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  <title>SalesResources.com - Referrals and Networking Articles</title> 
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<item>  <title><![CDATA[Networking? Dont Be Late.]]></title>   <link>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1624</link>   <description><![CDATA[Next time you have an opportunity to network in person, arrive early, not late. This seems obvious, but some people think it is better to take a casual approach and show up after the event or gathering is already well underway.When you arrive early, you can have conversations with people before they are too engaged with others or already participating in the the activities of the event. Arriving after an event starts often means you will awkwardly break in on conversations that have already been established.There are other benefits to arriving early as well, especially for the shy person or someone who does not like to network. Yes, this runs counter to the norm, but by arriving early, youre able to join in with other people who arrive early. The typical cliques that can develop at these gatherings will not have emerged yet, and youll be able to meet others in a much more relaxed and comfortable manner.When you are in sales, even though the actual "selling" may take a bre]]></description>   <guid>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1624</guid>   <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:25:01 CST</pubDate>  </item><item>  <title><![CDATA[Getting Smart About Getting Referrals]]></title>   <link>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1598</link>   <description><![CDATA[Savvy independent professionals know that referrals are the best way to land new clients. But getting those referrals can sometimes be a challenge. When referrals dont come easily -- or the ones you get seem to be off track -- its tempting to forget about building referrals and spend time on cold calling, boilerplate letters and emails, or advertising, even though you know those approaches arent as effective in the long run.Instead, try getting smarter about getting referrals. Here are the five most common sources of referrals for independent professionals, and keys to making them work for you.1. Current or former clients.Keys to more referrals: Clients must be satisfied with your value, find you easy to work with, and not mind "sharing" you.Common mistakes: Focusing on clients as your main source of referrals.Of course no one will refer you if you dont do quality work. But they also wont refer if they find you difficult to work with or think they could do bett]]></description>   <guid>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1598</guid>   <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:25:01 CST</pubDate>  </item><item>  <title><![CDATA[Are You Giving Referrals?]]></title>   <link>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1586</link>   <description><![CDATA[When was the last time you gave one of your customers a referral?Our goal is to not just sell, but to help others. I get truly jazzed each time I get to help someone else by way of a referral.  At the end of the day, thats what our role is - helping others.   Professionals like you and me are not threatened by referring our customers even to a competitor. In other words, lets say you know of someone else who could better serve your customer in a particular area than you can.  The true professional knows its more important to ensure the customer is served at 110% than for themselves as the sales representative to get the sale serving the customer at 80%.When a salesperson can refer a customer to someone else in place of taking the business, then theyve truly reached the pinnacle of serving.   Its a sweet spot of serving your customer...being able to put their needs above your own in this particular way.]]></description>   <guid>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1586</guid>   <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:25:01 CST</pubDate>  </item><item>  <title><![CDATA[How To Overcome Client Reluctance To Give Referrals]]></title>   <link>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1536</link>   <description><![CDATA[Virtually every professional has been taught that generating referrals from clients and prospects are the way to success, but studies show that less than 15% of all professionals generate enough referrals to significantly affect their business.  Traditional referral training has been to "do a good job and ask for referrals."  Using the traditional approach, the typical advisor will get an occasional "referral" or two from their clients, but these tend to be just names and phone numbers, rather than qualified prospects.Traditional referral gathering methods do not work     The failure to generate a large number of high quality referrals lies in the traditional methods approach to the client.  The traditional "do a good job and ask for referrals" approach creates several roadblocks to getting referrals.The client is not prepared to give referrals       By waiting until the service is complete and then asking for referrals, your client has not had an opportunity to prepare fo]]></description>   <guid>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1536</guid>   <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:25:01 CST</pubDate>  </item><item>  <title><![CDATA[Using Incentives To Get Referrals]]></title>   <link>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1537</link>   <description><![CDATA[Im often asked why I dont advocate using incentives to influence clients and prospects to give referrals.  My reasoning is two fold:  first, if your referral generation process is effective and you execute it correctly, you dont need to give incentives; and second, if done correctly, incentives can be very effective-but most salespeople find giving effective incentives to be cumbersome and time consuming.Let me explain.I coach and train clients who use incentives very effectively.  They are a key part of their referral generation process.  They follow the PWWR Referral Generation System" to the letter-with the exception of their explanation of why it is in the clients best interest to give them referrals.  Instead of explaining to the client how their being referral-based is an asset to the client and why giving referrals insures the client receives the purchasing experience they want, these salespeople prefer giving incentives.The difference between the incentives they]]></description>   <guid>http://www.salesresources.com/articles/article.cfm?ID=1537</guid>   <pubDate>Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:25:01 CST</pubDate>  </item>
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