Working By Referral

Thursday, May 1, 2008

How to turn a BLOG SITE into a Business Referral Directory

I've been using the BRIAN BUFFINI online Referral Directory but am finding it to be complicated and not really user friendly. I was reading another blog the other day and something I read sparked this idea and I tried it out and I like the look MUCH BETTER and it seems more user friendly to me.

I'd love your comments after you take a look at the directory.

Everyone knows that networking includes creative methods of:

Keeping your name in front of your network.
Keeping your network in the public eye to maximize their exposure for referrals from you and your clients.

Keeping a Business Referral Directory is an important networking tool and excellent value to your clients. You can turn a FREE BLOG site such as www.blogspot.com (Google's FREE blog site) into your ONLINE BUSINESS REFERRAL DIRECTORY.

Here's the steps. (I've only done this at Blogger.com but I'm guessing the process is similar at other sites)

Set up a blog.
Each of your "listings" is an individual post.
Do a WELCOME POST (see mine here)

PUBLISH the post, then go BACK INTO THE POST TO EDIT
Adjust its posting date to a date about a year in the future (you'll see why in a minute)
RE-PUBLISH the post

Set up the side menu to list the LABELS (AR Calls them TAGS here) but NOT the ARCHIVE (that's the chronological listing of your posts).

This will allow you to assign any number of labels to each business. For example, you can label your plumber as HOME REPAIR, PLUMBING, and HANDYMAN if you'd like.

Set the blog to only show 1 post on the first page. This will display only your post with the most recent date (or furthest in the FUTURE) ie the WELCOME PAGE
Encourage your clients to come back and add COMMENTS for each vendor. (hopefully they'll all be positive)
Add a place on the side menu to encourage others to talk to you about being added to the Directory.

OPTIONAL....

I also put in a LINK section at the very top to return people to one of my two web pages as that's likely where they came from to get to the Directory.
I put a 'post' titled AND LABELED "**Click here if you can't find what you want" that asks clients to call me if I don't have what they need listed. This keeps you in the loop and helps you find needed additional vendors. (the ** at the beginning of the label just puts that label always at the TOP OF THE LIST)

Get creative and let the good times roll.

If you've already done this, I'd love to see your directory. Please leave the link address in your comment.

THANKS.......

It's a Good Life !

My 'Other Blogs'
The San Diego Insurance Blog
Active Rain Networking Site
Musings from California

Personal Notes: How to Write from the Heart for Any Occasion

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Personal Notes - The Key to Richer Relationships

We all know the power of personal notes. Yes, we all do whether we send them out or not.

Think back to the last time you were sorting thru your pile of junk mail and nestled in the middle of the disarray of fliers (trash), postcard ads(trash), bills(trash)(oops, better keep those), and circulars(trash) and a HAND ADDRESSED envelope with a note or letter to YOU (STOP)!

Maybe it was your birthday or maybe it was just for no particular reason. You STOPPED with an internal dialog maybe something like mine when this happens. (this is all before I even open it.)

WOW! Look at this.
Decent handwriting.
Don't recognize it.
Looks like a card of some kind.
Wonder who it's from.
No return address on the front.
Oooh...>Heres one on the back.
No name, just an address. 5656 Prarie Lane.... OKLAHOMA????
hmmmmmm.
OK, let's check this out.

All that just for a quick note. Then you open it and IMMEDIATELY go straight to the END to see who signed. I guess that's why Paul and other New Testament writers put the "signature line" right up front. But I digress...

What an impact! And we know that these notes to our clients, friends and family have a powerful impact their lives, on our business , and on ourselves as we take the time to write them. Do you think they toss these notes with the rest of the JUNK MAIL... NO WAY. They keep them. Sometimes for years.

Doesn't seem to matter what's in the note as long as its handwritten and from someone you know. They're either wishing you HAPPY BIRTHDAY, 'How's it going', 'Congratulations on your recent _____', or 'Just wanted to say HI'.

We all love to receive notes. Maybe you've received one when you needed some encouragement or you'd recently celebrated some milestone. Or maybe you received one from a salesman thanking you for your time. Wouldn't you be more likely to talk to him again.

