It’s pretty simple - smart Small Businesses rely on Referral Programs to bring in leads. Referral Programs are effective tools in converting leads and expanding your loyal customer base. What is a Referral Program for Small Business? A referral program is a word-of-mouth marketing strategy that turns your most satisfied customers into brand ambassadors. To simplify - your customers do a lot of your marketing for you! Referral programs let satisfied customers share their brand experience with partners, colleagues, and friends - providing a much larger communication web than your business could do on its own, at a fraction of the cost! The purpose of a referral program is to acquire leads and build credibility. When you ask your customers to consider others who might benefit from your product or service, they will forward leads that are already a good fit for your brand. It means you will spend less time and money on acquiring new customers - these referred clients will come in already with exposure to your business. For many, a Small Business Referral Program produces images of punch-card programs or discount coupons. These are low-budget tools that can produce results, for sure, but even small businesses can expand their reach by collecting and using data and creative communication. How to Start Your Own Referral Program There are a variety of referral program software systems that you can research and utilize in setting up your own referral program. You can also utilize a variety of templates connected to your current CRM that allow you to create a bank of referral request emails, referral follow-up emails, social content about your business, and tools for creating a positive customer experience. That all sounds like a lot of work, but it is actually quite easy. After setting your referral program goals, start by:
Referral Program Examples You can reap great benefits from a strong and well thought out referral program. Offering your customers an official way to spread the word about your business and rewarding them for their efforts is the name of the game! There are many creative ways in which you can launch a successful program:
There are many ways to engage with your current customers to build a quality program that will benefit your bottom line. You can increase your visibility, expand your audience base, and grow closer to your current customers, for a fraction of the cost of paid advertising. Something to consider when creating your business and marketing plans! Small Business. Big Impact.
As a connected collective of experts, My Big Day specializes in the creative touches so many marketing campaigns & events these days are lacking. With superior organization, marketing experience and original ideas, we pull off amazing events and campaigns! Allow us to WOW you and your guests! As purveyors of fun with My Big Day, we support businesses and individuals in the growth of their ideas, events and marketing strategies. Our creative aptitude allows for unique ideas. Our passion for perfection makes every client a priority! Contact MBD Marketing & Events Small Business. Big Impact. Phone: 970-613-1455 or 303-886-3068 Email Us We serve the entire Front Range; Denver, Southern Wyoming, the CO Mountains, and Northern Colorado: Loveland, Fort Collins, Greeley, Windsor, Berthoud, Estes Park, Lyons, Longmont, Boulder, Wellington, Johnstown, Evans, Severance, Timnath, Mead, Frederick, Firestone, Milliken Whether you’re just starting your small business or are well-established, a communications plan is crucial for your business success. Here are four reasons why you need a small business communications plan – and how My Big Day can help. What is a communications plan? A communications plan or strategy is a system through which businesses communicate news and marketing messaging within the company and externally. Internal communication may occur between colleagues, human resources staff, and company management. Information may be communicated externally to the public, news media, clients, suppliers, and other businesses. The goal of a communications plan is to ensure your business’s messaging remains consistent, no matter who is receiving information and from which representative of your company. Communications plans are designed to be proactive, but are absolutely necessary in a crisis. A communications plan may address not only what message should be broadcast, but through which channels (for example, that certain types of messaging should be communicated through email, over the phone, or via internal memos). Why do I need a communications plan for my small business? Company Image A standardized, professional method of communication with the public lends your business credibility. Consistent communication builds external trust in your business, and trust is paramount to success. It is important to know which message(s) you want to convey to specific target audiences, which is where marketing comes into play. Conflicting information released by different parties sporadically conveys an image of disorganization, which degrades trust. Having a unified communications strategy that everyone in the company is aware of prevents confused messaging. Crisis Management Some sort of reputation crisis, whether big or small, is inevitable during the life of your small business. It may be one disgruntled client or a newsworthy catastrophe that affects a wide audience’s perception. Either way, having a strategic communication plan in place will reduce uncertainty for you and present your company as a unified front under scrutiny. Community Relations Engaging with and supporting your community is essential to your business’s image. Your company’s public reputation is enhanced by giving back, including support of nonprofits, local initiatives, and other businesses. Staying abreast of industry happenings helps you make better business decisions, and positive relationships with other businesses build trust and mutual respect. Internal Business Objectives and Employee Morale Having everyone in your company on the same page is essential to efficient operations. Everyone in your company should understand their roles and tasks and have the information necessary to carry them out. Missing or inconsistent information frustrates employees and decreases performance. Trust, loyalty, and transparency are cultivated through a consistent internal communications plan between employees and management. How do I create a small business communications plan? Creating an effective small business communications plan requires knowledge of branding, measurable goals, target markets, media relations, communication channels, campaigns and events, and evaluation of measurable communication analytics. Executing a strategic communications plan is a big job, and most small businesses don’t have a marketing or PR professional in-house. Internal communications plans, particularly for small companies, can be managed by an owner, president, or manager. External communications are best managed by professionals trained in marketing or public relations. At My Big Day, we offer a long list of small business services, including strategic communications planning, in conjunction with:
Our talented team of women comes from a variety of educational backgrounds with decades of experience in the marketing, communications, and event planning industries.
Reach out to find out how we can help you grow your small business! For business marketing and event tips and ideas, follow My Big Day on Facebook and Instagram. Visit our Small Business Marketing Pinterest board for more from your local small business experts! |
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Small Business. Big Impact. Always Dreaming Bigger! We pride ourselves on giving you something to look forward to. We are a connected collective of creatives - owned an opperated by outstanding women. Want More?Never miss an event or opportunity. Sign up for our newsletter!
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