Some people learn best by seeing what other real life small business owners are doing with referral marketing systems. Today I am going to briefly introduce you to 5 real small businesses and the referral marketing systems they use to grow their businesses. (Referral Flood contains pages and pages of these and many people tell me that these are their favorite part of the program)

1) Financial Planner - He created his own referral and lead network by sending a letter to 10 other professionals that he had worked with and felt comfortable referring business to. This letter informed them that he was creating a unique referral network of 100 of the area’s top professional services providers and was inviting them to become a member but that he needed them to recommend 10 others who belonged in this exclusive group.

He then created a resource directory and website that featured all 100 professionals. The entire group promoted the directory and web site and referred business to each other. As a result, other professionals begged to be allowed into the group. The strategy was so powerful that 27 network members did no other form of marketing.

2) An Attorney

Sponsored online teleseminars and invited well-known authors and speakers by allowing them to pitch their books or other products. Targeted clients lined up to hear the prominent speaker and provided their names and email addresses to get on the free call. The teleseminars became so popular that the attorney recorded each call and created an entire library of products that he used for other marketing efforts. By sponsoring the well known authors, the attorney created a very high profile referral network

3) Dentist

Created what he calls compliment cards - Every time a client gives a compliment, like, “that didn’t hurt at all” someone on his staff is ready with a referral card. The staff also emphasizes that the only way they work is by referral.

4) Marketing Consultant

Contacted a bank and an accounting firm that both had small business clients and offered to put on a free marketing seminar for their clients. The bank and the accounting firm invited the guests and provided the space and refreshments. The marketing firm provided the seminar content. The bank and accounting firm liked the idea of doing something for their clients but the twist that really made this work was that the bank and accounting firm saw it as an opportunity to meet each other’s clients and perhaps get some good exposure to prospective clients.

5) Computer Repair

This company simply asked for referrals every time they marketed or communicated with their clients in any manner. They created a big rubber stamp that said “We crave referrals” and stamped that sentiment on every piece of mail that left the place.

Invoices, marketing pieces, newsletters, training manuals, work orders…you name it. By putting that message in front of their prospects constantly they began to receive referrals from many different places.