Maybe even send him a referral! AH-hah... Now I've got your attention.

I know the owner of a print shop. She tells me that she prints lots of personalized thank you notes. It's one of her most popular items. It's the development of relationships that will drive your business forward faster than anything else you can do. The key to richer relationships is becoming a remarkable value to your clients and contacts. Ultimately, effective networking that brings your business to the point of Working By Referral (only!) comes down to how much you give. Networking is all about becoming a PERSON OF VALUE for your network.

One of the tools that is at your disposal is the practice and habit or writing personal, handwritten notes to your network.

But you say, "I just can't write notes. I never know what to say or when to send them and really.... I don't have time for it." Let me encourage you to MAKE TIME for it. It will enrich your life beyond measure. Giving to others is the best 'high' of all!

Think on two levels when you are writing your personal notes.

First and foremost, you are seeking to enrich the lives of the people to whom you write. (this is the PERSONAL side of your habit) Remember, true networking is about what you can give. Getting comes later...

Develop a disciplined, systematic method of sending out your notes. Set a goal of 3 per day or 10 per week. (this is the BUSINESS side of your habit) Remember, effective networking brings you a constant stream of new leads and contacts.

So what do you write to them about.

The answer is just about ANYTHING and nothing. Certainly you will write them when a special event happens in their lives -- both good and bad ones. Celebrate with them and mourn with them. Any opportunity you have to encourage or edify them with your notes is golden! Don't miss it. Just go to you local stationery store or Office Depot or Staples and pick up a few packs of blank note cards. Usually what you'll want is a card something with a generic on the front. A nice picture of a landscape, ocean, forest, mountain cabin is perfect. You'll even find some with a nice phrase or generic quote either on the front or on one flap of the inside. That's ok too, but nothing more than that. Remember, the card is about what you write to them. Don't detract from that with too much going on with the card itself.

WHAT DO I WRITE? GREAT question.

Simply write from your heart. Write what you'd like to hear. I know sometimes the words just don't come. In that case, I'd recommend a great little book for you.

This book is a tremendous desktop reference tool. Read it just once and you'll be on your way. Refer to it when you get that occasional Writer's Block. Personal Notes: How to Write from the Heart for Any Occasion

I've learned that notes are so much more than a TOOL TO GET REFERRALS (although it seems to work that way) Notes will bless and enrich the lives of the recipients. They will be possibly that one bright spot in an otherwise ROTTEN DAY.

I've been using this book for about six months now. The author, Sandra E Lamb offers a step by step process to learn to convey the real you in your notes. This process is so helpful when you know what you want to say in your heart but the words just don't come out for you.

This is extremely helpful for me when i need to write a note of condolence and encouragement for a lost loved one, lost job, or onset of serious illness.

I keep it next to my desk now and pull it whenever I have a little WRITERS BLOCK...

Check out the book description page at AMAZON.

It's a Good Life !

Dennis Volz Insurance Agency
10783 Jamacha Bl, Suite 1, Spring Valley, CA 91978
OFFICE: (619) 670-1000 - FAX: (619) 670-1121 - Cell (619) 339-1339
Email: Dennis@DennisVolz.com
Websites: Company Site: DennisVolzInsurance.COM, Client Convenience Site: 6701000.com

My 'Other Blogs'

Musings from California
Read more!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

WHY WORK BY REFERRAL – PART 2

In Part 1 we discussed the philosophy of Working By Referral (WBR). Why you MUST work by referral these days.

Here in Part 2, we'll talk a little about the CAN DO of Working by Referral.

You CAN Work By Referral -- Because you have EVERYTHING you need to get started and be very successful.

Working By Referral generates the BEST QUALITY leads

Let’s play the RATE THE QUALITY GAME!

Rate these leads on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best possible.

A phone call who asks for a price quote.

A return card with a name, address and phone number from direct mail.

Call from an ad or sign.

A referral from a friend.

A referral from your MOM.

Possibly you rated these in some kind of ascending order. Maybe not, but let me submit to you that by a country mile, referrals are the best leads you can receive. Why is that?

