How to Ask for Referrals from Email Opens

That's right, with professional email marketing software you can track who opens, and then clicks, on the links in your email. If you have their phone and name in your email database as well, the email marketing software will also give you a print out of this information.

Get into the routine of calling your past clients or network of relationships frequently to ask for referrals - but where do you start? Let's say you have 1,000 people in your email database, do you just start calling anyone randomly? It would make sense to start calling on the people most engaged with you first. They are the perfect people to call for a referral or ask for repeat business!

But what if you don't recognize any of these email addresses - how do you find their contact information? Well, you could obviously send them an email, or simply Google the email address and see what comes up; you'd be surprised you can find just about anyone's phone number with a Google search, especially when it's a company email address.

Here's how to ask for a referral from those who open your emails.

Google their email address or run a search in your database for their phone number. You're calling them to ask for feedback on your blog, build rapport, then ask for a referral (remember to ask TWICE) - they will not recall the first time you ask. I recommend you refer to their Facebook page to see what groups they belong to and what's happening in their life before you call so you have something to talk about.

Type their name in a Facebook search and you'll find either their public or private profile (invite them as a 'friend' to see their private profile). You can also Google their name to find more information about them - this is less 'taboo' as the years go on. Do your homework. People will appreciate it.

* Do not tell them you saw they opened your email, say "I see you subscribe....."
* F.O.R.D. stands for asking about their Family, Occupation, Recreation, and Dreams

Here are your talking points:

1. Introduce Yourself - "Do you have a moment?"
2. Indirectly ask them for feedback on your videos.
3. Run the F.O.R.D. rapport building technique - be specific.
4. Ask WHO you should be working with - clearly define.
5 Ask for a second time WHO you should be working with (w/ recall)
6. Get all contact information for referral (phone, email, etc)
7. Ask them to forward your email to them, introducing you.
8. Thank them!

Here's an example script:

(1) "Hi Dave, this is Frank Klesitz - do you have a moment? I own Vyral Marketing and I see you're on my email subscription; (2) I'm calling to ask your feedback; have you received my videos? Great! (3) It's been a while but I wanted to reconnect - how is the family? What are you doing for fun these days? How's your career? (etc, etc). (4) Well I only build my business by referral - do you know anyone I should be working with? (5) Well I understand no one comes to mind; let me explain exactly who I'm looking for (define your ideal prospect). I see on your Facebook page you belong to (these groups) - specifically, is there anyone in these groups who comes to mind? Well thank you! (6) Can you look in your cell phone and see if you have their phone number? Exactly how do you spell their last name? (7) Now, I'd like to reach out to them. Would you forward the email I sent you their way to introduce my services? (8) I really appreciate it. Stay in touch - I appreciate you! Have a great day."