Strengthening Your Referral Network

Your Referral Network
November 12, 2019
67 / 100

There’s no better way to close out the year than by upping your marketing game. I’m not talking about paid ad campaigns, but rather about your referral network. Building a reliable network isn’t going to happen overnight, but with the right combination of strategy and hard work, a steady stream of referrals will be yours. As an eldercare placement agency, I’ll outline five universal practices we wish our business partners would implement. 

Solidify your Company’s Reputation

One of the most fundamental components in securing a referral is trust. It goes without saying that nobody wants to refer clients or patients to a company they cannot trust. If they refer someone to you and it doesn’t work out, then their own reputation suffers as a result. The key is to offer consistent, quality service and be very explicit with your company’s abilities. Educate referral sources about your business. This way, the potential referral partner knows ahead of time whether you’re a good match. There’s nothing worse than businesses that advertise services they aren’t equipped to carry out. Better to have quality over quantity when it comes to what you can do. 

Make Personal Connections

The best referrals come from personal relationships. It is important to know the individual who is referring to you. For our field, this means we need to know more than just the name of the office making a referral or the hospital group. Find out the name of the specific person who gave you the referral and let them know exactly what services you can offer. This could include free advocacy, education, or advice. Many doctors and social workers are extremely busy and may not be able to go above and beyond with every patient, as they would like to. For us, offering free aid encourages them to give our number out as a resource. You are your niche in whatever sector your business is in. Maybe not every phone call will turn into a useful lead, but reaching out and providing free services will establish credibility and trust.

Keep in Contact

Once you make a personal connection that can provide referrals, it’s important to avoid the bad habit of only asking for referrals when speaking to that person. The last thing you want to do is make them dread your calls. If you operate an assisted living or any other type of facility, one way you can help placement agents or social workers is by contacting them when you have availability in your home. Chances are, they’ve been searching around for openings, so reaching out not only saves them time, but also puts your home in the forefront of their mind. Be proactive about setting up potential-resident tours and if someone is placed in your facility, keep in contact with the referral source by updating them on the patient’s progress. 

 Keep up With Technology

On the more basic side, this means having a functional website with original content. You’d be surprised how often we try to point clients towards a website only to find that it simply does not exist. A non-existent website doesn’t look good for the potential client because these days, a strong web presence is synonymous with trustworthiness. Without a website it’s hard to tell whether a place exists without doing more work than most people are willing to do. If you ignore all of the other tips, at the very least, please make a website! 

Pay on Time

This one only applies to you if you are in a field where referrals can be bought. It’s pretty self-explanatory, but speaking from the point of view of a placement agency, you’d be surprised how often care homes forget to pay, refuse to pay, or have to be hounded before they pay. When this happens, we cross that home or facility off of the list of places we call. If you signed a contract and agreed to reimburse someone for a referral, then sticking to that contract on your own accord will show them you can be trusted.  

Max Gottlieb is the content manager for Senior Planning. Senior Planning provides  free assistance to seniors or the disabled and specializes in long term care—mainly finding and arranging care services and applying for state and federal benefits. 

Categories

More Posts:

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

How to Make Your Social Media Campaigns More Relevant

Social media is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes. It allows you to connect with customers and followers in a way that was never possible before. However, it's important to make sure your social media campaigns are relevant to your target audience. Here are...

SEO Basics for Small Business Owners

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is essential for small businesses looking to grow their online presence. SEO is the process of optimizing your website so that it will appear higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). It can help you increase site visibility...

Marketing Moves to Make in 2023

As 2022 comes to a close it is time to begin setting goals and making plans for the new year. One area of particular import is your marketing strategy. It is vital to follow the current trends in marketing to keep ahead and stay competitive. Here are three marketing...

Explaining the What, Why, and How of Strategic Alliance

A strategic alliance is a business arrangement in which two or more companies come together to form a partnership to pursue a common goal. By teaming up, these companies can leverage each other's strengths and resources to achieve their objectives more quickly and...

How to Prepare For a FISMA Audit: 5 Steps

The Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), which was initially passed in 2002, mandates that all federal agencies implement, manage, and monitor policies to protect sensitive and confidential data.  Since then, the National Institute of Standards and...

What exactly is EDDM, and is it suitable for your marketing needs?

Every business, large or small, wants something to promote: a new product, an upcoming event, or perhaps changes to its services. Traditionally, marketing campaigns have relied upon methods like television commercials, print ads in newspapers and magazines, or online...

8 Video Marketing Tips for Startups

Video marketing is one of the most effective ways to reach your audience, especially when you are a startup. It is a cost-effective and compelling way to create content that you can use and repurpose on multiple platforms. Making the most out of your video marketing...

11 Technology Trends to Improve Your Marketing Strategies

In 2020, many industries were at a standstill due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To help keep businesses afloat and their brands relevant despite these uncertain times, marketers were forced to embrace technology. Since there were lockdowns and safety measures, companies...

How To Conduct An Instagram Competitor Analysis

As an entrepreneur, it’s best to keep in mind the following: in a world where brands and businesses compete for attention, you must have the right strategies to stay on top of your game. Analyzing competitors is one of the few proven ways of replicating the success of...
Nyago Michael Emmanuel

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

All Categories

Business Operations

Entrepreneur Interviews

Marketing, Networking, & Social Media

Self Care & Personal Development

Working Moms

Business Software and Technology

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Organizing Tips

Sales

Career Building

Family Businesses

Inspiration

Starting Your Own Business

Work-Life Balance

Communication

Hiring Help

Management & Leadership

Time Management & Priorities

Women in Leadership

Recent Posts

Why Your Business Should Offer HSA-Compatible Health Plans

Why Your Business Should Offer HSA-Compatible Health Plans

As a business owner, you have a lot of responsibilities when it comes to taking care of your employees. If you offer good benefits, such as healthcare, you’ll be more likely to hire and maintain the best employees.  Here are a few reasons why your business should...

When it’s Time to Hire an HR Professional for Your Company

When it’s Time to Hire an HR Professional for Your Company

As your business continues to expand, it might be a wise decision to employ an HR specialist who can help you manage and optimize your workforce. An HR expert brings with them essential services that will streamline the operations of your company while keeping your...

Why Your Office Needs High-Quality Chairs

Why Your Office Needs High-Quality Chairs

For any business or organization, the right office furniture is vital. Quality chairs are essential and can help bolster productivity, decrease employee health issues, and remain operable longer than budget substitutes. Investing in quality office chairs provides...

How to Quickly Capture Attention on Social Media

How to Quickly Capture Attention on Social Media

Social media is invaluable for marketers and business owners, especially those working with small businesses. It’s a great way to get the company in front of more people, allowing you to attract more customers. Of course, it’s not enough to just get seen on social...

Tips for Starting a Gardening Business in Your Community

Tips for Starting a Gardening Business in Your Community

Embarking on a gardening business is a bewildering journey that promises both intrinsic satisfaction and monetary success. The paramount initial step is to scrutinize the varied gamut of services you would want to render, followed by an intricate search for tools and supplies to substantiate the execution of those services. Crafting a business and financial plan is an absolute must, especially given the burgeoning competition from fellow green-thumbed entrepreneurs amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Establishing an online presence through a website and social media and designing business cards and flyers are integral to drumming up business. Lastly, building a loyal clientele and network is paramount for sustained success in the horticultural realm.

How to Protect Your Personal Finances From Black Swan Events

How to Protect Your Personal Finances From Black Swan Events

Life throws us an occasional curveball; it’s just a part of life. But what if your finances take a hit due to something outside of your control?  Black swan events are rare, but they occur and can cause massive financial losses. The key is to be prepared for the worst...