Refer you?

So here’s the scenario…

‘Looking forward to seeing you at conference Tim.’  Says I.

To which Tim’s reply was … ‘Hey, yeah but sorry I cannot make that date now, I need to be elsewhere and I don’t want to let them down.’

Let THEM down …

Most of us understand that the best kind of business is the type that has been warmed up for you. Introductions to the possibility of new business already made by a colleague or friend, they’ve ‘put the word in,’ you’ve been recommended, introduced by testimonial. Call it what you like.

Like to be referable?

There is no shortcut to becoming referable. We have to earn that. Some would say we need to have at least the following three things in place.

Be able. Yes, the prerequisite in the world of business is . You need to be capable of performing the challenges and responsibilities you take on. You should do as you say you shall. Follow through on promises, be … dependable. If you are sloppy, tardy, or unskilled, you cannot expect existing clients to help you gain new customers, only for you to disappoint.

Be the most remarkable. Not the alternative … that’s no kind of endorsement. Referrals come through providing an exemplary service by being reliable, by surpassing expectations and by having a great attitude. It’s about ensuring your customer has every reason to offer the recommendation.

Be transferable. It is essential for refer-ability. Do you have a punchy, one-sentence summary that creates a memorable picture in the mind? If not, make it a priority to develop one and build any future presentation around it. Make sure it appears on your web home page, on the blog and on the email signature.

What about being sociable? Yes, social (media) can, of course, help us, it can ‘like’ how good we are, ‘tweet’ and ‘share’ how fabulous our business is, but we first need to be person-able, remarkable, and transferable to become referable.

We need to earn it.