How to Ask for Referrals

I receive a great newsletter everyday called Early to Rise. It features collections of articles and tips for passionate/enthusiastic businesspeople and entrepreneurs -- everything from business strategies to health tips.

This morning, the email newsletter included a great article on asking for referrals. They'll post the article tomorrow (it appears from their site).

Here's the gist... When you ask for referrals, use open ended questions -- preferably ones that start with the word "Who." As in, "Who else do you think could benefit from the products/services I offer?" Closed ended, yes-or-no questions (as in most cases) make it too easy for the person to decline. The article also talks about how many referrals to ask for (hint: the more the better, according to their research).

In addition to asking for referrals in person, ou should include requests for referrals in your email correspondence, in your newsletters and on your Web sites. You'll actively build a future for your business and spread the word quickly about your success and value.