Spare A Thought? Referring The Right People

1948: Speed to Spare - Berke

One of the advantages of the internet is that some tasks are made considerably easier. My dishwasher seems to demand salt on a fairly regular basis and I imagine that this is the reason for the speed at which some of the moving parts had decided that enough was enough. A quick check about my model number and an online search took me to several sites for spare parts. I am happy to report that the washing machine now works as it should and the service, as brief as it was, worked well. However a disadvantage of technology and a society obsessed for "feedback" has meant that I receive a regular stream of emails asking me how things went. As I tend to have enough to do in the course of a working day, I haven't got around to responding. However, the latest email suggests that if I recommend eSpares to friends, I will get £5 off my next purchase. I'm sure this is well intended, but I am hoping that I'm not going to need that many spare parts for my dishwasher in the near future and frankly when I next do, I'm almost certain to find that they are out of date or I've lost the code.

This got me thinking, what is a good way to get clients to refer me. Frankly I don't know the answer to that question. I occasionally remember to ask clients if they wouldn't mind writing a line or two explaining how they have benefited from using me or why they do. This can be found on the testimonial section of the website. I don't edit these, hence a few typo's. Beyond this, I ask clients if they have benefited and when they become aware of someone that they think may "fit" perhaps I may be able to help them too. If I'm honest, I find this rather awkward and whilst I've had many advise me not to be so daft / shy stating that if I'm doing something that people find to be of genuine benefit, why wouldn't they want to recommend me? The thing is that people need reminding. I'm not so sure. Financial planning is a bit of a taboo subject and many people struggle with their relationship with money, its often only at a moment of crisis that people talk or after an event - the market crashing. Financial planning can be liberating and something of an epiphany moment when done properly. However, sometimes it isn't always good news, which of course is often what is suspected, hence the natural inclination to avoid facing uncomfortable truths.

So if you have any bright ideas about how I might help more people I'd be interested to hear from you. Providing an incentive is always an option, though it does lead to more questions about motivation. For example, if you go to eSpares and use this code: LXY0XW3E I will get a £5 voucher for my next purchase from them... something in it for me, but really, am I likely to use the voucher?