How to Get More Referrals for Your Business

Want more referrals? Learn how to increase word-of-mouth leads with the right timing, incentives, and tools—like Cheers NFC badges that trigger instant referral forms.

Abe

Marketing Consultant

How to Get More Referrals for Your Business
Smart, Repeatable Ways to Turn Happy Customers Into Advocates

There’s no marketing channel more powerful-or more trusted-than a referral from a happy customer.

Referrals often convert faster, close at a higher rate, and stick around longer. But most businesses treat referrals like a bonus, instead of a core strategy.

The truth? Referrals don’t just happen. You have to make them easy to give.

Here’s how to get more referrals for your business-without sounding desperate or begging customers to "spread the word."

1. Deliver an Experience Worth Sharing

It starts here. Before you can ask for a referral, you need to create an experience that feels referrable. That means:

Showing up on time
Communicating clearly
Going above the industry norm
Solving problems fast
Being someone people want to recommend

You don’t have to be flashy-but you do need to consistently deliver outcomes people want to tell others about.

2. Ask for Referrals at the Right Moment

Timing is everything. The best moment to ask for a referral is:

Immediately after a job is completed
When a customer gives positive verbal feedback
After they leave a 5-star review
When emotions are running high-in a good way

That’s when the customer is most engaged and most likely to say yes.

3. Remove All the Friction

Most customers are happy to refer you-but they won’t:

Search for a referral form
Remember your name three weeks later
Find your card at the bottom of a drawer

To get more referrals, you need to make it effortless. One click. One moment. One opportunity.

4. Offer a Simple Incentive (Optional)

You don’t have to pay people for referrals-but it can help. A simple thank-you gift, store credit, or discount can go a long way.

More importantly, make it clear:

“We grow through referrals. If you know someone who’d benefit, we’d be grateful-and we’ll make it worth your time.”

That invitation feels more like appreciation than a sales pitch.

5. Use Cheers to Turn Moments Into Referrals

With Cheers, employees or reps can wear NFC-powered badges that allow customers to leave a review, join a loyalty program-or submit a referral-on the spot.

With a single tap, the customer can land on a pre-loaded referral form customized to your business. It might ask for: