Referral Marketing | Are You Wasting Too Much Time on Social Media?
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, knows the value of referral marketing and introductions. He has even been quoted as saying, “Nothing influences people more than a recommendation from a trusted friend. A trusted referral influences people more than the best broadcast message.”
So would Mr. Zuckerberg tell you to stop using Facebook and other Social Media? Probably not. However, hiding behind technology can cause you to miss opportunities for face-to-face interaction. This lack of personal engagement can hurt your overall referral marketing strategy.
Social Media and Social Selling are all the rage right now. And they certainly have their place. But, using Social Media effectively takes time. This can leave you with less time to engage with clients or even force you to hire an assistant to help manage your Social Media presence. Social Media is certainly not free! .
Your Time is Best Spent Developing Your Referral Marketing Strategy
Do you know who’s making the most money with Social Media right now? The people teaching you how to use it. Kind of ironic, don’t you think? They are selling “hope” that you can hide behind technology rather than interact face-to-face. However, earning the personal recommendation from a trusted source has worked for thousands of years and that isn’t going to change any time soon.
Despite the constant evolution of disruptive technology, one thing hasn’t changed: the power of Referral Marketing. The way we get introduced may change a little, but the principles are the same. The way of the world is meeting someone through someone else. The personal introduction is the warm way we get invited into that person’s life.
Before you hire that LinkedIn consultant or sign up for another Social Media application, take a breath. Ask yourself, “Am I fully using the power of referrals and personal introductions?” Forget the shiny object that seems so cool and instead focus on what’s been proven to work. Develop a process for becoming more referable and asking for referrals without pushing or begging.
While Focusing on Getting More Referrals, You Can’t Ignore Your Web Presence
Here’s the caveat: you must have an internet presence! When you are referred by a client or center of influence, there’s a darn good chance that your new prospect is going to search your name in Google, Yahoo or one of the many search engines. If you come up on the first page – with a great website or LinkedIn profile – the credibility that comes from the referral is bolstered. If your LinkedIn profile is incomplete (such as lacking your photo or contact information), or you don’t show up at all, your credibility is reduced.
Questions for you:
- Have you been hiding behind technology? Tell me more!
- Do you agree or disagree or have something to add? Do it!
- Are you ready to get a proven process to build a thriving referral-based business? Check out: www.ReferralCoachAcademy.com
