I’m going to start this topic off with a disclaimer.  When I first planned to write about this, it was in ye old freelancing times (aka before AI blog writers were a thing).  I contemplated taking this topic off the list since freelancing jobs are pretty quiet for all of us right now.  But when are customer referrals more important in the gig economy?  Answer: never.

My favourite ways to prioritize customer referrals

I’ve spoken already about why customer referrals are important as a business writer, and here are the real ways that I’ve used over the years to help me get a few referrals coming my way.  I’ve got these listed in order of most to least useful.

• Ask customers for a referral: It’s obvious, yes, but this is first on my list for a reason!  When I have a really good connection with someone, and I like their work, I often will casually ask if they have anyone they can refer me to.  Some will say no flat out, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how many people will readily say yes!  It’s great to make it clear that you are looking for new clients, too.

• Take the time to get to know your customer and their needs: This can refer to the customer and the work that you are doing for them, but I’m also talking about their needs in a zoomed-out perspective.  For example, has this customer given you a positive rating in the past?  If so, they’re probably a great one to approach to ask for a referral.  Is a customer uncomfortable referring you directly, but open to doing it in a more relaxed manner?  If so, make it clear they can simply put a post up about your services on social media, and do so anonymously, if preferred.  Meet your customer where they are.

• Consider a referral discount: This one is last for a reason.  This can often make it appear as though you are desperate for a referral, or, worse, that you are trying to force a referral from someone.  I’ve found that this tip works best for me if I offer it to both the referring customer and the new one coming in.  You can put limitations on this if you are worried about this option getting out of hand!

What happens if these don’t work?

If you don’t get very many referrals, or you don’t find yourself getting any referrals, don’t panic.  Even when freelancing gigs were plentiful, and most of us were turning away work at the door, I still never had a lot of customer referrals.  A lack of referrals doesn’t speak to your skill as a freelancer, nor does it mean that you didn’t ask for referrals properly.  It’s similar to fishing: sometimes you get a few bites, other times you get diddly squat!  Just come back another time, and try again!

So, did any of these surprise you?  Do you have any referral tips of your own you’d like to share?