Page 78 - 101 Ways to Market Your Business

GENERATE FREE ‘WORD-OF-MOUTH’ ADVERTISING

19 Ask your customers to tell their friends about
you

Satisfied customers are the best form of promotion any
business can ever have. How often do you ask your cus-
tomers the following question: ‘Are you happy with the
products and the services that we provide?’

If the customer answers ‘Yes’, then feel free to ask them
to tell their family and friends about your business. Most
people are very loyal and they are happy to spread the word
about a good business but sometimes they need to have
someone reminding them to do so.

A number of businesses I have encountered use a sign
to pass on this message. Others put it on the back of
business cards or cash register receipts, some on invoices
and some have their staff ask the question directly.

Earlier in the book (Section 3) I discussed referrals,
which are a much more direct way of generating business.
By simply asking your customers to recommend your busi-
ness you are encouraging word-of-mouth advertising
without actually asking them to refer a specific friend. This
is more applicable to businesses that require a large number
of customers coming through the door.

However you choose to ask the question remember to
make it light and easy, non-committal and friendly. You
can never ask this question too often.

If the customer says they are not happy then you have
the potential to find out why and do something about it
before you lose them forever. Treat all unhappy customers
seriously and settle any disputes quickly and professionally
with a minimum amount of fuss.

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