Incorporating Referral Programs into the Sales Strategy

Is your business faced with the daily challenges of finding new leads or contacts to grow your sales or customer base? Recent studies have shown that the age of “cold-calling” and “door-to-door” sales are almost a thing of the past. Business owners have grown to be either too “hands-on” with their business to actually have time to discuss new services or they are in the business “bunker”, embedded within the layers of Administrative Assistants, Managers and Vice Presidents. So where does that leave the aspiring salesperson trying to make a number for the month or satisfy a commission goal?

Here at ASI Employer Solutions (a division of All Staffing, Inc.), we take pride in the Client to Client relationships that develop over the years. We have learned that some of the best advertising and referrals start within your own client base, common sense right?

So what we have done is taken that “theory” and have developed two very effective programs from it. The Client Appreciation Program gives our current clients the opportunity to share their personal experiences dealing with ASI Employer Solutions with other businesses that they may encounter. If they refer one or more of those businesses to us and, in turn, those other businesses become clients, the client who referred the business would receive a one-time credit on their next invoice, anywhere from $200 - $500 dollars depending on the size of the business referred. This creates a direct, quality referral, which not only helps our sales strategy, but also creates the business to business connections within our client base. And not to mention a nice little credit on an invoice just for dropping a name!

The other program that was rolled out was the creation of the Ambassador Program. This program answered the question “So what if I’m not a client of ASI Employer Solutions, but know a few businesses that may benefi t from your services?” or “What if I don’t even own my own business but have some contacts?” In order to capitalize on some possible non-client sales leads, the Ambassador Program was developed, which works basically the same way as the Client Referral Program but pays the one-time fee out as a separate cash reward to the individual.

With both of these programs being utilized, we have stirred the interest of individuals and business owners, especially how the programs do not require any paperwork or fi eldwork other than completing a single referral sheet. Our challenge at ASI Employer Solutions is continuing to give our clients and contacts the confi dence to refer our services. Obviously we can’t expect referrals if we’re providing less than adequate service to our existing clients, so we make it a point to create a confi dence and pride that we can back. Especially the people that are helping us grow! Contact ASI Employer Solutions today for your referral sheet!