Don’t you love a thoughtful introduction that turns into a new client or even closed, paid business?
Every business owner does. When you begin to make great-fit introductions to businesses, you prove to be a fantastic resource to the person being introduced and to the business gaining the introduction. You are being a helpful resource to others and the local community!
Knabb Consulting, Network in Action Memphis/Virtual (KCNIA) appreciates great introductions, and we have a policy to show gratitude for them.
I Track Introductions
When I receive an introduction, I keep track of that information. If it results in a revenue or commission, I have a policy by which I share back a “Thank You” to the person who made the intro. This is pretty common in the small business world. I established the policy when I first started KCNIA.
By the way, I like to make right-fit introductions too. Who do you need to meet? Who makes the best clients or referral partners to you? Share that information any time using this “Who I Need to Meet” Google Form.
About the Referral Policy
KCNIA provides services to help people Create, Grow, and Scale business. This can include people who want to research franchise or stand up an independent business. It also includes existing business owners who need more referral partners or who would like to work out a business expansion/scaling project.
For commissions, consulting retainers, or member fees, I share 10% of amounts received in the first year. That amount can go up for someone who keeps introducing people who turn into clients or paid members.
When one of my Network in Action members or a Peer Advisory Board client introduces someone who signs a contract, the person making the introduction will receive their next month free. That will continue to happen with every intro that turns another membership or client. This 1-page PDF is a portable version of the KCNIA Referral Policy.
How to Make Warm Introductions
A warm introduction is a 3-way introduction from one person to the other two that makes it clear as to why the introduction was warranted. It also helps the trust-building process. “I thought you both could help one another” or “You both work with the same kinds of clients.” Sharing an interesting or unique fact about the two people is useful as well. This helps personalize the message and to make the new person more memorable faster.
A great way to make introductions is through an email, a 3-way text, or a 3-way message via a tool like LinkedIn or the NIA Member app. The important thing is to make the message easy to find for everyone. It is also important to share the contact information for both people so everyone can reach out to one another with ease. Don’t forget to put the word “Introduction” in the message or Subject line.
Who to Introduce
CREATE: Business Ownership Research
People going through Career Transition are great candidates for learning about business ownership. If a friend’s company has gone through several rounds of layoffs, your friend may want to create a Plan B. If a cousin is about to leave the military, now is a good time to research business ownership. The learning process is free to them. If they do invest in a franchise, I get paid a commission by the franchise brand. By law, the commission cannot be charged back to your friend or cousin.
If your friend wants to stand up their own independent business, we work out the requirements and goals like a project. The services are billed as a retainer, and the referral fee is the percentage of the amounts paid.
This “Who I Need to Meet” Google Form lets you tell me about yourself and also gives you a way to share contract information about someone you want to introduce as well.
GROW: Business Networking Memberships
What businesses do you trust? Introduce them to me. Even if they don’t become a client of mine, I will be able to make introductions to them and introduce them to others.
If you know a small business in the Greater Memphis TN area, introduce them to me. If they apply, pass the professional background check, and join one of my NIA or NIAX groups, I’ll give a rev share on that first year’s membership. The NIA Vision Builders group meets 2nd Tuesday afternoons and can include members who want to plug in and build strong referral relationships.
The NIAX Memphis group meets on 2nd Wednesday afternoons. It is built to serve those business owners from the Trades, wellness businesses, and any other business strapped for time. The NIAX Memphis group provides flexibility for attendance because anyone in Memphis can be an NIAXer/Affiliate Partner and make referrals directly into the membership.
If you trust a business that can serve clients anywhere, that business owner could be a candidate for the Online NIA group, making referral partners all over the country.
SCALE: Business Solutions and Expansion
Business owners often need to work out solutions to problems or new opportunities. Sometimes they want to execute major expansion projects too. In this case, KCNIA can offer several solutions:
- Consulting: Retainer-based work to provide your friend’s business with project leadership and execution support to help them achieve their goals.
- Peer Advisory Board: NDA-covered annual memberships whether the members work together in monthly, 3-hour sessions to create business solutions.
- Scaling/Expansion Consulting: For a business owner who wants to franchise their business or stack more franchise to what they already have, there are particular strategies that are helpful. There are also key things to NOT do. Fees structure will be based on their goals and the work involved to achieve them.
Let’s Get Started
Being good referral partners starts with getting to know each other. Let’s have a one-to-one meeting and establish that trust together. I want to know how best to help you and your trusted friends and family. I also want to gain your trust.
- Book a Meeting: https://calendly.com/cath-01/nwone2one
- Use this “Who I Need to Meet” Google Form repeatedly to tell me who you need to meet. Every entry can be different.
- Use this NIAXer/Affiliate Partner form to be a direct referral partner to members of my NIAX Memphis group.
- Save this eCard to your phone so we are only a text away.
- Hang onto this 1-Pager PDF to have the referral policy close at hand.
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