Buzz Builder: The Power of Follow Up Seminar Provides the Keys to Referral Success

October 2011

October 05, 2010

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The Power of Follow Up Seminar Provides the Keys to Referral Success

One of the biggest frustrations I hear from entrepreneurs is that they don't get enough referrals in spite of doing great work for their clients. This complaint always gets me to share a valuable piece of information that I learned at a Word of Mouth Marketing Association meeting a couple of years ago. According to a professor at Northeastern University (unfortunately, I can't remember his name), nearly 50% of all people need to be specifically asked for a referral in order to make one.The professor said that people are either so busy that they forget to make referrals or they have no idea that the person whose products or services they enjoy is looking for referrals. Thus, without a plan for getting referrals, it's likely you won't get nearly as many as you deserve.

If you're interested in a plan for developing referrals and long-term client relationships, I highly recommend The Power of Follow Up seminar coming to Portland October 15 from 1 to 4 PM. The presenter is Judy Garmaise aka "The Follow Up Expert" who has spoken for many Fortune 100 companies including New York Life, Merrill Lynch, Adecco, Ajilon and KForce. Judy has written for over 200 business journals on how a methodical follow up plan will guarantee both referrals and business success. I understand that the seminar is filling up fast so sign up as soon as possible at Insightful Women Speakers.

October 05, 2010 in Creating Buzz, Customer Service, Events, Networking, Referrals | Permalink

Comments

Brilliant topic, and timely as heck. Anybody who misses the boat on so powerful and fundamental a technique as followup will regret it. Thanks, Pat!

Posted by: Thomas Cox | October 06, 2010 at 10:45 PM

Hey Tom, thanks for stopping by the blog and taking the time to comment. Long time, no see. I look forward to our paths crossing at a NSA Oregon event.

Posted by: Patrick Galvin | October 07, 2010 at 10:15 AM

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Websites

Galvin Communications
The website for my word of mouth marketing and PR firm. Sign up for The Buzz Bulletin, a free monthly eNewsletter.
WOMMA: Word of Mouth Marketing Association
An outstanding resource for word of mouth marketing information. This respected organization also puts on a variety of well-organized and information-rich events and conferences which are worth attending.

Books

Bella the Boxer: Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success
Bella, a boxer dog and my company's director of goodwill (D.O.G.), teaches overworked and overstressed humans how to live successful and meaningful lives by thinking like a dog. Bella has improved our family's life so much since we brought her home five years ago. Read this book and you'll wonder why it has taken you so long to listen to the wisdom of dogs.
Richard Fenton & Andrea Waltz: Go for No!
A great parable about a salesman who learns that every "no" brings him closer to "yes" - an important lesson for anybody who wants to create buzz.
Chip Heath: Made to Stick
This is the best business book that I've read since The Tipping Point since it provides a new way at looking at how you try to tell people about your products or services. You'll have lots of new ideas for promoting your business when you've finished reading this book. And, you'll discover that the best way to promote yourself doesn't involve spending money on marketing rather its all about learning how to tell your business stories better.
T. J. Walker: Media Training A-Z
Walker, an accomplished media trainer, provides great practical insight into maximizing the value of the media spotlight. By following his simple suggestions, you'll go into interviews much more confident and come out of them with much better results for your business.
Andy Sernovitz: Word of Mouth Marketing: How Smart Companies Get People Talking
This is the perfect book for an entrepreneur looking for a "how-to" on word of mouth marketing rather than a theoretical or academic overview. Andy Sernovitz built the Word of Mouth Marketing Association using many of the intriguing word of mouth marketing tactics he describes. His strategies are practical for both small and large businesses as his interesting case studies demonstrate. You may put this book down a few times while reading it so you can start implementing some of its excellent ideas.
Fred Reichheld: The Ultimate Question: Driving Good Profits and True Growth
Too many companies are addicted to bad profits. These corporate steroids boost short-term earnings but burn out employees and alienate customers. Learn why the answer to one simple question can determine your company's future: Would you recommend us to a friend?
Ben McConnell: Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force
An interesting look at how to develop evangelism marketing strategies and programs that will create communities of influencers who will drive sales for your company.
Mark Hughes: Buzzmarketing
This book contains some great stories from an experienced buzz marketer that illustrate the importance of finding angles that make you stand apart from the competition. I loved the story of how getting the town of Halfway, Oregon to change its name to Half.com generated a flood of publicity. You'll learn some great practical tips from this book.
EMANUEL ROSEN: The Anatomy of Buzz : How to Create Word of Mouth Marketing
Rosen pinpoints the products and services that benefit the most from buzz and offers strategies for creating and sustaining effective word-of-marketing campaigns.
Malcolm Gladwell: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Why do major changes in our society so often happen suddenly and unexpectedly? Ideas, behaviour, messages, and products often spread like outbreaks of infectious disease. This book will help you understand how social epidemics take off and reach critical mass.
Al Ries: The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR
Credibility is the crucial ingredient in brand building. This book explains why PR should be used to launch a brand while advertising should be used only once major PR opportunities have been realized.