camp? I have seen a school by me that offers a camp for the summer. How about a parents night out, they drop off the kids for a free lesson and the parents can go to the movies, everybody is a winner. How about doing a street fair presentation. How about offering lessons for special needs students. My son is high functioning autistic and we are looking for somebody that has patients to teach him martial arts. I know these ideas are not really referral ideas but I thought I would throw them out.

I think these are all good ideas, especially the elementary school idea. How about when a new member signs up they can write down who referred them. When the existing member gets credit for say 5 referrals, they are awarded a free month or something like that? That will give parents incentive to tell other parents because they know if they get 5 ppl to sign up they can save some money in their own pockets. You could just keep a little notebook with tally marks next to the members names for referrals they've made.

Originally Posted by rocksolid

I am guessing this is for your martial arts school. How about working with an elementary school. Maybe you could do a presentation for the kids in the gym? Do you offer a camp? I have seen a school by me that offers a camp for the summer. How about a parents night out, they drop off the kids for a free lesson and the parents can go to the movies, everybody is a winner. How about doing a street fair presentation. How about offering lessons for special needs students. My son is high functioning autistic and we are looking for somebody that has patients to teach him martial arts. I know these ideas are not really referral ideas but I thought I would throw them out.

All great ideas. I do all of these consistently. I would love to teach your son, I have several children with all sorts of "challenges". I'm not a big fan of labeling the kids because they are all expected to do the same things. Where do you live? If you PM me I can direct you to a decent school (I believe ).

Originally Posted by Knowledge Kick

I think these are all good ideas, especially the elementary school idea. How about when a new member signs up they can write down who referred them. When the existing member gets credit for say 5 referrals, they are awarded a free month or something like that? That will give parents incentive to tell other parents because they know if they get 5 ppl to sign up they can save some money in their own pockets. You could just keep a little notebook with tally marks next to the members names for referrals they've made.

Great idea. Without going into too much detail, there are some flaws in the business model that won't allow me to change their tuition.

BUT, I do a "Bring-a-Friend Contest" a couple times a year which brings in a bunch of new students. (It is actually going on this month again!) For every friend they bring in to try a free class, they get to pick a prize out of a basket (dollar store prizes, the kids love them). Normally I give a $300 shopping spree in the karate catalog for the person who brings the most friends. This month's prize is a Nintendo DSi. The kids are pretty excited about it. But how can I create this every month? I can't just give out tons and tons of prizes every month... or can I? Will it lose it's potency if I am constantly saying, "Ok guys, this month's bring a friend contest prize is..." Realizing that not all the kids that come in to try a free class as a friend, sign up on a program - I need to create something that will bring in new students inexpensively.

I live in NY, If you know any schools that would be great!

2 more thoughts. Offer your program to the boy and girl scouts in your local area. Also make up coupon cards and drop them off at a local business to leave on their counter so when people come in to buy something they can pick up your card for a free lesson. I have seen this done in my area with a bowling alley. Their coupons are in places like pizza stores and subways shops ( I guess any place kids go to ) Mabe an arcade or video store.

Originally Posted by rocksolid

2 more thoughts. Offer your program to the boy and girl scouts in your local area. Also make up coupon cards and drop them off at a local business to leave on their counter so when people come in to buy something they can pick up your card for a free lesson. I have seen this done in my area with a bowling alley. Their coupons are in places like pizza stores and subways shops ( I guess any place kids go to ) Mabe an arcade or video store.

done, done, ..and.. done