I blog, tweet, and make the occasional appearance on Facebook, alternating curmudgeonliness with a predisposition to gush over the Northern California weather or the joys of soup-making. All this in the service of strengthening my brand, showcasing my writing ability, showing my human side, and ultimately building my business.
So, I recently sat up and took notice when a little gem from Manta popped into my email box. Entitled “Recognize referrals,” the thesis of the message was simple. When you get a referral for new business, be appreciative. Jeez, what a concept.
How many of us, I wonder, get a referral, smile happily, go after the business and land it, and then completely forget to thank the person who referred us? I know that I have, and I bet you have, too. The Manta approach to responding to referrals, by the way, is to offer a “small token of thanks, loyalty discount or handwritten note.”
These are all great ideas. I love the idea of a handwritten note, but realistically, how many of us get around to writing one, as Rene Siegel of High Tech Connect would also suggest? In my opinion, if you get a referral by email, it’s perfectly ok to respond by email. The key is to do it fast—acknowledging and saying “thanks” on receipt. (Of course, this won’t work if you let emails sit for days before opening them) Don’t wait until you get the business. And then, when you do get the business, say “thanks” again.
It’s the right thing to do. And in a world where word of mouth is still vital, it’s the smart thing to do.
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