For someone doing online marketing, it's ironic enough, but I generate most of my referrals through networking.
1) I provide value before I ask for anything. I help people decide whether PPC,
SEO or online marketing is for them. No hard pitch, and sometimes I tell them not to. This roots out those people who aren't committed enough, and I don't want as clients anyway. It also establishes trust with the people that are potential clients. They don't have to make the inexperienced shot in the dark... I help them make an informed decision.
2)(I learnt this from one of my friends, and it's really powerful)... I constantly meet new people in programming and design. I make sure to refer them out business, and in response - even if they don't know the quality of my work, they are very comfortable offering out my services. I guess the prerequisite to this is that you have to have enough contacts to send business from. People know I'm into the internet, and websites, so I'm the so-called expert in it (haha). So I get things that don't always have to do with
SEO / SEM / Marketing, but more on the design side.
3) This is a tactic that can probably be abused (like affiliate marketing is often abused online. People make "recommendations" when all they want is the affiliate revenue). Every programmer / designer that I meet, that i have any more than a casual exchange of business cards (that could be brainstorming on their business, working on a different project together etc.), that I'd be happy to provide
SEO/SEM services for their clients. I also work with other "partners", and we give each other "unofficial commissions". That motivates people to think of me when they serve their clients.... and also helps give me the "non pushy" salesman image.
You don't have to give me commission's but I sure will...
BTW, if anyone refers me for a Marketing /
SEO / SEM job...
