Refer A Friend?

BRNDIVY

Has anyone ever tried a Refer A Friend type of promotion? If so, how did it work out?

dougchips

We have 2 programs,

Refer a client: Both the existing client and the new client get a savings coupon. The size depends on the size of the job.

Refer a new employee/sub: A bonus of $275 ish ( the cost of running an ad in the paper).

BRNDIVY

Hmmmm..I really like the idea of refer an employee/sub. Do you see positive results?

Glasshousebltr

My eyes must be playing tricks on me......for a second I thought that said "reefer a friend to probation"

Bob

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Bob

BRNDIVY

Ok, That was funny...You just made me choke on my coffee

Mike Finley

Recently I began implementing a real to goodness referral program and the results are getting better and better. At the end of the job we give a customer a couple of referral coupons to give away and a repeat coupon for them, we also give them a thank you letter that also explains how we reward customers for their referrals. We were giving away a gas card while gas prices were high, customers really liked that, now that prices have dropped we are back to dinner gift cards. I'm working on putting a together a vacation drawing done annually in addition to the gift cards for those that refer us. Here is what this stuff looks like. I've found the more concrete you make it the better it works. It's far better to actually have something to give to a customer then to just tell them about it.

Also you will probably find the old 80/20 rule is true for referrals too. We've gotten in good with a couple of teachers, they seem to really like to refer us to their fellow teachers.

dumplin1078

I really like Mike's Idea. I send out thank you post-cards a week after the job is done. In this post card I thank the customer and explain my referral reward program. If a customer refers me to someone else and I do that job I send the original customer a gift card to a local restuarant. I switch up on the resturants, and the gift card amounts vary according to job size $25 is the average. I have been thinking about making it more formal and even doing some kind of year end drawing.

Since I am a sub I don't include the GC's in this, should I?

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dougchips

I have not had to run an ad for the last 3 years. When I use to run ads I would have to answer phone calls all week, conduct phone interviews and in person interviews.......tons of time!