Call the plumber! Why referrals are important

Getting a client referral is the most powerful way of getting new business as a consultant.
However ...

If you need a plumber, and you don't already have one, you rarely just pick up the phone book (or go online) to find one...What do we do? We ask someone we know to make a recommendation...

And it's just the same with our clients. When they have a problem that they want fixing with outside help, they don't just go onto google and type in "consultant"....

So how do you make sure that your potential clients - ones that don't even know you - get to be told about you...?

And how do you do this if your clients are spread across different industries and different countries?

Ask for referrals : ask your client for a quote (at the same time as asking for feedback)

Ask your client who else they know who might benefit from this ( they may need some prompting here, so do so homework beforehand)

Ask the client to introduce you ...

Industries and sectors are often quite interconnected and can be like a small community so it's worth tapping into that network....