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Audio Marketing for Authors 101

Audio marketing is an extension of getting your voice out into the world and creating core relationships with your audience, resulting in more book sales and raving fans.

Audio Marketing Get Your Kids to Learn - Tina Dietz - audiobook expert

In this interview for Author Bridge Media, StartSomething founder Tina Dietz discusses the fundamentals of audio marketing for authors.

  • Authors are always looking for a way to get their work into the world
  • Why audio marketing is a very important key for book marketing
  • Benefits and pitfalls of audio marketing
  • Technical considerations
  • Types of audio marketing, including podcasting and audiobooks
  • How to fall in love with your own voice if you don’t like the way you sound
  • Considerations for hiring a narrator for your audiobook vs. narrating a book yourself
  • What you need to know about self-narration for your audiobook
  • Tips for hiring the right narrator for your audiobook
  • How to know if you should start a podcast
  • Tips for how to get on more podcasts

Audio Marketing can create an entire community of your audience, bring people together around your message, and help them connect with you on a deeper level.

Ready to explore audio marketing?

How to Make More Money With Your Audiobook – The Audible Bounty Program

When you turn your book into an audiobook, you do so in the hopes that it will bring in more income. Have you heard about the audible bounty program?

audible bounty program - Tina Dietz - Audiobook Expert

When you set off to turn your book into an audiobook, you do so in the hopes that it will bring in more income from the book you spent so much time and energy writing and publishing. Many authors assume that the only way to make money from publishing an audiobook is through sales, but there’s also another, lesser known way to make money with your audiobook.

ACX is a marketplace for professional narrators, agents, publishers, and rights holders to create audiobooks and distribute them to Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. Just recently, they have announced a new version of their Bounty Referral Program, which will increase payout to its members and provides many member benefits.

What is the Bounty Referral Program, you might ask? It allows those who are selling audiobooks another option for making money off all their hard work. Through the Bounty Referral Program, members can earn up to $75 each time a new Audible listener becomes a member using your referral link, plus any royalties earned from the sale of the audiobook itself.

When an audiobook has been produced on ACX, the rights holder will receive trackable referral links that is unique to each of the audiobooks published. For those who entered into a Royalty Share agreement with a narrator, (as opposed to paying the narrator up front for their services) $50 will go to the creator of the audiobook, and $25 will go to the narrator for each bounty.

When marketing your audiobook, you’ll want to make sure you use your unique ACX tracking URL to bring any listeners straight to the book without any delay. If that user isn’t currently registered on Audible, that $75 bounty will be added right to the audiobook creator’s account. This means it’s important to share with your email list, social media followers, and friends and family. As an audiobook creator, you’ll want to make sure you let everyone know how very magical it can be to listen to a book rather than read it when listening to a story.

Particularly when listening to non-fiction, it can be helpful for listeners to do something at the same time as listening, such as taking notes or even multi-tasking (we all know people who prefer it!). When including your book URL in marketing efforts, you can also include clips of your audio, your retail sample, a book trailer, or a good, old-fashioned book synopsis. Even those who have read your book may be interested in listening to the book to hear it differently.

The ACX Bounty Referral Program not only gives you a chance to bring even more listeners to Audible to listen to each audiobook you publish, but it also will bring you additional income with each new Audible member who comes in with your unique link.

Considering publishing an audiobook on ACX? The Bounty Referral Program might encourage you further. Need help? Our team at StartSomething Creative Business Solutions can take care of the whole production and publishing process for you or help you along the way!

Need help producing and publishing your audiobook?

Become a Great Podcast Guest with Tina Dietz [Podcast]

​When Tina Dietz was handed a tape recorded at 2 years old, that was that, she developed a life long love affair with speaking.(Podcast on Inner Dominatrix, August 15, 2018)

Great Podcast Guest - Tina Dietz

When Tina Dietz was handed a tape recorded at 2 years old, that was that, she developed a life long love affair with speaking. Today she is a speaker, audio-book publisher, podcast producer, and an internationally acclaimed business coach who has been featured on ABC, Inc.com, Forbes and Huffington Post. Her company, Start Something Creative Business Solutions works with authors, experts and entrepreneurs who want more than just a business and more than a routine life. They want a business oasis.

