Michelle's Networking Tip
Remember to Refer!
Something that happens pretty often is we are smack-dab in the middle of a conversation with a colleague and they casually mention something that’s been rough on them lately. Like a gas pipe started leaking and their plumber was out of town that day, or they really want to re-landscape their yard but don’t even know where to start with all the landscaping books they bought, or the last place they went gave them a bad haircut and they don’t want to take off their hat. We probably know someone in our networking circles, but how do we give a referral tactfully? Or what if you only remember after the conversation is over and you think it’s way too late to bother now?
There are so many ways to make quality referrals it’s not even worth stressing about. Here’s a good list to get you started if making them makes you feel strange or pushy:
Nobody wants to feel pushy or invasive, and nobody on the receiving end of referrals or services want to feel like they are being pushed into buying something, so it’s a good idea to make referrals in a way that feels comfortable to you.
Then comes the challenge of remembering the good referrals for the people you network with. This can be easier if you’re actively listening to what people are asking for. If a HVAC repairman you network with says he’s looking for people who want new units because he has a rebate offer for the month, just remembering he repairs broken air conditioners won’t take either of you very far.
If you’re really serious about giving referrals, you could keep some paper on hand and write down some brief notes about what your referral partners are looking for, or even jot down names of people who you think would be good referrals for them and then take it from there. It sounds like a lot of effort to put in, but remember that people who give quality referrals tend to get more of them, too.
There are so many ways to make quality referrals it’s not even worth stressing about. Here’s a good list to get you started if making them makes you feel strange or pushy:
- The old fashioned way: Hand them a business card. Just hand them a business card and tell them that you think this person could help them out and give them a call. Just remember that most of us will lose the business card to lint bunnies and grocery lists so if you can, make a note to follow up and ask your friend if the person on the card was able to help them out later.
- Ask your friend if you can give their email or phone number to the professional you use. It takes the task of remembering the business card and making the phone call off of them and also gives your networking partner more of an opportunity to connect. But a follow up is still helpful, so if you can, ask your friend if the pro you recommended called them. Because we forget things too, after all we’re human.
- If you don’t have a card on hand and don’t think your friend wants someone calling them, you could email them the website of the pro that you wanted to recommend and simply invite them to check him out to see if they sound like it would help, and offer a testimonial if possible. You could also share the link on facebook, if they tend to be on facebook more than their email.
- You could also connect them over email and let them take it from there. This is another way that may require some permission first.
Nobody wants to feel pushy or invasive, and nobody on the receiving end of referrals or services want to feel like they are being pushed into buying something, so it’s a good idea to make referrals in a way that feels comfortable to you.
Then comes the challenge of remembering the good referrals for the people you network with. This can be easier if you’re actively listening to what people are asking for. If a HVAC repairman you network with says he’s looking for people who want new units because he has a rebate offer for the month, just remembering he repairs broken air conditioners won’t take either of you very far.
If you’re really serious about giving referrals, you could keep some paper on hand and write down some brief notes about what your referral partners are looking for, or even jot down names of people who you think would be good referrals for them and then take it from there. It sounds like a lot of effort to put in, but remember that people who give quality referrals tend to get more of them, too.