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Save Time and Stress From Getting New Freelance Clients with Referrals
[A Thread]
Today, you'll learn:
- How to create an awesome client experience
- How to ask for referrals
- How to stay in touch after the project is finished
#30DaysofThreads (9/30)
[A Thread]
Today, you'll learn:
- How to create an awesome client experience
- How to ask for referrals
- How to stay in touch after the project is finished
#30DaysofThreads (9/30)
Most freelancers get 90% of their new clients or projects through referrals.
A referral is when a current or past client sends new people to work with you. In other words, they become your biggest promoters.
For example, my friend is a writer with a strong online presence.
A referral is when a current or past client sends new people to work with you. In other words, they become your biggest promoters.
For example, my friend is a writer with a strong online presence.
However, she gets most of her work from past clients or employers.
They loved working with her, so when someone they know needs a content writer, they send her information.
Having other people send you new work saves you a lot of time and money from looking for new clients.
They loved working with her, so when someone they know needs a content writer, they send her information.
Having other people send you new work saves you a lot of time and money from looking for new clients.
Looking back, I wished that I spent more time nurturing my relationships.
Tapping into the network of 2 of my past clients increased my monthly income.
One blogging client got me a $300 per. month email marketing client. Another client referred to me to 2 other agency owners.
Tapping into the network of 2 of my past clients increased my monthly income.
One blogging client got me a $300 per. month email marketing client. Another client referred to me to 2 other agency owners.
1) Create an Awesome Client Experience
When I had trouble getting referrals, I asked @WhuttheHale for advice.
She explained that clients refer people who are:
- reliable
- hard-working
- make them feel special
Simply, how they experience you affects how they promote you.
When I had trouble getting referrals, I asked @WhuttheHale for advice.
She explained that clients refer people who are:
- reliable
- hard-working
- make them feel special
Simply, how they experience you affects how they promote you.
Ari explained that it should be like this:
- Consistent check-ins
- Deliver amazing work
- Practice gift-giving
- Consistent check-ins
- Deliver amazing work
- Practice gift-giving
2) Consistent Check-Ins
Again, clients like to work with low-risk people. People who have done the work before.
This makes them feel less anxious.
Erase your client's stress by providing an outline or timeline of your project or assignment.
Show them what they'll expect.
Again, clients like to work with low-risk people. People who have done the work before.
This makes them feel less anxious.
Erase your client's stress by providing an outline or timeline of your project or assignment.
Show them what they'll expect.
OR you can email or call them once a week to share updates on the project.
Tell them what you've learned, finished, or achieved. You can even check-in for their opinions on stuff.
This makes you look reliable.
Tell them what you've learned, finished, or achieved. You can even check-in for their opinions on stuff.
This makes you look reliable.
That you know what you're doing and that you're dedicated to them.
Not communicating unnerves them a little bit.
I know because I've gotten emails about this.
Not communicating unnerves them a little bit.
I know because I've gotten emails about this.
3) Deliver Amazing Work
Y'all, I'm gonna be real.
Freelancers are notorious for not executing well.
So many of us fail to deliver on our promises, and it stops people and businesses from hiring us.
They've either been disappointed or scammed.
Y'all, I'm gonna be real.
Freelancers are notorious for not executing well.
So many of us fail to deliver on our promises, and it stops people and businesses from hiring us.
They've either been disappointed or scammed.
This is a topic I'll write about in a later thread.
You get clients to love you by delivering the work they asked for. The bigger the results, the better.
That's why when you start a new project, you should under-promise and over-deliver.
You get clients to love you by delivering the work they asked for. The bigger the results, the better.
That's why when you start a new project, you should under-promise and over-deliver.
You want the client to be blown away.
When they're satisfied with your work, they'll have no problem referring you to other people.
In fact, they'll be proud to.
So please, DO YOUR JOB!
When they're satisfied with your work, they'll have no problem referring you to other people.
In fact, they'll be proud to.
So please, DO YOUR JOB!
4) Practice Gift-Giving
This is really special because most people don't do this.
EVERYBODY LIKES GIFTS!
The more personal, the better.
They don't even have to be super expensive, just thoughtful and kind.
This is really special because most people don't do this.
EVERYBODY LIKES GIFTS!
The more personal, the better.
They don't even have to be super expensive, just thoughtful and kind.