Summary

Tina discusses being a podcast guest, and the difference between being an average guest, and a good guest. She also talks about showing up to have a real conversation, instead of just to promote something.

She shares the single easiest way to get onto a podcast, and how simple it really is. She also stresses the importance of making sure the shows you appear on are the right fit for you.

Dana and Tina talk about evergreen content, and how it's very beneficial when it comes to sharing and promoting podcast episodes. They also discuss strategic hiring and how it can help immensely, even early on.

Tina gets into the key pieces and takeaways for someone who is looking into being a podcast guest. She gives practical tips, as well as insights to keep in mind as you move into being a guest.

Quotes

  • “There's being a guest, and then there's being a good guest.”
  • “People come for the topic, but they stay for the host.”
  • “It's not all about you, it's about you getting involved with that hosts' community.”
  • “Every interview you do is a marketing asset.”
  • “Show up prepared.”
  • “Having a podcast means that you have a platform to share influence with other people.”

Links

https://twinflamesstudios.com/

Want to learn more aboutpodcasting for your business?

3 Events for Nonfiction Writers in May

Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and apparently writers are writing!

Nonfiction Writers - StartSomething Creative Business Solutions - Tina Dietz

May is a big month for events in the nonfiction world, and for books and writing in general. I’m pretty sure that as the weather improves, writers emerge from their blankies, blinking at the sun and needing human contact, so event organizers plan accordingly.

3 Events for Nonfiction Writers in May

Nonfiction Writers Conference – Virtual – May 4-6

StartSomething Creative Business Solutions - Nonfiction Writers - Tina Dietz

The opening session features a conversation with Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Four Tendencies, Better Than Before, and The Happiness Project. Additional sessions cover how to write, publish, promote and profit with nonfiction books.

Participants can also register for our popular Ask-a-Pro sessions, free 15-minute consultations with industry pros. A private Facebook group is also available for all attendees to gather and exchange ideas.

CLICK HERE for the event website and more information.

Self-Publishing University “Less Talk, More Action” Conference – Virtual – May 31

StartSomething Creative Business Solutions - Nonfiction Writers - Tina Dietz

A one day online conference focused on book marketing and increasing sales!

This conference offers 10 international Speakers ready to pour into you the help you need and have been searching for around the vital topic of Book Marketing!

The aim of this conference is to bring authors, agents and publishers in one place to have a hearty, healthy and value added discussion on the issues facing authors today and how they can better prepare themselves for success in the near future. Straight to the point, no sales, no fluff and taking action is the order of the day.

CLICK HERE for the event website and more information.

Book Expo America – New York City – May 31-June 1

StartSomething Creative Business Solutions - Nonfiction Writers - Tina Dietz

THE BIG KAHUNA! I have colleagues who attend and work this event every year, and they quite literally train for it because it’s so huge. Tons of events, tons of exhibits, the scope will blow your mind and give you ideas, info, and contacts for the entire next year to work with.CLICK HERE for the event website and more information.

**HINT: if you’re a blogger or show host with a show about publishing, books, etc. consider applying for a press pass for this show.Remember the pen IS truly mightier than the sword, and getting your creative juices flowing is key to getting your work and message out into the world. Is writing and publishing already part of your world, or are those areas emerging for you? What motivates you in this arena, or what stops you from publishing? Sound off in the comments!

Audio/Video Tips for Perfectly Imperfect People

I’ve put together some audio and video production tips and techniques for you to help you get started using audio and video so that you can experiment with getting yourself and your message out into the world in a bigger way.

Audio and Video Production Tips - Tina Dietz

There are few things more frustrating than having a great idea and then getting bogged down, slowed down, or flat out stopped by the learning curve of dealing with technology.

Got a great idea for a show…but you don’t know how to set up a podcast.

Want to try out Facebook Live…but you don’t want your lighting or background to look bad on camera.

Well, guess what?

One of the most valuable pieces of coaching I ever received, and I also pass this on to all my clients, is simply this.

