HOW TO PROGRAM YOUR CLIENTS FOR REFERRALS

Referrals are a prominent branch of the growing real estate business. If you make an amazing deal with one client and he gives you three more—that is precisely how a referral works. Your potential clients can reach you through word of mouth coming from their trusted people.

If you are in the real estate business, you already know the significance of referrals, and tuning a referral program is the need of the hour. The referral program is the way to turn on the client acquisition process, but how to get started with a referral program? We have got you the best techniques for it.

When to ask for a referral?

The timing of referral is as crucial as the referral itself. The right timing can optimize your clientage more than you can think. Most realtors are confused about what is the right time to ask for a referral.

The moment your client lists their house is precisely when you should ask for a referral, as this is the best time. They will break the news about their house and talk about the procedure in detail to their network. Your clients will make your referral a part of their natural conversation with their co-workers, neighbors, friends, and family. Adding your referral to their story at that time is going to be of great help to you.

BEST WAY TO BUILD A REFERRAL PROGRAM

Here are some ways which will help you a perfect referral program and land you clients like never before:

Ask your previous clients

No one gives a better referral than the one who has experienced himself. When you close an amazing deal with one of your clients and make them satisfied, then you can ask them for a referral. Chances are your client will happily refer you with and convey all the details/perks of your services.

One client who is happy with your services will not only bring you one referral but many, many more. This is the best referral system a realtor could have as it speaks of both your customer service and your image. Remember, your former client is always helping somewhere in the background.

You can directly ask your client through email, a note at the bottom of the invoice, or you could simply ask them in person.

Provide a review option on your website

The world is digital today. What do you do the moment you hear about something new? You google its website and check the reviews. The same goes for your real estate business. People look for reviews every time they want to cut a deal with anyone.

Adding a 'leave a review' option to your website and social media will help you a lot. The review session can have a star-based rating and a small box for the client's message. It is a powerful form of authenticity.

Provide Incentive and gift cards

One of the most effective referral techniques is providing little tokens every time someone refers you. You can leave your business cards at a salon or a restaurant and offer some amount on every card they hand out. Every time you cut a deal with a new client, you provide the referring person with some money/gift.

Email scripts

If you want your clients to refer you, make it easy for them. You can make a mobile-friendly email template to add links and send them to your best client. Remember, this has to be easy, and the client just needs to add his name to send it.

Create an email signature

An email signature with a referral request seems professional and less cheesy. Every time you send the email, the signature is read too. This gives a subtle reminder to your client.

Handover your business card

Send your business card along every time you make a deal with your client or convey paperwork. This will keep them reminded, and chances are your card ends up in their papers somewhere at home. Business cards are an easy way for clients to forward to their network and land you clients.

Create referral marketing materials

Things like email templates, pamphlets, and business cards with your logo and contact information on them are excellent ways to get referrals. You can add the 'Referred by:___' option on it to keep track of your well-wishers.

These types of referral material are easy for your clients to forward.

Maintain your LinkedIn profile

Linkedin is an excellent platform for professionals. It has an option called 'endorsements.' Asking your clients to give your endorsements on LinkedIn is very effective to make your social image strong. It not only creates your endorsements but helps you create a network that can be a great help in the future.

Noble cause

Every time you ask for a referral through any of your techniques, mention that you will be donating a certain percentage of the deal to a noble cause. Noble causes like the donation to cancer patients wounded warriors etc. A noble cause not only brings blessing to your business but helps you gain referral on it.

Optimize your Facebook and other social media

The digital world is a prominent place to make a presence out there. Sharing your content regularly on these and other relevant social media platforms will help you to build an audience of loyal subscribers.

Moreover, you should dedicate some part of your weekly schedule to engaging with social media followers. For instance, you can search Facebook for groups you can join. Add content to these groups, but be sure to comment on the content left by others.

Bottom Line

Asking for a referral can be uncomfortable and confusing, but it can be made easier with these techniques. These statistical techniques to ask for referrals go a longer way than you can imagine. Never underestimate the power of your referrals.