Generating Referrals – for others

However social a breakfast meeting is, the primary reason that you attend is to generate business for both others and of course yourself.

The first tip on generating referrals is to use the whole meeting and the whole week to your advantage.

Take Contribution Slips away with you and leave them near to your telephone or PC to help remind you of potential opportunities as they arise.

Carry a business card holder with you on appointments, carrying at least two cards of every Member.

Tell people about the Group, colleagues/clients/prospects and ensure that they know who to come to you if they are looking for a product or service.

When talking to Members in the networking session, ask, How can I help you? and Who do you need me to introduce you to? If you don t understand enough about a fellow Member s business, don’t be afraid to ask.

Listen carefully to the Sixty Second and Ten Minute Presentations and keep contribution slips in front of you at all times as you do so. As you listen, ask yourself whom you know who you could connect them with.

Pay attention to other referrals/contacts as they are described, listen out for anything that may trigger further ideas for you to refer business

Listen FOR people, not TO them. In other words, get mentally involved in what they are saying and start working out how you can help them.

Take a moment to think about who you know who might be interested in the products or services of another member of your group.