The main reason my company is called “Start Something” is because where most people get stopped with bringing their ideas, dreams, and goals into reality is in the STARTING. Once you start taking steps, momentum takes over and it’s easier to move forward and see your path. 

It’s the first steps that are the most shaky – particularly when it comes to getting yourself out into the public eye with audio and video.

I’m not a highly technical person, and at the same time I like to get things DONE and done well. I also don’t have an unlimited well of patience. Not.Even.Close.

​If this sounds a bit like you too, I’ve put together some tips and techniques for you to help you get started using audio and video so that you can experiment with getting yourself and your message out into the world in a bigger way.

​Audio and video need to be demonstrated rather than talked about, and in the 5 minute video you’ll see today…

  • What microphone I use
  • What you can ‘get away with’ depending on if you’re doing video or audio only
  • How to record audio ‘on the road’
  • My super easy, portable ‘recording studio’ setup
  • Setting up a video background when your room is a mess
  • Ideas for natural, easy video backgrounds
  • The most important element of producing your audio and video messages.

I invite you to experiment this week and try doing a short video, audio, or Facebook Live using these tips – if you do, TAG ME on social media or send me the clip so I can acknowledge you for taking steps towards living the life of your dreams and making the world a better place.

Got more audio/video tips? Let’s chat in the comments!

How To Quickly Boost Your Holiday Book Sales

Holiday marketing is already well underway, but it’s not too late to put into place some simple ways to boost your book sales over the holidays, particularly if you’ve got your books on Amazon.

boost your holiday book sales

Amazon OWNS the holiday sales season.

boost your holiday book sales

Everyone is in a buying mood from about the beginning of November through the beginning of January, so it’s the perfect time to piggyback on that trend and sell more of your books.

Here’s a quick timeline to guide your holiday marketing.

Early November to Thanksgiving

  • Emphasize in your social media and emails that books make wonderful gifts and shopping early saves time and stress
  • Offer pre-holiday book bundles if you have more than one book
  • Collaborate with other author friends and all offer discounts on your book on the same day(s) – send out an email and social media posts all on the same day to promote each other’s books.

Black Friday through Cyber Monday

  • Everyone is going to Amazon to shop, so remind people they can add on your book to their order and perhaps offer your book at a discount
  • Run ads in book deals newsletters that go out in this time frame.

Early to Mid-December

  • Offer a discount to colleagues/contacts who have teams and/or employees to buy your book(s) in bulk to go with their holiday gift giving
  • Donate a box of your books to a charity or not for profit that would benefit, and create a PR/photo opportunity to promote both you and the charity
  • Suggest to colleagues that putting a gift card or bonus check inside of a book instead of just a card is a cool and classy option for team members or clients.

December 20-24

  • Remind people that ebooks require no shipping
  • Use language that talks about last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers.

January 1-7

  • People want to spend those gift cards they got over the holidays AND they are looking to set their goals for the New Year – suggest that they invest in themselves by buying your book
  • Offer your book as a gift/bonus for those people who schedule discovery calls with you for your programs and services
  • Create a free book club around your book to start the new year off and do a series of 4 free calls going through what you’re teaching in the book – simply require that participants prove purchase of the book buy sending you a picture of them with the book (pssst- get permission and use those pics in your marketing later!)

Do you need to do ALL of these? No, but you may be tempted to! Choose one that feels most free and easy to you, and simply take action on getting that one thing done. Then, do another!

We’re always here to support you in your marketing strategy and implementation to get your message out to the world and reach more readers and leaders.

Which one of these will you use to sell more books? Let us know – knowing that you are out there fulfilling your dreams and goals is a gift to me 🙂

Are you launching a new book or do you want to revive an older title? We can help you reach new markets and leverage your hard work with Audiobooks – the fastest growing segment of the publishing world!

What International Authors Need to Know About Audiobook Publishing

What international authors need to know about their new audiobook publishing options.

International Authors - Tina Dietz Audiobook Publishing

Recently some new audiobook publishing options have come available for international authors that I'm very excited about. Since the time I decided to launch the nonfiction audiobook production and publishing arm of my company, I knew I had to include options for international authors. After 20 years of building businesses with people from all over the world, if I was going to serve my community right, it simply had to be that way. So imagine my surprise when I found a complete lack of options for international authors who wanted to create and publish an audiobook.