When a client gets a gift, it's a nice surprise. They're like, "Oh wow. This is more than a business partnership."
Ari recommends that you send gifts at 3 touchpoints:
- The start of working together
- The middle of the project
- After the project or working together
Ari recommends that you send gifts at 3 touchpoints:
- The start of working together
- The middle of the project
- After the project or working together
If you want to be more thoughtful, each gift will be more expensive after each touchpoint.
So the first gift is $15, second gift is $50, third gift is $100. Please customize this for your budget.
I tried this out for myself after losing touch with a client.
So the first gift is $15, second gift is $50, third gift is $100. Please customize this for your budget.
I tried this out for myself after losing touch with a client.
I paid for a $33 customized gift box from @greetabl. I sent a tea bag, a Starbucks gift card, and a lovely note.
She loved it!
It's a great gift for female entrepreneurs. Sometimes they have gifts for men too.
She loved it!
It's a great gift for female entrepreneurs. Sometimes they have gifts for men too.
5) Book Recommendations
Here are some related books that I love:
Never Lose a Customer Again: Turn Any Sale into Lifelong Loyalty in 100 Days by Joey Coleman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074LT3LT5/ref=rdr_ext_sb_ti_hist_3
I LOVE this book. I've highlighted it so many times and will be executing it next year.
Here are some related books that I love:
Never Lose a Customer Again: Turn Any Sale into Lifelong Loyalty in 100 Days by Joey Coleman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074LT3LT5/ref=rdr_ext_sb_ti_hist_3
I LOVE this book. I've highlighted it so many times and will be executing it next year.
This book will help you create an amazing client experience using different platforms like phone, email, in-person, etc.
So if money is an issue with you, this book will help you wow your client without breaking the bank.
So if money is an issue with you, this book will help you wow your client without breaking the bank.
Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Client Retention by John Ruhlin : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FT16BPM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
It will teach you how to be smart with your gift-giving and use it to grow your business.
It will teach you how to be smart with your gift-giving and use it to grow your business.
The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself by John Jantsch: https://www.amazon.com/Referral-Engine-Teaching-Business-Market-ebook/dp/B003NX75HM/ref=pd_sim_351_3/144-4975090-4032431?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B003NX75HM&pd_rd_r=2c20796e-65ba-4b9c-a296-7d1ba4373cdc&pd_rd_w=fN1tF&pd_rd_wg=aGFm3&pf_rd_p=04d27813-a1f2-4e7b-a32b-b5ab374ce3f9&pf_rd_r=JT95NNFG97BFGN6YYYWH&psc=1&refRID=JT95NNFG97BFGN6YYYWH
This book will help you be more strategic with your referrals. And it will give you tips on how to develop partnerships to get more referrals.
This book will help you be more strategic with your referrals. And it will give you tips on how to develop partnerships to get more referrals.
6) How to ASK
When you delivered fantastic work and made your client happy, it's time to ask.
You shouldn't be nervous when asking for referrals.
Even if they say no, it's not a damper on the relationship.
lol you already got paid.
When you delivered fantastic work and made your client happy, it's time to ask.
You shouldn't be nervous when asking for referrals.
Even if they say no, it's not a damper on the relationship.
lol you already got paid.
The best time to ask is:
- After completing a project
- Worked together after 6 months
- Just made a client very happy but limited how much work they gave you
NEVER ASK FOR A REFFERAL AFTER AN INVOICE. That's awkward AF.
- After completing a project
- Worked together after 6 months
- Just made a client very happy but limited how much work they gave you
NEVER ASK FOR A REFFERAL AFTER AN INVOICE. That's awkward AF.
You can incentivize people to give you referrals by offering them rewards for doing so like a gift card.
Here are articles about writing a great Referral email (please read them):
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-ask-for-referrals-and-get-more-clients-2948438
https://www.hellobonsai.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-referrals
https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-ask-for-referrals-from-clients-email-template https://www.freshbooks.com/blog/asking-for-referrals
Here are articles about writing a great Referral email (please read them):
https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-to-ask-for-referrals-and-get-more-clients-2948438
https://www.hellobonsai.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-referrals
https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-ask-for-referrals-from-clients-email-template https://www.freshbooks.com/blog/asking-for-referrals
YOUR TURN: How do you get clients to refer you?
Reply or DM me your response.
Reply or DM me your response.