Referrals usually come to you from people you like.
Referrals come to you somewhat PRE-SOLD on YOU!
Referrals usually are not “price shopping.”
Referrals are more likely to then refer you because “they get” the referral process.

Now someone please tell me why the pursuit of referrals isn’t the PRIME DIRECTIVE of every sales person on the planet!

Why would you NOT spend the vast majority of your prospecting time, energy and resources in the generation of referrals?

YOU ALREADY HAVE THE CORE OF YOUR REFERRAL NETWORK

So you may ask, “Where am I going to find these people to refer leads, prospects and clients to me?” ANSWER: You already have them. Let's do the math and see how it works.

CONSIDER THIS: MOST PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT 200 PEOPLE

If you look at the size of the average wedding or funeral, you'll see somewhere between 200 and 300 people in attendance. So if that's true, then you know about 200 people.

And, most important of all, each of these 200 people also know about 200 people.

That gives you first party access to 200 people (the people you know) It gives also gives you second-party access to an additional 39,800 people (the people that YOUR 200 people know!). That’s a total of 40,000 people!

What do you think the odds are that within a group of 40,000 people, there's enough business there for you to make a VERY DECENT living? Pretty good, I’d say.

You see each of us has a tremendous source of wealth literally right at our fingertips. But the big question is....

HOW DO WE TAP INTO THAT WEALTH?

The secret to tapping into that wealth is in the relationships we develop with the people we know. Those relationships are nurtured by the value and the expertise that we bring to those relationships.

Please read that last paragraph again slowly. It’s probably the most important and powerful networking nugget you’ll ever read. Here, I’ll make it easy…

Consider if a friend of yours, Bob for example, had a plumbing problem in his home. If your very best friend on the planet, Pete, was a plumber, wouldn't you be completely comfortable even anxious (in a good way) to introduce Pete and Bob . The answer is... Of Course. Of course you'd serve as the connector to get them together. That’s just how simple it is to work by referral.

Pete was at the front of your mind because he’s your very best friend on the planet. You can keep yourself comfortably and continuously at the front of the minds of all your friends, contacts and alliances.

Developing meaningful relationships is rewarding on AT LEAST two levels. You'll enjoy the rewards of friendship and mutually enriching conversations along the way. And you'll get many more referrals as well.

HOW TO GET STARTED

The first step is to make a list of your friends, family and business contacts who:

Would be very willing to refer you.
Would be reasonably willing to refer you.
Might be willing to refer you if you asked them and showed them how.

This is not going to be a mailing list or database. This is a LIST OF RELATIONSHIPS (relationships you have or those you’d like to develop). Don't worry about the numbers yet, just make the list. Some very fruitful lists have started with as little as 10 people.

Here’s a little list to help jog your memory…

Father and Mother
Father-In-Law / Mother-In-Law
Grandparents
Children
Brothers & Sisters
Aunts and Uncles
Nieces and Nephews
Cousins
Those you meet in organizations or clubs
Civic groups, Rotary, exchange, Jaycees
Political clubs
Lodge, Elks, Moose, Etc.
Missionary societies, brotherhood groups
Merchants or farm organizations
School groups, boosters, alumni, PTA, etc.
List of acquaintances already available
Christmas card list
Address book
Day timer, planner
List of fellow employees
Church directory
People who are decision makers
Business owners
Human Resources Directors
Office managers
Those who are your closest friends with whom you associate regularly
Friends and Neighbors
People you work with
Church members
Sunday school class members>
Those you have been associated with in the past
Schoolmates
Former co-workers
People in your home town
Military cohorts
Those you do business with
Doctor, lawyer, barber, merchants, grocer
Gas station attendant, dry cleaner, postal worker
Beauticians, jewelers, waiters/waitresses
People you know who are in direct sales
Business/office machine salespeople
Insurance sales people
Car salespeople

Now that you’ve got your list of relationships, you need to rate the people with respects to their potential to refer business to you. I like A, B, C, & P.