We created a system whereby international authors fully benefit from the self publishing royalties and benefits offered by Audible and Amazon, without sacrificing their intellectual property rights – plus they maintain full creative control. Authors can narrate their own books or have a fabulous narrator and be fully supported in their audiobook strategy, production, and publishing. In essence, I created the services that I wanted for myself, my clients and my colleagues.

With the exponential growth of audiobooks over the last 6 years or so, I’m surprised it’s taken as long as it has for more options to open up for international authors, and there’s still room for growth. Publishers Weekly reported that 2016 was yet again another double digit year for audiobook sales growth over the previous year.

Good News for Irish & Canadian Authors

ACX.com is the self publishing platform for Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. For many long years, only authors based in the US or the UK had access to publishing their audiobooks through this channel. However, on June 1, 2017, ACX announced that now Canadian and Irish authors now have access to this platform. Excellent news for authors in those countries, although that's still a lot of room on the globe left without access.

But Wait…There’s More!

​That brings me to another option for international authors to get their audiobooks published, which is Authors Republic. Some of my audiobook clients want to distribute their audiobooks beyond Audible, Amazon and iTunes. They want a wider reach to libraries, Barnes & Noble, and additional outlets like Audiobooks.com and Scribd. Authors Republic makes that distribution possible. Although they don't advertise outright that they work with international authors, in truth anyone who has a PayPal account and who has produced an audiobook to the correct audio standards can upload their audiobook to Authors Republic to be considered by these additional outlets for distribution and sale. The potential disadvantage is a reduced royalty rate, which is why having a solid audiobook launch, distribution, and marketing strategy is so important.

Here are 5 ways you can make the most of having an Audiobook and learn more about best practices, production, and marketing.

Would you like to listen in on some of our audiobooks?

5 Ways to Audiobook Like a Boss

If you are an author keen on taking advantage of this booming advancement in publishing, these are my 5 ways to audiobook like a boss.

Audiobook Like a Boss

Audiobooks are the fastest-growing sector of the entire publishing industry. Statistics put forth by the Association of American Publishers show ebook sales down 19.2% and audiobook downloads up by 31.1% from 2015 to 2016. One factor that contributes to this exponential increase in audiobook readership is accessibility—audiobooks are now available through our phones, laptops, and tablets. There's no barrier to where and when we can listen.

As a result, more and more non-fiction authors are recognizing the incredible potential audiobooks offer their business. Eager entrepreneurs, however, may dive in headfirst without giving sufficient forethought into how this unique tool can best be leveraged.

As a nonfiction audiobook publishing specialist, I see critical mistakes and bottom-line opportunities overlooked time and again. If you are an author keen on taking advantage of this booming advancement in publishing—and you have every reason to be—pay attention to these five factors that will bring your audiobook skill level from beginner to boss.

1. Don’t Voice Your Own Book (unless…)

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is, “Should I narrate my own book, or work with a narrator?” That is the wrong question to ask. What you really want answered is the question, “Is there any advantage to narrating the book myself?” Most often, the answer is no. Here’s why:

Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX) reports that it takes an average of 6.2 hours of production time for a professional narrator and editor to create one hour of finished audio. That means that an average non-fiction book of 60,000 words requires twenty-five to thirty hours of production time—for an experienced professional. Even if you’re an experienced public speaker or podcaster, the skill set for audiobook narration is distinct. In addition to specialized voice training and having to learn microphone and breathing technique, consider the time and expense for a home recording studio setup or rental time in a recording studio. All in all, you can reasonably expect to triple your time investment or more.

Instead, your audiobook could be professionally produced at a reasonable cost and delivered to the world with ease in about 6 weeks. You could be reaping the benefits and leveraging this asset like a boss, rather than spending your time and money going through a learning curve you simply don’t need to go through.

There is however, an exception to this rule. If you have a following in the millions who is used to you speaking on stages, on TED talks or in other audio recordings—and you have built your platform and reputation around your unique voice and speaking qualities—then you may be a good candidate to voice your own audiobooks. Otherwise, ditch the temptation to try to save money—because you won’t.

