5 Ways to Stay Top of Mind With Referral Partners

As a local business, we’ve seen just how important business referrals are. Word of mouth is everything for our commercial printing services in Scottsdale. When we meet a potential referral partner, we have 5 things we keep in mind to make sure we’re the first Scottsdale printer they think of when they have a customer who could use our services.

1.  Above all…network, network, network

Sitting behind your computer is only going to get you so far. Venture out and meet new people. Making new connections helps build a strong network of like-minded business people, all the while getting your business in front of them.

2. E-Newsletters

These should go out about every two weeks and be clear, concise and to the point. Take your industry jargon and put it in layman’s terms.

Related:  10 Printing Terms You Need to Know

It’s always good to include your current special, but don’t make sales your focal point. By freely giving information to your clients, it shows your industry expertise, which builds trust, and in turn, can eventually lead to new business.

3. Meet with your referral partners face-to-face

It’s always nice to put a name to a face and see the person they’ll be entrusting their contacts to. Even a simple cup of coffee, handshake and, “Hey, how are you,” can keep you at the top of their referral list. Be genuine and relevant. Show them something unique or interesting that you’re working on. This shows that you’re on top of your game, always searching for the next big thing in your industry.

4. Send thank you notes

When you close business, send out a thank you note. Hand written notes aren’t very common nowadays so they have an extra bit of personalization that technological communication lacks.

5. Create value in what you do

Set up an event, social media Q&A or a webinar where you can showcase the newest information that is trending in your industry. Expose them to parts of your business they may not know about. Give them insight into new trends in your industry, establishing your place as an industry leader and giving them ‘shiny’ new information to give to potential clients.