Comments on: Yes, People Want to Help You http://marketingaprivatepractice.com/2006/05/yes-people-want.html How to build a private practice for therapists, counselors, coaches, alternative health professionals and healers. A blog by Juliet Austin. Sun, 18 Jul 2010 20:13:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Juliet Austin http://marketingaprivatepractice.com/2006/05/yes-people-want.html/comment-page-1#comment-37 Juliet Austin Thu, 15 Jun 2006 14:38:32 +0000 http://marketingaprivatepractice.com/?p=82#comment-37 Carol, Thanks for sharing this. These are good points. Nothing like great customer service for spreading word of mouth. However, I have seen people get many referrals after asking for them--sometimes, it's how and when you ask. For example, asking after clients have just expressed their appreciation for how you have helped them will often increase the chances that they will tell someone else because they are currently focused on the benefits they have gotten and are likely still experiencing the emotions associated with this. I think it's important to do both--provide excellent service and ask for referrals. Carol,

Thanks for sharing this. These are good points. Nothing like great customer service for spreading word of mouth.

However, I have seen people get many referrals after asking for them–sometimes, it’s how and when you ask. For example, asking after clients have just expressed their appreciation for how you have helped them will often increase the chances that they will tell someone else because they are currently focused on the benefits they have gotten and are likely still experiencing the emotions associated with this.

I think it’s important to do both–provide excellent service and ask for referrals.

]]> By: Carol Ruddick http://marketingaprivatepractice.com/2006/05/yes-people-want.html/comment-page-1#comment-36 Carol Ruddick Sun, 04 Jun 2006 09:17:44 +0000 http://marketingaprivatepractice.com/?p=82#comment-36 I also ready an article about marketing and referrals. This article had a somewhat different slant. It said that referrals usually come from people who are excited about your business. If you ask someone to refer you, they do the obligatory gesture and you may get some business. However, those businesses which are WOW! businesses get the referrals, many times, without asking. People will naturally want to tell their friends and neighbors about your business when they have had a great experience. They naturally want to share this with friends. So, as it may help to ask for referrals, it is much more important to deliver exceptional service each and every time to your customers/clients. You will start to see referrals without much asking. Along the same lines, if you are asking for referrals but not getting many, you many need to step back and HONESTLY assess your business. Ask your current customers for feedback on how you can improve or what you can do better. The answers you get will be invaluable. I also ready an article about marketing and referrals. This article had a somewhat different slant. It said that referrals usually come from people who are excited about your business. If you ask someone to refer you, they do the obligatory gesture and you may get some business. However, those businesses which are WOW! businesses get the referrals, many times, without asking. People will naturally want to tell their friends and neighbors about your business when they have had a great experience. They naturally want to share this with friends. So, as it may help to ask for referrals, it is much more important to deliver exceptional service each and every time to your customers/clients. You will start to see referrals without much asking.

Along the same lines, if you are asking for referrals but not getting many, you many need to step back and HONESTLY assess your business. Ask your current customers for feedback on how you can improve or what you can do better. The answers you get will be invaluable.

]]> By: Bev Redekop http://marketingaprivatepractice.com/2006/05/yes-people-want.html/comment-page-1#comment-35 Bev Redekop Wed, 24 May 2006 10:05:31 +0000 http://marketingaprivatepractice.com/?p=82#comment-35 I have found this to be true -- again & again -- in my practice as well as in "life". A good reminder to ask clients for what we need . . . and their willingness to also give back ! Thanks for the great blogs Juliet !! I have found this to be true — again & again — in my practice as well as in “life”.
A good reminder to ask clients for what we need . . . and their willingness to also give back ! Thanks for the great blogs Juliet !!

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