Comments on: Is It Unprofessional to Ask for Referrals? http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2005/11/15/is-it-unprofessional-to-ask-for-referrals/ Small business marketing blog Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:39:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ninefish http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2005/11/15/is-it-unprofessional-to-ask-for-referrals/#comment-205 Ninefish Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-205 The dentist in australia is Paddy Lund, he runs a business he calls the happiness centred business, it's by referral only, he has a locked door policy [only client get the key] he now works a third of the time he used to, only does work he's passionate about, and makes more profit than when he was working on every tom dick and sally. part of that story is here http://www.practice-management-consulting.net/profit-articles.html> link out The dentist in australia is Paddy Lund, he runs a business he calls the happiness centred business, it’s by referral only, he has a locked door policy [only client get the key] he now works a third of the time he used to, only does work he’s passionate about, and makes more profit than when he was working on every tom dick and sally.

part of that story is here
http://www.practice-management-consulting.net/profit-articles.html> link out

]]> By: chrismear http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2005/11/15/is-it-unprofessional-to-ask-for-referrals/#comment-216 chrismear Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-216 Thanks for the reply John -- I have a better idea of where you're coming from now. I realise you didn't say 'demand'. I think it was the word 'responsibility' that caught my eye, and seemed like it was being a bit demanding of the customer. But, as you say, in the context of a healthy, mutually beneficial relationship (rather than just ME BUSINESS, YOU CUSTOMER), I can see how this approach would make good sense for both parties. Particularly in a one-to-one service industry. Thanks for the reply John — I have a better idea of where you’re coming from now.

I realise you didn’t say ‘demand’. I think it was the word ‘responsibility’ that caught my eye, and seemed like it was being a bit demanding of the customer.

But, as you say, in the context of a healthy, mutually beneficial relationship (rather than just ME BUSINESS, YOU CUSTOMER), I can see how this approach would make good sense for both parties. Particularly in a one-to-one service industry.

]]> By: Gord http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2005/11/15/is-it-unprofessional-to-ask-for-referrals/#comment-218 Gord Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-218 A dentist could offer a free teeth-cleaning for every X referrals that end up being paid customers. Incentives! If he's good he'll soon have more business than he can handle IMO. A dentist could offer a free teeth-cleaning for every X referrals that end up being paid customers. Incentives! If he’s good he’ll soon have more business than he can handle IMO.

]]> By: chrismear http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2005/11/15/is-it-unprofessional-to-ask-for-referrals/#comment-219 chrismear Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-219 *Demanding* your customers to provide referrals? That's a bit much, don't you think? That seems to be an incredibly unprofessional attitude. As a customer, I want businesses that are focused on *me*, not just on themselves and where their next lead is coming from. Maybe it's a UK/US divide thing. You guys seem to love the hard-sell over there. *Demanding* your customers to provide referrals? That’s a bit much, don’t you think? That seems to be an incredibly unprofessional attitude.

As a customer, I want businesses that are focused on *me*, not just on themselves and where their next lead is coming from.

Maybe it’s a UK/US divide thing. You guys seem to love the hard-sell over there.

]]> By: John Jantsch http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/2005/11/15/is-it-unprofessional-to-ask-for-referrals/#comment-220 John Jantsch Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-220 Chris, Hope you weren't too Gobsmacked (sorry, I picked that up from my daughter's Welsh soccer coach) with my post, but here's my point. I never used the work demand and the only reason someone would jump to that word is this false notion that the customer is always right. No, the customer is always your partner. For the relationship to a healthy one both parties should expect to give and take. The fact of the matter is that if a business doesn't have to focus on where their next lead is coming from (because they have a referral agreement with you), they can afford to spend even more time focused on *you* No hard sell here at all, in fact, just the opposite. What if everyone of your customers was so thrilled with your business that they woke up everyday wondering how they could tell more people about you. Chris,

Hope you weren’t too Gobsmacked (sorry, I picked that up from my daughter’s Welsh soccer coach) with my post, but here’s my point.

I never used the work demand and the only reason someone would jump to that word is this false notion that the customer is always right.

No, the customer is always your partner.

For the relationship to a healthy one both parties should expect to give and take.

The fact of the matter is that if a business doesn’t have to focus on where their next lead is coming from (because they have a referral agreement with you), they can afford to spend even more time focused on *you*

No hard sell here at all, in fact, just the opposite.

What if everyone of your customers was so thrilled with your business that they woke up everyday wondering how they could tell more people about you.

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