2. Know Your Rights

Don’t fall prey to the amateur mistake of not knowing your audio rights. It is imperative that you understand the legalities of audiobook production, so that you can protect your intellectual and financial investments.

If you're planning to work with a publisher, this information is absolute gold for you as you negotiate your contract. Many authors sign their audio rights away without even knowing it—they find out after the fact that an audiobook version of their print book has been created, and worse yet, they won’t receive reasonable royalties for the sales of that audiobook. With the rise in audiobook popularity, lack of attention to this detail can add up to substantial financial loss.

3. Collect Bounties

Audible, Amazon, and iTunes have a common back end for self-published authors to produce audiobooks. It’s called ACX.com (Audiobook Creation Exchange). If you hold the rights to your audiobook and distribute your audiobook through ACX.com, you are eligible to earn bounties.

A bounty is an additional type of earning paid to you when your book is the first purchase of a new Audible member. For each bounty earned, you receive $50.

Unfortunately, ACX is only available if you live in the U.S. or U.K., but a good audiobook publisher can help you take advantage of this opportunity as well as self-publishing royalty rates, adding significant income to your bottom line.

4. Leverage Your Launch

There are two “right” ways to launch an audiobook. In one scenario, your previously launched print or digital book is given new life by being turned into an audiobook format.

This strategy gives you the ability to have an entirely new product launch without having to create any new content. If your content needs a little updating, then pairing an “anniversary edition” or “second edition” of your book with an audiobook version is a fantastic option.

Second, if you’re in the process of getting ready to publish a new book, having an audiobook version will extend the life of your launch. To have a powerful launch, you want to reach as many people for as long as possible. Releasing your audiobook two to twelve weeks following your initial book release allows you to keep the momentum and excitement going—with minimal changes to your social media and email content.

5. Build a Podcast Tour

In today’s high-tech publishing world, it’s no secret that in-person book tours are not a cost or time-effective means to connecting with your market. Blog book tours have been an alternative practice for several years now, but a lesser-known opportunity exists via podcast tours.

A podcast is a downloadable, online radio show—a thriving platform for effectively broadcasting your brand. There are now nearly 60 million people in the U.S. alone listening to podcasts every month; this presents a giant opportunity for you to engage with potential readers—if they listen to podcasts, they likely also listen to audiobooks.

Connect with the hosts of podcast shows that intersect with your target market, and arrange to be a guest expert on their shows. Conduct a book reading, answer insider questions about the subject matter, and share how listeners can access further information about your title and services.

To really be a boss, send a short clip of your audiobook to the podcast host in advance of your interview, and invite them to post the clip along with their Amazon affiliate link to your book and audiobook. The host can also include this link in his or her website copy (or “show notes,” as they are known in podcasting) for your podcast episode. This strategy creates more rich content for the host, and an opportunity for both you and the host to benefit financially.

Work with the podcast host to have the show published during your initial launch window, and boom—you’ve successfully leveraged your audiobook to drive sales and initial rankings far beyond the level of a mere beginner.

Would you like to listen in on some of our audiobooks?

How To Improve Your Service Provider’s Follow Up Emails

This one can be a real “forehead slapper.” Here’s how I helped one of my clients, a regional sales director for a major pest control company, transform his follow up emails to get more clients.

Follow Up Emails - Tina Dietz

I had shown my client how to create lists of perfect potential clients using local and internet resources, and we had already gone through the process of how to be great with shifting short term clients into being long term clients. He had been promoted, been given a larger territory and bigger clients, and had record sales for the slowest months of the year in less than 6 months. BUT, now that he knows what he wants his Perfect Day to be, he’s got some fabulous BHAG’s (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) for the year, and he wasn’t getting the results he wanted from reaching out to the companies that he could help.

Here was the problem—the follow up email.

Here is his original email to follow up after having a brief first phone or in person chat with a potential client:

Original Follow Up Email

Good morning Dawn,

Thank you for taking a few minutes to chat with me. Below you’ll find a brief summary of {HIS COMPANY’S} history & my contact info.

Please keep us in mind for your pest control needs.

