I suspect that most of the readers of this article may have a particular view about the subject of referrals that is significantly different from mine.

Firstly, when it comes to asking for referrals, I DON’T believe in the traditional way it’s been taught.

Over the decades, I’ve often heard speakers and trainers teach the following idea. When you give a business presentation to someone who tells you either “NO” or “NOT YET”, you should ask them for referrals anyway. You want them to give you the names of a few of their personal contacts who may have more of an interest in what you offer than they did.

I’m sorry, but I haven’t seen any significant number of people ever get good results with an approach like that. There may be a few, but I believe them to be the exceptions.

Prospects who reject your business presentation are highly unlikely to give you a valid referral. They have no good reason to do it.

It’s uncomfortable for you to ask, and even more uncomfortable for them when you put them in that position.

Automatic and Immediate Results

However, here’s another way of creating referrals that you may have never considered before. This is something that can and will create impressive results. Even better, these results are both automatic and immediate.

Over the past 3 decades, I’ve become a recognized authority on how to build your network marketing business by capitalizing on the connections you can make through social networks.

When you make a post that appeals to a large number of people, sometimes they’ll share it on their own Facebook or LinkedIn pages.

Then, when their friends and connections “Like” or “Comment” on that shared post, you should think of those people as REFERRALS.

This is your opportunity to reply to those people who reacted to that shared post. Go out of your way to make a connection with them.

Seek To Build Relationships

You’ve heard it more times than you can count: “Network Marketing is a relationship business”.

Here are some things you can do that will give you a HUGE ADVANTAGE when it comes to starting and building relationships using social networks.

People reveal all sorts of information about themselves. You just need to take the time to visit their pages and pay attention. Read their personal profiles. Pay attention to their posts. Check out their pics and videos. People provide all that information because they want others to know something about them. They want people to know what’s going on in their lives, in their business, and what they like and dislike.

That gives you plenty of insight about how to make “small talk” that will get a good conversation going.  You’re looking for things you have in common with them, and that’s a powerful way to begin a new online relationship.

A Caution and A Next Step

Caution… please, do not pounce on people with your business presentation right away.

Be respectful and take the appropriate time to communicate with them first. Once you get the feeling that you’ve connected with someone who may well be receptive, then you can open the door to your business presentation.

Your next step is to find compelling things to post on your Facebook and LinkedIn pages. Your goal is to provide content that people WANT to share with their friends and contacts.

You may find motivational quotes, inspirational stories, good jokes, or funny memes that may get the best results. Find something that works for you.

Post regularly. Pay attention to who shares your posts. Visit their pages. See who reacts or comments. Learn something about those people. Reply to them. Start conversations. Build relationships.

Soon you’ll be reaping a bountiful harvest from all the many good seeds you’ve planted…