The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself Book by John Jantsch
The small business guru behind "Duct Tape Marketing" shares his most
valuable lesson: how to get your customers to do your best marketing for
you. The power of glitzy advertising and elaborate marketing
campaigns is on the wane; word- of-mouth referrals are what drive
business today. People trust the recommendation of a friend, family
member, colleague, or even stranger with similar tastes over anything
thrust at them by a faceless company. Most business owners believe
that whether customers refer them is entirely out of their hands. But
science shows that people can't help recommending products and services
to their friends-it's an instinct wired deep in the brain. And smart
businesses can tap into that hardwired desire. Marketing expert
John Jantsch offers practical techniques for harnessing the power of
referrals to ensure a steady flow of new customers. Keep those customers
happy, and they will refer your business to even more customers. Some
of Jantsch's strategies include: -Talk with your customers, not at
them. Thanks to social networking sites, companies of any size have the
opportunity to engage with their customers on their home turf as never
before-but the key is listening. -The sales team is the most
important part of your marketing team. Salespeople are the company's
main link to customers, who are the main source of referrals. Getting
them on board with your referral strategy is critical. -Educate
your customers. Referrals are only helpful if they're given to the right
people. Educate your customers about whom they should be talking to.
The secret to generating referrals lies in understanding the "Customer
Referral Cycle"-the way customers refer others to your company who, in
turn, generate even more referrals. Businesses can ensure a healthy
referral cycle by moving customers and prospects along the path of Know,
Like, Trust, Try, Buy, Repeat, and Refer. If everyone in an
organization keeps this sequence in mind, Jantsch argues, your business
will generate referrals like a well-oiled machine. This practical, smart, and original guide is essential reading for any company looking to grow without a fat marketing budget.
Review Quotes:
"Frankly, I had no idea how John was going to top Duct Tape Marketing.
The book is a classic. But with "The Referral Engine," John puts you in
the driver's seat and shows you the steps to achieving marketing success
without a huge budget. Go no further. Buy this now." -Chris Brogan, coauthor of "Trust Agents"
"I don't think there are many people who know more about small business
marketing than John does, and I'm certain that there's no one more
generous in sharing tips and insights. What, exactly, are you waiting
for? This book will pay for itself in one day." -Seth Godin, author of "Linchpin"
"Who knew that there's a science to referrals? Not I-but now that I
know, I want you to benefit from John's expertise. In a sense, a jacket
blurb is the ultimate referral, and I'm here to blurb this book because
it will help you succeed in business." -Guy Kawasaki, cofounder of Alltop "If you love to cold call and dig spending money on advertising, thenI