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Build Referrals

Looking for work? Look harder at your referral base!

 




Image: debhaines.com
As contractors referrals are key to keeping business so it goes without saying that building referrals should always be on the top of our minds.
We recently surveyed our clients and came up with some interesting information to help you build referrals.

Which of the following would prompt you to contact a contractor for a project?

In my survey, people were asked what would prompt them to contact a particular contractor. They were allowed to choose “all that apply. “

95.5% selected, “referral as the most important factor.”

81.8% selected, “reputation in town.”

27.3% selected, ” job site sign.”

13.6% selected, ” lumberyard referral.”
13.6% selected, ” Internet search.”

0% selected, ” Truck lettering.”
0% selected, “Chamber of commerce.”

I’m sure this response is no surprise to anyone. But who’s doing the referring????

I’m the first to say that my existing clients are a great source of referrals. The difficult challenge, as contractors, is that our existing clients don’t think of us every day! As a result, they are not our best chance for a referral.

Fellow Contractors Refer the Most

The best referral sources are the businesses that sell to the same target customer.

Non-competing businesses like your sub-contractors;  electrician, plumber, painter, decorators, architects, lumberyard salespeople, landscape contractor, etc.,  are your best chance for continual referrals.
I get more jobs from referrals from my painter, Mark O’Lalor Painting, than almost any other source! I, in turn, refer to him as well.

Just as we try to attract the end-user of our services we should be educating, motivating and solicit referrals from our fellow tradespeople.

p.s. ~ It may be time to rethink my membership to the Chamber of Commerce.
~ a concord carpenter
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