A's are the people who are your biggest fans – Your personal cheerleaders. They maybe have referred you in the past or would be eager to refer you now. Here’s where you might start with just a couple names. Keep this list sacred as it’s the people with whom you’ll spend the most time, energy and resources.

B's are people who you think would refer you if you asked them and showed them how to refer you. (YES, there are BETTER ways to refer than others. more on that later)

C's are people that you've either had a discussion about referrals and they weren't all that warm about the idea, but wanted to maybe try to help you. Or they may have been enthusiastic at first, but a good amount of time has elapsed and no referrals.

P's (Pending) are people you know or have just met but you're not really sure how receptive they might be to referring you.

DELETE - are people who are no longer on your list. Either you've decided that they're just not going to ever refer you and you can't afford to invest in them any longer or you really just don't like them. (One of great benefits of having an effective system of Working by Referral is that you don't have to work with people you don't like!

OK. STOP ! !

Yes, really. Just STOP HERE for a second.

Did you actually make a list? No, I don’t mean a mental list. Did you actually stop and write a list of all the people you know and sort them into A’s, B’s, C’s and P’s? If you didn’t, please stop and do that now.

Keep on reading after you’re finished.

Moving on….

You will always be sorting and qualifying your list. You must be continually striving to work people up the chain. Move your C's to B's, B's to A's and so on – But ONLY if they qualify for the higher designation. I’ll teach you how to get them qualified.

You will also want to constantly adjust people down who aren't responsive. You don't need to build and build your list until there are several hundred people on it. That would be way too much to maintain effectively. People can move down from B to C, and from C to DELETE! A good list of 100 GOOD QUALITY people will yield you plenty of business. Imagine having a list of just 50 people who averaged sending you just 1 referral a month!

So now we’ve got your philosophy of referrals in place (Part 1). That’s important because

Working By Referral is NOT a get rich quick scheme

FAR FROM IT. WBR is a slow burn. It burns white hot, but it’s not something that will yield amazing results in a week or two. (it could, mind you, but it probably won’t)

WBR is an ongoing PROCESS, not an intermittent PROJECT – its a few SIMPLE DISCIPLINES repeated (almost) everyday that yields a stead stream of viable and profitable leads, prospects and clients.

WBR is working like a hunter but thinking like a farmer. You work daily like a hunter because you’re focused, passionate and enthusiastic about your daily bread. You’re also thinking like a farmer because you know it takes planting seeds, watering, nurturing, cultivating and weeding until you harvest. It’s important to understand the philosophy behind the strategies we’ll learn to execute.

The Key word to successful WBR Is GENEROSITY.

Sure, I’ll say that again just so be sure you read that right. The key word to WBR is generosity. Be generous with your time. Be generous with your resources. Be generous with your expertise. Be generous with the YOU that you’re willing to invest into the lives of other people.

I know that may be not quite what you were expecting. This is NOT going to be about how much you can get out of these relationships, but how much you can invest. WBR is a process of giving to the lives of others… as an investment.

Now investments – Good Ones – yield returns. What kinds of returns can you expect from WBR. You can expect rich relationships, better friendships, more meaningful conversations, opportunities to really make a positive impact in the lives of countless people. And yes, you will get some referrals along the way.

Here in Part 2, we’ve talked about of creating your LIST OF RELATIONSHIPS. There’s lots of ways to structure this list. You can use any one of a number of computer platforms, 3x5 cards, paper and pen, but make sure it’s recorded. (we’ll get into the pros and cons of some of the various methods in other posts)

Now in the final Part 3 of this introductory series, we’ll go into the basic tools, activities and strategies of Working By Referral. There’s lots of thoughts and ideas there so let’s get to it.

It's a Good Life !

My 'Other Blogs'

Musings from California

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Become the GO-TO PERSON to get more Referrals

Working by referral and networking are really just two sides of the same coin. Expanding our networks to enrich them with diverse and practical outlets is important to become known as THE GO TO PERSON.

I'm an INSURANCE AGENT and yet just this week I found a Plumbing Contractor for one of my General Contractor Clients. Bob (the General) has been insured with me for over 20 years. He's 65 now and is trying to "wind down a little", but he really likes what he does and just can't seem to not take on the next project. We talked about this for awhile when he dropped in my office to start a new policy on a rental property he has just repossessed from the owner (he was carrying all the paper...)

