Whats a Referral Really Worth?
Referrals that come from someone who has actually used the service they are recommending can save you time and effort finding what you need. But unfortunately, not all referrals are based on personal experience or have your best interests at heart. Sometimes people give referrals because they owe another company a favor, are friends with the owner of the company they are referring, will get a commission from the company they are referring, or because they hope the company they refer will do them a favor in return. To help weed out the good referrals from the bad, ask the referrer if they have used the products or services they are recommending. If they say yes, ask them to tell you more. For example, “What specifically did Sally do to help your business grow?” “How long did it take John to build the website for you? And how quickly does he make a change when you need it?” Research the business before you contact them. Look at their website. See if there are samples of their work posted
