7 Ways to Generate More Referrals

Bill Cates call himself the Referral Coach. He specializes in helping financial service professionals build their referral business, but many of his strategies apply to people in all professions. According to Cates, here are seven specific things you can do to generate more
referrals. He stressses that these are not just theoretical concepts, but "best practices" gleaned from successful referral gatherers. Let me know if you try any of these and they work for you.

1. Call clients 2-3 weeks before their birthday and offer to
take them and 2-3 of their friends to lunch.
2. Valentines Lunch with Widows, Divorced, Single, or any
women. Start planning this today!
3. Print business cards for your retired clients. They no
longer have business cards, but could probably use them from
time to time. You can put a graphic on it that reflects one
of their hobbies.
4. Host events just for singles - clients and their
referrals. Do it more than once per year. Quarterly if it
really starts working. You can give a very brief
introduction of yourself at each event, but the rest of the
time is just for fun and monkey business.
5. Invite women to a "High Tea" at a fancy hotel.
6. Become a Resource Center for your clients. Gather the
names of CPAs, attorneys, painters, HVAC, plumbers, handymen
(who actually return your call and show up on time), etc. Be
a resource for your clients. Pay attention to all service
providers who are worthy of referring to others.
7. When your client is in your office, have your assistant
take their car for a wash. BUT, be careful. Brushless!
Some people are VERY particular about how their car is
washed.