With the approach of a new year, you might have multiple goals on the horizon like boosting your revenue and expanding your service areas.

Whatever your aims, there’s a single tactic that’s practically guaranteed to help you achieve total organizational success: invest in getting more referrals.

Each one you receive represents your customers’ appreciation, acts as free marketing, and attracts easily convertible leads. If you’re looking to revamp your referral strategy in 2025, check out some of these unique ideas.

Keep it simple 

Your website should feature built-in tools that make client referrals a no-brainer, including buttons people can use to send a prewritten script (“This amazing service could help you too!”) to a referral via email or text. You could even set them up to automatically copy you on each one to make you aware of them and ease follow-up. Similarly, include phrasing in your emails, text messages, and social media posts that motivates clients to share with friends and family. When you enable instant referring through multiple channels, they won’t feel like they’re sacrificing time or effort to spread the word about you.

Host and boast

Client appreciation events like cocktail parties and cookouts can put you face-to-face with happy customers and help cement their loyalty. To turn these events into referral machines, send invitations to your customers encouraging them to bring their loved ones along. On the day of the event, mingle with the crowd, introduce yourself to new contacts, and build as many relationships as possible. Have a call to action in your back pocket, and find ways to work it into each conversation organically, such as “Let’s stay in touch. If you ever want to talk about your policy, give me a call.” And don’t forget to ask for more referrals!

Pepper in perks

Dale Carnegie reportedly said that 91 percent of people are willing to give a referral, but if you want to tip that figure to 100, you might have to give your customers a little extra push. Offer discounts or freebies on future services in exchange for referrals, or give loyalty points to clients if they leave you a fivestar Google review. Just be sure to include spots on questionnaires or onboarding forms that allow new customers to credit their referrer.

Get on top of your game

Remember that excellent customer service is the ultimate key to earning referrals. Courteous, helpful staff and well-priced, outstanding products or services will leave an overwhelmingly positive impression on your clientele— and they may return this gratitude by referring you of their own volition. Take care to periodically review your organization from top to bottom, particularly customer-facing staff, to promote quality service, addressing any complaints or poor reviews immediately. And when you receive rave reviews, feature them on your website and social media alongside your total review count and average star ratings. Doing so will build social proof of your trustworthiness, which will encourage others to give you a try.

Investing in more referrals is one of the most powerful choices you can make in 2025. It polishes your brand image, promises greater dividends, and may ultimately be the bridge between you and your goals for the new year.

TAKE ACTION:
Implement these worthwhile referral strategies across your sales and marketing teams.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Luke Acree is an authority on leadership, a lead-generation specialist, and a referral expert who has helped more than 100,000 entrepreneurs and small businesses grow their companies. He hosts Stay Paid, a sales and marketing podcast, and has been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, and Foundr.com.