Referral incentives - whats gift is best?

[Berry220]

Hi, any ideas what sort of incentives are most lucrative as give-aways when a business customer recommends to another business, and what are feelings about giving gifts such as this? Is it a good idea?

 

[Mike W]

Hi, any ideas what sort of incentives are most lucrative as give-aways when a business customer recommends to another business, and what are feelings about giving gifts such as this? Is it a good idea?

It'll vary from business to business. What appeals to one, won't to another. Some will like money, others gifts (prizes); some nothing, some a service benefit or enhancement.

In most cases you'll find that the money you can offer to the business or businessman isn't large enough to be of interest to them, so I'd suggest another avenue.

One of the best for me years ago was M&S vouchers ...but not to the business or the owner but to the staff - eg. Receptionist or secretary ...the ones to whom a £25 or £50 gift voucher meant something.

In today's day and age, there are lots of variations on that kind of theme.

Hope that helps.

Mike

 

[Berry220]

My line of work is office cleaning, so I thought of offering a domestic clean to make it a little different... or shop vouchers to stick with what seems to be more tried & tested.

 

[Mike W]

My line of work is office cleaning, so I thought of offering a domestic clean to make it a little different... or shop vouchers to stick with what seems to be more tried & tested.

Not so sure a domestic clean will tickle the interest of many of the staff. Might work with the boss - get him in good favour with the Mrs

You could do both ....a domestic clean to an owner, a gift voucher or similar to the staff that gets you in - eg. his secretary.

Neither will set you back anything as you don't have to pay before it's needed. Vouchers can easily be picked up at most supermarkets nowadays.

Be specific with your voucher offering though - ie. state what it is (or what the options are). Makes it more tangible.

 

[tony84]

Im about to launch something similar, im offering a free tablet computer thing to anyone who refers and the mortgage completes before a certain date.

My theory being that it costs me about £15 a lead, about 1 in 10 leads converts to a mortgage sale. So im actually saving money and speaking to people who have already been told how good i am (im assuming).

Are you getting these referrals to sign up to a 6 or 12 month contract? If so you can offer a bigger incentive. Maybe offer the person a free months cleaning? or an option.

It does tend to be M&S vouchers though when i see things like this.

 

[Alan]

What are your target businesses?

As when I worked for large organisations they all had compliance (anti corruption) policies about reporting gifts of virtually any size. Gifts at xmas would all have to be handed in and raffled for charity.

Generally receiving a gift was a pain in the back side, you either had to do admin on run the risk of getting caught out possibly and losing your job.

 

[Berry220]

Im about to launch something similar, im offering a free tablet computer thing to anyone who refers and the mortgage completes before a certain date.

My theory being that it costs me about £15 a lead, about 1 in 10 leads converts to a mortgage sale. So im actually saving money and speaking to people who have already been told how good i am (im assuming).

Are you getting these referrals to sign up to a 6 or 12 month contract? If so you can offer a bigger incentive. Maybe offer the person a free months cleaning? or an option.

It does tend to be M&S vouchers though when i see things like this.

Its small-med companies that I am aiming at, for a 12month contract (although it's flexible). You could be right with one months domestic cleaning, I'm going to offer Debenhams vouchers too, so there's a choice (not M&S - their vouchers get offered all the time, but the value of M&S vouchers doesn't feel quite as special as it once used to).

The tablet idea is a good one, although too costly for me. I thought about offering a different incentive every quarter, but I think a lot of people ignore free vouchers nowadays, as they see them everywhere. So I need more unique ideas to run alongside the vouchers

Mmmm time to put on my thinking cap.

 

[beasty]

You want something that the person will use, not throw away and you can put a logo on.

So companies used to use golf balls, but golfers just lost them so bad idea

Cool Mouse mat, Kids money box, whatever you like, ideally something they will stick on their desk or otherwise a sporty thing (Golf is always good) that they might show to other people.

Nice pen with your web address? 10 quid pen is going to be used for a good period and they will not forget you

Giving a gift voucher is a bad choice

 

[tony84]

Are you sure theyre too expensive? You can get them for under £70, some as low as £40-50.

What about for every 1 customer who signs up to a 12 month contract, they get a month or 2 free commercial cleaning? Find 6 or 12 customers and get a years free cleaning.

Im not sure if you have something similar, but i was also debating giving trafford centre vouchers (which is a big shopping centre in Manchester).

Or a go karting experience for say 4 people? I have no idea how much that would cost im just thinking of things that might be a little bit exciting.

Or what about a super price - anyone who recommends you (and they sign up) to 3 or more people they get an ipad or £150 in vouchers.

Im all out of ideas, if i think of anything though i will come and add it.