Thank you,

Name

Company Name

Phone Number

The Problem And The Solution

Remember how the teacher’s voice sounded in Charlie Brown cartoons? That’s how this email sounds. It’s totally forgettable, totally impersonal. Something very important to remember about followup emails is that they are like a thank you card. Every contact with a prospect is an opportunity to create relationship from one human being to another. It doesn’t matter if you’re offering a massage or carpet cleaning, make sure your personality shines through! My client has a FANTASTIC personality. He’s warm, funny, and sweet. He genuinely cares about his clients and the work he does. None of that was present in his follow up email. Here’s how we transformed his follow up email, and I highly recommend that you use this example as a template for you to use for your own follow ups.

Transformed Follow Up Email

Dear Dawn,

Great to meet you this morning and I appreciate you taking a couple of minutes to chat with me. I know that with how cold it is that pest control probably isn’t top of mind for you right now, but I like to make sure all my customers are prepared for what’s to come. After all, it’s way less stressful to prevent a problem than it is to deal with a crisis, right?

Just so you have all the information you need, check out what I’ve put together for you below, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me or give me a call on my mobile number at XXX-XXX-XXXX. If you see something buzzing or crawling, I’ll make sure it gets taken care of.

{video} Be Prepared for Pests! Warning Signs for your building, business, or facility

{PDF} Company Profile & Our Commitment to Our Clients

I’d like to stop by next week and make sure your questions are answered—when is a good time for you and what do you take in your coffee?

Thanks again and I look forward to helping your business.

Warm Regards,

Name, Title

Company Name

Phone Number

Website

Would you want to do business with you more from the first email, or the second email?

When you’re following up a potential client, be YOU. People want to know that you care, that you’re not just a number, AND that you know your stuff. This is so crucial because it’s the first opportunity you’re giving people to really interact with you as a professional and demonstrate your ability to fill a need and follow up and respond.

Now I’m going to dissect the elements of this email so that you can craft your personal followup template. Include the following elements in your follow up email:

Your Email Follow Up Template

Dear NAME,

{APPRECIATION} Great to meet you this morning and I appreciate you taking a couple of minutes to chat with me. {CONVERSATION THAT INCLUDES YOUR COMMITMENT} I know that with how cold it is that pest control probably isn’t top of mind for you right now, but I like to make sure all my customers are prepared for what’s to come. {POWERFUL QUESTION} After all, it’s way less stressful to prevent a problem than it is to deal with a crisis, right?

{CARING INVITATION} Just so you have all the information you need, check out what I’ve put together for you below, and if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me or give me a call on my mobile number at XXX-XXX-XXXX. If you see something buzzing or crawling, I’ll make sure it gets taken care of.

{SUPPORT MATERIALS & INFORMATION}

{video} Be Prepared for Pests! Warning Signs for your building, business, or facility

{PDF} Company Profile & Our Commitment to Our Clients

{CALL TO ACTION/WARM INVITATION} I’d like to stop by next week and make sure your questions are answered—when is a good time for you and what do you take in your coffee?

Thanks again and I look forward to helping your business.

Warm Regards,

Name, Title {POWERFUL TITLE}

Company Name

Phone Number

Website

Ready to give it a try? I challenge you to take the time this week to send follow up emails to some of the folks you’ve talked to in the past and create connection–get the conversation flowing and remember, it’s all about YOU help THEM solve a problem, not making a sale. Got questions or comments? We love your comments. 🙂

Get Referrals from Networking Events & Groups

One of the biggest complaints I hear from business owners is that networking events are uncomfortable and a waste of time because they’re not getting clients. Well, that’s your first mistake.

Networking Events

You may end up with participants in a networking group or from a networking event becoming your clients, but in general that’s not where your biggest value is from networking. You are far more likely to gain colleagues, allies, and referral sources from than you are clients.

So why aren’t you getting referrals? Because your follow through sucks. Here’s how to reverse that condition and get referrals from your networking efforts.

Let’s take the case of your neighborhood Massage Therapist, since I’ve worked with or interacted with thousands of these professionals over the years. It is rare indeed to even find a Massage Therapist at a networking event, which is a shame, but another story.