As HE talked, I LISTENED. How can I be of service to this great client of mine? I know Bob likes no-nonsense in or around his job sites. "Don't whine, don't complain and don't give me excuse." he says, "just get the job done. Tell me what you need (materials, more help, whatever) and I'll have it there for you the next morning."

I asked him..."Bob, what's the most frustrating part of your work right now?"

He thought then said, "Well, I don't have a good plumbing contractor any more because Jerry moved to $%^$% Oregon."

"Want me to find you one?"

"Can you do that? What do you know about building?"

"Nothing," I replied. "But I know a lot of people."

He gave me a puzzled look and finally said something like, "well...whatever...ok... I guess. Yeah.... that would be great."

Long story short, I made some calls to a couple of QUALITY General Contractors I know who fully support WORKING BY REFERRAL and explained my situation. Got two for Bob to call today.

Moral of the story, I think is this....

You can never be connected to too many people.
Always listen with your NETWORKING ears on and ask, "What or who do I know that can help this client/prospect/friend.?
Step up to the plate, make the calls and make the connections.

Here's one last little tidbit for you to EXPAND your knowledge base. How many times have you known someone who says, "The insurance company is only giving me $2000 for my $3500 Chevy!" Well YOU CAN HELP THEM. Just click this link to THEY'RE NOT OFFERING ME ENOUGH FOR MY VEHICLE . Now you're kind of an ad hoc insurance helper/adviser/confidant. Bookmark it. You may not need it for a few months, but you'll run into somebody.

It's a Good Life !

My 'Other Blogs'

Musings from California
Read more!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

The Art of Networking

Networking. it really isn't part of your job, it's more a lifestyle than anything else.

Trying to network during the day if you're not a networker can hands be frustrating. It's kind of like being an artist -- Either you have a passion for it... or you don't. If you don't, you can draw or paint when you have time, but there's nothing that drives you to it. Its just a chore; something you do because you seek something from it that's not what you're ultimately going to receive.

But NETWORKING can be learned. It can become part of you, your lifestyle, the essence of who you are.

We usually begin networking to get some more leads which, hopefully, leads to more business. If you get any good at it, you'll write some business, but it's still a daily task you have to complete unless you're a networker AT HEART.

The secret, i think, to being a networker AT HEART is that you have to stop networking for money and start networking for the rich relationships that are such a natural byproduct of the art of networking. Yes, networking is more like art than anything else. It becomes such an integral part of your foundation that you couldn't NOT do it.

Artists end up giving much more than the paintings or sculptures or photographs that they render. Ultimately, networking, like art, is about giving. Giving your time. Giving your passion. Giving more than you get.

Sure it's a profitable venture from a monetary perspective. Sure its work. (at least it is at first) And even when you're not a networker AT HEART it's important to keep on going because anything worth doing is worth doing poorly at first.

Keep at it... the rewards are rich, substantial and life-changing.

It's a Good Life !

My 'Other Blogs'

Musings from California

Friday, February 29, 2008

The Difference Between NETWORKING & WORKING BY REFERRAL

WORKING BY REFERRAL and NETWORKING while intimately related are not the same thing. While you can certainly do both concurrently, it's helpful to distinguish the difference between the two activities. That’s important because nurturing one doesn’t necessarily bring results in the other.

Here's how it looks to me anyway:

NETWORKING is the process of knowing lots of people, businesses and centers of influence and serving as the CONNECTOR for those entities. You bring people in your network together for business, services or just friendship. For example, you might know a general contractor who's just lost his favorite Plumbing Contractor because he moved out of state. You happen to know a great plumbing contractor and you introduce them. or... You have a friend who has a problem getting her kids to study and another friend who USED to have the same problem until she instituted some strategies with her kids and now they study very well. You introduce them. In a fashion, it’s providing referrals for others within your network. THAT'S NETWORKING.

