Hi All

I am hoping you can shed some light on this subject.

I am trying to start a referral program. So that any of my exsisting clients get a discount on my services if they successfully refer a new client. Does any one do this? Or have any feedback on the best way to do this?

Thanks, Nicole

I don't have a program like this but I have a client who sends a thank you card and gift voucher to her clients that successfully refer a new client.

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Kylie Short
Tilda Virtual Services - Making virtual personal

It may be helpful to check out some websites. I've seen quite a few that offer referral programs. Some give gift cards and I've also seen some that offer clients up to 3 hour discounts on their next invoice for any new client that signs up for a minimum of 10 hours.

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase :daisy:

I think with any service industry such as this one, referrals are the string that holds and grows your business. Therefore, some type of discount or compensation would only serve to increase your livelihood. In my real estate practice, although I don't advertise it, I do give gifts to anyone who sends me a referral -- usually a spa certificate or something like that. In this day and age a gas card might be a nice incentive!

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

Tamika, I like the gas card idea. Who knows when the gas prices will start to subside. You could also tailor your gifts or incentives for referrals to whatever your clients are interested in. For example, if your client is very interested in reading, you could give him/her a gift card to Barnes and Noble or Amazon.

I always thank my clients for referrals and they're aware that I do so but it's not an official 'program' per se. Our initial 'thank you' is a gift - either an actual item chosen for the client or a gift certificate somewhere near them that we think they would like, a virtual coupon for $X off their own next invoice, etc. etc. it varies - and is equal to about 10% of the first paid invoice (of the new client). For those clients who send us the majority of our new referrals we send them additional thank you gifts sporadically throughout the year.

I've seen VAs who offer a certain percentage or dollar amount (monthly) for the life of the new client and I'm also aware of VAs who simply say 'thank you'.

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Hi All

Thanks for the replies, they are all great ideas and definitely give me food for thought!

I think the gift certificates and cards are wonderful ideas.

Thanks, Nicole

For my business - I offer a thank you card plus a discount on their invoice, or free few hours a month of service.

Gas card is a good idea - especially with these silly gas price.

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Brenda A. Jones
www.brevos.com

I offer a 10% or 15% of the first month's invoice. I also have a different type of program where I offer a life-time discount if my client refers multiple clients of theirs to me.

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Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

I'm also figuring out how I want to work this. I think in my initial marketing push I'm going to give a 10% discount for any business I get directly from that and also outline my referral program which will probably also be 10%.

Another option is to give them a gift certificate to giftcertificates.com. It's great for when you're not sure what to give someone because they can redeem it for products or gift cards to the store of their choice or just for a Visa gift card to use like cash. They also have a business rewards program which might offer some sort of bulk discount.

In the past I've done things like Starbucks or Borders gift cards or, for one guy, a few pints of his favorite Ben and Jerrys flavor.

I try to be generic and be aware of what they like and will use.

ETA - for those who have referral programs, do you outline it on your website? Or how do you let them know?