The Refer phase is the last stage in the customer’s lifecycle, it follows the DELIGHT phase.
After attracting your prospect, converting them into a paying customer, and providing excellent products and services, plus delighting them with additional upgrades, you may think that you’re done. But you still have one phase in the customer lifecycle that can make you more sales, and that is the Refer phase.
When you deliver excellent products and services, the Refer phase will be easy. A satisfied customer will be enthusiastic in referring you to others. Plus, it connects you to the right customers.
A referral is the most inexpensive and effective form of marketing. But how do referrals work? How do we create an effective referral program?
Here are a few things that you need to consider when building an effective Referral Program that suits your business needs:
Knowing the right time and the right place
Successful referral programs reach customers at the right time and in the right place. Here are some signs that you know it is the right time and the right place for your referral program:
- If your customer has been using your products and services for a long time.
- If your customer has achieved a certain milestone like completing your service or attained a certificate in your program.
- If your customer has renewed their subscription of your products or services.
- If your customer has given you a positive review, especially in social media.
- If your customer has successfully completed your survey and has given you a positive remark.
Give incentives
Some people will be motivated and go the extra mile to refer you if they get something in return. So be generous in giving out incentives to your referee.
But how to know the best incentives to give?
With this, it is important to know the interest of your customers.
Are they someone who will be more interested in
- receiving money,
- discount on your service, or
- are they someone who is contented receiving a physical gift or something that is related to your product?
By knowing the right incentives to give to your customers, you will be able to create a Referral Program that will fit your business needs and budget.
Keep it simple
It is already a challenge to encourage someone to refer you. So don’t create a complicated referral process that will turn off your referee. Keep your referral process simple, brief, clear and easy to understand.
Having a simple and easy to follow Referral program will encourage your customers to refer more. Furthermore, you won’t have a hard time tracking referrals. So keep everything simple and clear.
Ontraport has a FREE and ready to use Referral campaign. If you are an Ontraport user and needs help or new to this and would like to give it a go, feel free to contact us so we can help you.