How to Start & Manage a Referral Services Business
Word-of-mouth advertising is still the most effective form of marketing for a business, according to basic marketing. One negative experience from a customer will spread quicker to their friends, family and associates then all of the many positive experiences they had with the same company. When looking for a new plumber, lawyer or doctor, we usually ask friends and family for assistance. Starting a referral business allow you to be the go-to person that clients will seek to find the best service for their needs.
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Instructions
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Determine what type of referral services business you want to start. Some referral services only specialize in one field; for example, you may choose to refer only those that are looking for lawyers or health care specialists. Or you can create a more general referral service that refers people to maintenance personnel, health care providers, contractors and cleaning services.
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Contact the businesses in your area to determine if they would like to register with your database. Contact these businesses either by speaking with them over the phone, in person, or a fax solicitation. Write out a script and have a friend or relative look at it for any errors. When contacting potential businesses stick to your script, which will keep you organized and confident.
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Add your businesses to one centralized database or printable list. Once you have compiled a list of all the businesses that you can refer customers, determine how you want to issue the list to your customers. They can contact you directly which will be more time-consuming, you can print out a booklet they can purchase or create a website with where the information can be accessed.
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Determine your fee structure. You can choose to charge businesses a one-time, weekly or monthly fee to be added to your referral list or you can charge customers to purchase your list. If business owners think you have a lot of subscribers looking for services they may be more likely to pay you to be on your list.
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Create a website for your referral services business. Whether you choose to use your website for customers to access your businesses or not, creating a website allows businesses to register with your site. Attempt to design your website using website templates (See Resources) or hiring a freelance web designer from sites, such as getafreelancer.com or guru.com.
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Continuously advertise your referral service for new businesses and for subscribers by placing ads in your local paper, advertising in online forums, leaving flyers and publications at supermarkets schools, and churches.
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Capture testimonials--positive and negative feedback from your customers based on their experiences with the business. This further allows your customers to make an educated decision on who they need to select for their needs.
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