The Problem

Let’s say that the heroine of our story (we’ll call her Jane) has been going to a networking group put on by her local Chamber of Commerce for several months. She likes the people there, and a couple of the folks in her group have come for treatment sessions, but that’s it.

In my coaching session with Jane, we have this conversation about the topic:

Me: How many one on one meetings have you had with folks in the group so far?

Jane: …um?

Me: How many referrals have you given other folks in the group?

Jane: Oh geez, that’s a good point. I don’t know if I have anyone for them.

Me: And that’s how they probably feel about you. They’re just not sure who to refer, and how, and when.

The Solution

Jane went back to her group, and when she got up to share she told the rest of the group that she’d like to get to know everyone better and who their ideal clients are so that she could give good referrals to them. Before she left the meeting, she had 6 appointments (3 phone calls and 3 coffee or lunch meetings) set up with various members of the group.

This is not the end of the story.

In our session, I helped Jane practice the kinds of questions and requests that were going to help deepen the relationship faster, as well as find out quickly if the folks she was talking with were going to be good referral sources for her. Since she already had created the profile of her Ideal Client and Ideal Colleague, this was a lot easier.

After her meetings, Jane used this template to follow up and did she get referrals? Within 2 weeks Jane had received 8 referrals, 6 of whom booked massage treatments right away.

Jane’s Referral Request Email

Dear Steve,

Great meeting with you yesterday over coffee. I was glad to learn more about your business. I really appreciate getting together and I think we can help each other out. What kinds of referrals are you looking for? I’ve got some specific types of clients that my services really make a difference with, so if you’re up for it, I was wondering if you would mind letting me know if you know anyone like this?

  • Someone who is in pain like back pain or headaches
  • Folks who are under a lot of stress
  • Anyone who has recently been in an accident, had a fall, a car crash, etc.
  • People who are training for an event like a marathon, triathlon, martial arts, or who are athletes.

I’d also be happy to help out and take care of anyone you know who just wants to relax, feel great, and increase their mobility. I’ll make sure the problem doesn’t come back!

I am very open to working with anyone you refer to me, so when you hear of people that would benefit from my services, please know that I am always grateful when you let them know that they can call me at ­­­­­­­­XXX-XXXX or email me XXXX@XXXXX.COM. I’ll get right back to them and set up a complimentary assessment and evaluation over the phone.

Remember to let me know what kinds of referrals are you looking for too so I can return the favor. Thanks!

All the Best,

Jane Smith, LMT

Owner, Pain-Away Massage Clinic

(phone)

(website)

This kind of warm, focused email makes it so easy for someone to come up with names, and they know exactly what to do. All the pressure is off, and they’re clear on how they can help. Plus, this level of follow through and professionalism lets someone know that they can ask you for the same and it builds their confidence that you know your business.

Your Referral Request Template

Dear _____,

Great meeting with you for coffee/lunch/for our phone chat. I was glad to learn more about your business. I really appreciate getting together and I think we can help each other out. What kinds of referrals are you looking for? I’ve got some specific types of businesses/clients/customers that our services/products really make a difference with, so if you’re up for it, I was wondering if you would mind letting me know if you know anyone who is a manager or owner at any of the following kinds of businesses/dealing with this type of problem/fits this description?

Bullet points of who your ideal clients/target market is

I’d also be happy to help out and take care of anyone you know who is having a problem with _______________. I’ll make sure the problem doesn’t come back!

I am very open to working with anyone you refer to me, so when you hear of people that would benefit from my services, please know that I am always grateful when you let them know that they can call me at ­­­­­­­­____________ or email me _________________. I’ll get right back to them and set up a complimentary assessment/evaluation/consultation.

Remember to let me know what kinds of referrals are you looking for too so I can return the favor. Thanks!

Warm Regards,

Name, Title {POWERFUL TITLE}

Company Name

Phone Number

Website

This weeks’ challenge is to go through your contact list and set up phone chats (I call them “virtual teas”) or in-person meetings for coffee, drinks, or lunch to connect with people who you think would be good to have a deeper collegial relationship with. Then, personalize use this template to follow up and see what happens!

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