[maxcampbell]

What exactly do you do?

[wynne jones]

I think he means he talks to people.

[peter maybury]

The greatest amount of my work has always been referals but I think that people do not like to be sold to. It is not some thing that people would feel comfortable to be asked. I think that you need to come across as friendly and putting the customers best interests before profit. I always try to do something that has not been quoted for such as a rug or hall etc.
It very often takes more than 1 visit to get these recommendations and the customer has to have a trust in you before allowing you into their circle. It is all about gaining trust people, will not send somebody they do not trust into their friend homes for an incentive, but they will do it if you are genuinely going to provide a first class service to them.
I know a lot of people in a lot of different trades but there are only a few that I personally would recommend to a friend. It is a complex thing and you could do yourself just as much harm by "asking", times are definately tough at the moment but if you have regular customers that have been coming to you for years you could jepordise your future business with them by coming across as a more agressive salesperson than before.
Any new tactics or methods I would only employ on new customers. I hear too much of what is said about other trades people. 

Peter
www.carpetcleanercardiff.com

[AshWhite]

Peter, as it happens I referred a paruqet floor to you a few weeks ago for a customer in Blackwood. Did she call?

[Carpet Dawg]

I've refferred several jobs to people on this forum before. I know for a fact a few got the job. Never got a thank you call, txt or email. I dont bother reffering anymore.

[AshWhite]

I've refferred several jobs to people on this forum before. I know for a fact a few got the job. Never got a thank you call, txt or email. I dont bother reffering anymore.

I know what you mean, but that's not why I asked.

[Carpet Dawg]

yeah, just felt like trollin 

[peter maybury]

I did Ash thanks!. It was only a small area and a sand and seal would have been more expensive than an uplift and replace. I did have a good chat to her but nothing came of it. Her main concern seemed to be how much of the bond to withhold from the tenant..
This bring up another aspect to referalls is the fact that I get a lot of work from my "competitors" from services that they do not offer. I also do a lot of subcontracting for other cleaning businesses and again this is a point of credibility and trust and not biting the hand that feeds you. If another company sends me into their customer I do not start handing out my cards and poaching the work off them. I do a lot of large contract to other cleaning companies and it is done with trust. There is a lot of work out there subcontracting and it not very often a subject metioned on here. Some of the large cleaning companies have several reps on the road which if your face fits would be actively seeking work for you with customers that you would never otherwise come into contact with. You do have to be careful but there are a lot of people out there in business with morals as there are people that are not worth dealing with.
Peter
www.carpetcleanercardiff.com