If you’re updating your marketing plan for 2019, make sure to star the section on referral strategies and asking for better introductions. Your source of new business can be from customers already in your funnel, or networks like BNI®, industry and peer groups, or aligning partners — professionals who share the same target market, but without competition.

Working with referral partners (aka people who can introduce you to new business) is an underutilized marketing strategy and implementation costs are practically zero, unless of course you only meet at Starbucks® and decide to match Williams E. Lewis’ order for a $148.99 Super Venti Flat White Coffee at the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Perhaps not the best use of your T & E budget.

As you build profitable referral partnerships, you not only strengthen your brand, and like, know and trust factor, you also develop business friendships, some that may last decades. It’s Word of Mouth marketing at its best. Day after day, year after year.

7 Referral Strategy Questions to Get More Business

• Will you leave fear at the door and ask for introductions?
• Are you meeting with business owners or professionals on a weekly basis who share the same audience or know people you could help?
• Does your entire network know that you’re the go-to expert in your field?
• Have you clearly outlined your services, so there’s no question of what you do?
• Did you position your ask in a way that says, “I need your help?”
• Can you commit to a plan and ask for 5 specific introductions a week? That’s 20+ a month!
• Will you share results with your network, so they’re convinced you’re the real deal?

If you make time upfront to identify your ideal referral or customer, even so much as to give specific names and companies, you’re on the right track. But the gold at the end of the rainbow comes with picking up the phone, sending emails, connecting on social media, meeting for a $2.00 cup of coffee, and actually having a conversation. Maybe lots of them.

Are you ready to up your game? I thought so.

Best B2B Content and Insight from Over 50,000 Articles via Buzzsumo

If you’re wondering what the best B2B content was in 2018 and how it ranked on the engagement scale, you’ll want to read this article from Buzzsumo. It highlights content ranked by Buzzsumo’s Evergreen Score, which is based on timing, social engagement and backlinks.

I especially love the recommendations for your 2019 content marketing strategy, including what numbers you should shoot for; number of shares, backlinks, where to publish (like LinkedIn®) and other suggestions.

As always, Buzzsumo delivers. It’s one of my favorite tools as a blogger, showing trends, influencers, content, research, data and more. Try Buzzsumo for free here.