Referral Marketing: Is the Marketplace Talking About Your Business?

“If the marketplace isn’t talking about you…there’s a reason. The reason is that you’re boring. And you’re probably boring on purpose. You have boring pricing because that’s safer. You have a boring location because to do otherwise would be nuts. You have boring products because that’s what the market wants.” - Seth Godin (from The Referral Engine by John Jantsch)

Jantsch goes on to say, “To build a business, territory, or practice based primarily on referrals, you must first discover or create the remarkable thing about you or your products, the thing that gets people talking, that almost forces them to tell others about you. Boring people, products, and companies are hard to refer!”

You want referrals, but why would your customers refer anyone to you or your company?
• Do you offer a noticeable level of customer service that makes you stand out from your competitors? Really? I hear many people talking about their "outstanding service" but often I have a hard time seeing how they are any different. If it's not noticeable, it's not remarkable. And if it's not remarkable, it's boring.
• Does your product or service do something that makes you stand out? Do you really provide a remarkable product, process, service, or outcome? Or, are you pretty much just like everyone else - boring?
• Do your people treat prospects and customers in a way that the customer walks away saying, "Wow! I really like the way I was treated. I don't get treated like that very often." If not, you're just like everyone else - boring.
• Do you deliver so much value that the people you serve don't really question the price and they aren't always looking for a "cheaper" solution? I know, everyone wants the best price, but your customers are not inclined to "price shop" because they feel so good about the additional value that they receive from you. Or, are they bored with what they are getting?
If we want to build a strong referral-based business we must give people a reason to refer us! We must do something that stands out. And whatever that "something" is, it must be remarkable to the point that it is noticeable, that people will enjoy talking about it.

As a business coach serving the Philadelphia area, I find that many business owners would benefit greatly by giving some thought to this. Engage your team. Make it fun! Raise the bar and challenge them! By doing so, you just might create a culture of "remarkable" within your company - and people will talk!