Building Referral Relationships

I had the opportunity to listen to a great speaker yesterday from Venture Builder Inc.  John Rodolff (President) gave an awesome speech on Building Referral Relationships for business. 

Here is what I learned:

Look for a Referral Partner:

A referral partner has the same target market as you do

A referral partner accesses the same level of the companies you do (CEO or Marketing manager)

A referral partner is reaching the business at the same moment (when the business is going through a change)

Where to find Prospective Referral Partners (P.R.P):

Single Profession Associations (ex. The Association of Realtors)

***Ask someone you know that attends his or her meetings if you can be a guest?

Professional Associations

***Key here is DO NOT TRY TO SELL ANYTHING

Look for Referral Partners that Specialize in areas.  No Generalized Goals.

(I work with small to med businesses)  **This is too General. 

(I work with clients that have an ROI of 50k or more that are in marketing management).

Questions to ask the Prospective Referral Partner:

How well do you get to know your clients business?

How has your company been affected by the economical downturn?

How to prepare your first coffee meeting with a Prospective Referral Partner:

Research their website and Linkedin (print pages off and make notes to ask them

Ask opinions of your business plans or website

**The host or person requesting the meeting always pays for the coffee

First Meeting with P. R.P.

Talk about the following: Where you met them.  Who else have they met? What other organizations do they belong to? Why would a person choose to work with PRP instead of their competition?

*** Anything other than Selling your product or service.

Conclude with an Action Item:

Next time we get together I will do this or they agree to do something

Maintain a Healthy Relationship with your PRP by keeping in contact with them.

Characteristics of good PRP’s

Personality:  Are they compatible with you?

Expert:  Are they an Expert in their field?

Differentiated: Why are you referring them instead of someone else?

Principled: Are they ethical?

I'm not sure if this works yet, however, I will be trying it out? I'll let you know.

I do want to give special thanks to John and the San Diego Chamber of Commerce for giving this lesson on referrals.

 

If the rest of the economy would stop being so paranoid maybe we could all move forward?

Ok let's all face the fact that after 9-11 we we're pampered and spoiled and became somewhat greedy.  Mortgages were a huge magic carpet ride for a large majority of the American people.  All the advice in the world wasn't enough to block the fix of greed.  Now we have gone from greed to homage to the microwave band-aid that we utilize to find cure to our financial illnesses.
The problem is that we have allowed the rest of the trend and media influence us on becoming crippled as a nation.
Truth has it; we are not crippled we have become self-paralyzed  allowing our fore-come become our out-come.
Do we not have choices?
No solution? Kick-Start it by buying a freakin pack of gum.
At this point .25 cents is better than .0

Success breeds Success (If you believe it will)

Okay, even though my business has been on the books since last year; this is the firs year that I had a solid plan that is really proven to be successful.  I have had a lot of pain and joy over the last year trying to figure it all out. 
Although this week has really been proven to be a Hat Trick and a half there is still a lot I have to learn.
Thoughts become things.  If you dwell on the negative, more negative will incubate and become like cancer in your life.
When you focus on goals that are positive and envision that  those dreams or goals have already come true; you become magnetic. 
The law of attraction will create what you focus on.  If you focus on bad things in your life, then you will face the snowball effect of more bad things happening to you.
If you create in your mind the beauty and joy that your DAILY accomplishments bring to you; you will create a generation of beauty, success and joy.
The very best part is you have control over your own destiny.
If you believe in it: it will come true.   

I Want to turn my "Rose Colored Glasses" in for a pair of Prada's

I'm a Betsy Johnson inspired part-time DJ, Actress, and full time Entrepreneur.  Who knows what she wants and is seriously on her way to get it.  I am inspired by women of great Success.  Oprah, Barbara Walters, Madonna.  I also take great pride in being a woman and being driven.  I'm a feminist at heart but don't believe I need to bust balls to get somewhere. 

When my mother and I would discuss me becoming a vocalist in a band she would say sternly, "Take off your Rose Colored Glasses,  Pick a real job like becoming a nail technician",  I would reply back to her that someday my Rose Colored Glasses will be made by Prada!

  My mom used to also tell me "You can Be Anything if you try".  So it's not a wonder that I'm confused. LOL! 

Within the next six months I have a goal to become the Video Place that all San Diegans think of.  I want EveGreyProductions to take over the world?  Just kidding. 
But I'm still gonna get those Prada's.  the end!