Hi all!

Below is a poll (hopefully) I need your help with! I would love to know your thoughts - whether or not you already have a referral/reward program in place for your biz. In fact, if you want to comment on how it has helped you (or not), that would be great too! TIA!!!

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shana
www.shanafore.com

It is not here...I will go look in the thread and see if it is there.

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Rebecca Thompson
CLR Virtual Connection * fanTABulous fan pages

Thanks Rebecca - I was thinking it would place the poll under my text - but it looks like it went @ the top of the screen, sorry! lol I've never created one before. I think it's working now.

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shana
www.shanafore.com

I think the rewards should vary depending on who is referring. I use both as rewards. If a current client referrs someone to me the I give gift cards. If it is a another va then I usually ask what they would like. If a friend/family member sends a referral my way then it is cash. But, all of the above only if the prospective client actually signs on for X number of hours.

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Patti Jemery
Jemery Secretarial Service

Thanks Patti (& anyone else who voted so far)!

I think I agree with you. I am finding I'm just going to have to implement different rewards for different groups of people. People who don't currently use my services (random strangers/other vas/friends) have been choosing cash or giftcards - but my current clients like the idea of receiving free hours. I'll just have to be flexible, but definitely plan to only give rewards if a referral signs a retainer & that will be clear in my program "terms". It would be too costly to give rewards for leads only - who may or may not ever become clients.

Question: For people who offer rewards, how much do you give? If you give cash, how much? If you offer up free hours of service, how many? etc. etc. I'm just curious... I already have an idea of what makes sense to my business, but I'm always curious how others do it too. TIA!

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shana
www.shanafore.com

I have some referrals that provide me with referrals. We consider this a wash and a thank you is only thing necessary. If clients are referring others to me, depending on who it is and their preferences ... some receive a 2 hours free or they receive a gift card to Starbucks. Depending on how much business or what my profit is projected, depends on the "gift".

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Mary Hettwer
Hettwer Virtual Office

I'm still working on my referral program. But I am considering offering a couple of free hours in exchange or a discount from their invoice. Another option I have considered is a more expensive promotional item, such as a padfolio with my logo on it. It's useful and advertises as well. But I'm still researching possibilities and love to hear what others are saying about the topic.

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Shannon

I don't have an official referral system in place. It's unofficial. Ninety-nine percent of my business comes from word of mouth referrals. Not because I'm offering an incentive but because clients are so happy with results. Once they do refer my services and I sign on that new client, I go back and give the referring party a free hour of service. Most clients say they don't even expect anything. If we treat our clients right, they'll refer us without wanting a thing.

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Sue L Canfield
AwesomeAssistant.info
My Blog

Thanks again for your responses! One of my clients told me the other day that he would gladly refer new biz to me without wanting anything in return - so that was cool. lol We'll just see how it all works out...

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shana
www.shanafore.com