Does your business depend on referrals for 30% or more of your sales or revenues? Would you like to increase the number of referrals you get and cut down on your mass advertising? Then having an automated referral generator is a must!

What do I mean by an automated referral generator? Well it can be an ezine or email campaign that is automated, so that once you set it up, it is easy to maintain. You only need to add the new people to it. And that part can also be automated. It could be a mail campaign, although, generally this is more manual, because you need to create the mailing every time you want to do it.

Another way to create an automated referral generator is to use the SendOutCards system. SendOutCards is a web site where you can choose from over 2,500 greeting cards to send to people. After you pick the greeting card you want, they print them, print the envelope and mail them using FIRST CLASS POSTAGE. They can do this for around $1.00 to $1.40 per greeting card, including the stamp, depending on what plan you are on.

With the sophisticated system provided by SendOutCards, you can create an automated referral generator. How does this work? Everyone has people who are good sources of referrals for their business, but part of the problem is keeping your name and message in front of them in a timely manner. With the campaign manager, you can create a set of greeting cards and postcards that will be sent out over the year, on specified dates, that will be mailed to your referral sources. Once you have set up the campaign with the cards and messages you want, then when you add people to your contact manager and that referral group, they will automatically get those cards in your referral campaign! This would cost about $10-12 per person per year for the regular greeting cards, depending on how many cards you decide to send out. Is developing a reliable referral source and keeping in contact with them worth $12 per year? Almost everyone I have explained this to has said YES to that question.

Now I am not a marketing genius, but my recommendation is that when you create the messages for these greeting cards, you mix it up and give them some variety. On some of them make an open request for referrals. On others, be more subtle, just say you hope that they are doing well and hope that their month is going well. Highlight different products or services and how people can save money or use your services. Make prominent your “unique selling proposition”, what sets you apart from your competition, whether it be your superior service, your outstanding reputation, your attention to customer needs. Part of your plan is to develop personal relationships with people who are referring business to you, so keep that in mind when you are creating the cards. The great thing about using a system like this is that you can really tailor or customize it for your business.

If you have a special event or sale or want to offer a discount to selected people, remember to include these referral sources in that mailing. You would need to do this outside of the referral generator campaign, but with the SendOutCards system, it is very easy to do.

With the SendOutCards system, you can create custom cards with your logos or pictures of your products on them. You can also print pictures right on the inside of the greeting cards. You might like to print an occasional picture of yourself or your business on some of the cards. These can be added to the mix of your referral campaign cards. Postcards are an effective way to contact people, so consider using a couple of those in your series.

Once you have your automated referral generator campaign system set up, you only need to add qualified referral sources to it. And remember to send out a Thank You card if they send you a referral. Make sure to send one to your client or customer too! This will put you a step above your competition!

By using this cost effective tool, you can grow your business and add a personal touch.

If you would like to learn more about using an automated referral generator campaign system or using an internet based greeting card system, please contact us.