Networking can also be the process of nurturing relationships within your company or profession to exchange information, learn and grow together. It can also help you in the “Cover for me” types of things -- You get into a pinch with the kids ride or get sick… etc.

WORKING BY REFERRAL, on the other hand, is the process of nurturing your relationships with numerous people, businesses and centers of influence thru personal, written, phone and email communications that serves to:

Keep your name in front of them.
Ask them for referrals and keep them aware that you REALLY DO appreciate their referrals.
Demonstrate your competency at your chosen profession thru timely accurate information and problem solving abilities
Show that you are a resource for knowledge, information, and encouragement.

So here’s the important part for me. The process of NETWORKING doesn’t necessarily get the same results as does the process of WORKING BY REFERRAL. I’ll be the first to admit that the efforts in one area do, in a sense, serve the results in another but without this clear distinction you could end up being a great NETWORKER and never receive the benefit of getting referrals from that network.

It's a Good Life !

Dennis Volz, Agent
10783 Jamacha Bl, Suite 1, Spring Valley, CA 91978
OFFICE: (619) 670-1000 - FAX: (619) 670-1121 - Cell (619) 339-1339
Email: Dennis@DennisVolz.com
Websites: Company Site: DennisVolz.COM, Client Convenience Site: 6701000.com

My 'Other Blogs'

Musings from California

Personal Notes: How to Write from the Heart for Any Occasion
Read more!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

BOOK REVIEW - Personal Notes: How to Write from the Heart for Any Occasion

Personal Notes: How to Write from the Heart for Any Occasion

Is this you?

"I'd love to write personal notes but I just can't get to them and when I do, I CAN'T THINK WHAT TO SAY !

If that's the case then READ ON....

I know the owner of a print shop. She tells me that she prints lots of personalized thank you notes. It's one of her most popular items. We all know the power of personal notes. Yes, we all do whether we send them out or not.

Think back to the last time you were sorting thru your pile of junk mail and nestled in the middle of the disarray of fliers, postcards, bills and circulars was a HAND ADDRESSES note or letter to YOU! Maybe it was your birthday or maybe it was just for no particular reason. You STOPPED with an internal dialog maybe something like mine when this happens. (this is all before I even open it.)

WOW! Look at this. Decent handwriting. Don't recognize it. Looks like a card of some kind. Wonder who it's from. No return address on the front. Oooh...>Heres one on the back. No name, just an address. 5656 Prarie Lane.... OKLAHOMA???? hmmmmmm. OK, let's check this out.

AH-hah... Now I've got your attention.

I've learned that notes are so much more than a TOOL TO GET REFERRALS (although it certainly is that) Notes will bless and enrich the lives of the recipients. They will be possibly that one bright spot in an otherwise ROTTEN DAY.

I've been using this book for about six months now.

The author, Sandra E Lamb offers a step by step process to learn to convey the real you in your notes. This process is so helpful when you know what you want to say in your heart but the words just don't come out for you.

This is extremely helpful for me when i need to write a note of condolence and encouragement for a lost loved one, lost job, or onset of serious illness.

I keep it next to my desk now and pull it whenever I have a little WRITERS BLOCK...

Check out the book description page at AMAZON.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Book Review-Endless Referrals by Bob Burg

THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU IF:

You've ever wanted a simple, no-nonsense approach to WORKING BY REFERRAL.
If you would like to NETWORK better than you do,
If you just DON'T KNOW HOW to network but like the idea.
If you'd like to improve your "people skills"
If you'd like to have a LIST OF QUESTIONS to ask people at a mixer to put them at ease with you.
If you'd like to have more FUN networking.
If you would like to learn to mix pleasure with generating leads.

Bob Burg offers a clear, no-nonsense way to slip painlessly into the world of networking and DOING BUSINESS BY REFERRAL ONLY.

His simple, easy-going style of writing puts you immediately at ease and his step-by-step instructions are SO SIMPLE to understand his book could easily be titled: NETWORKING AND REFERRALS FOR DUMMIES. :)

Treat yourself to a copy of this book or take yourself to the Amazon description page by clicking this link: Endless Referrals, Third Edition