Your best customer did not find you on Google.
They heard about you from someone who trusted you.
That is how most trades businesses actually grow. Not ads. Not SEO. Word of mouth from happy customers who tell their friends, their neighbours, and their coworkers.
The problem is most trades businesses leave this completely to chance. They do great work. They hope people talk about them. Sometimes they do. Most of the time they do not.
Here is how to make it happen on purpose.
The math on referrals
A study by Wharton School of Business found that referred customers have a 16% higher lifetime value and are 18% less likely to leave than customers who found you through other channels.
They cost less to acquire. They are easier to work with. And they send you more referrals because they came through a trusted source themselves.
Step 1: Be referable
Before you ask for referrals make sure you deserve them. Show up on time. Do what you said you would do. Leave the job site cleaner than you found it. Follow up after. These are the things people talk about.
Step 2: Ask directly
Right after a job goes well. "Hey if you know anyone who needs this kind of work we would really appreciate the referral. We are always looking for good customers like you." Simple. Direct. Most people want to help they just need to be asked.
Step 3: Make referring easy
Send a follow up text with your Google profile link and a note that says "Feel free to share this with anyone who might need us." Lower the effort and more people will do it.
Step 4: Reward referrals
A $50 credit toward their next job for every referral that books. You only pay when it works. That is cheaper than any ad you will ever run.
Step 5: Stay in touch
You cannot get referrals from people who forgot about you. Text past customers every 90 days. Not to sell. Just to check in. When their neighbour mentions they need work done your name will be the first one they think of.
The simple version
Do great work. Ask every happy customer for a referral. Make it easy and worth their while. Stay in touch. One happy customer who tells three friends is worth more than a month of ads.
Want to see how Rundo handles this?
Try it free for 14 days. No credit card required.
Start free trial