Referrals are one of the most powerful ways to generate leads and sales in direct selling. But how do you get referrals from influencers, who have a large and loyal audience that trusts their recommendations? Here are some effective ways to approach an influencer for a referral, without being pushy or spammy.
The first step is to find an influencer who is relevant to your niche, your product, and your target market. You want someone who shares your values, your vision, and your ideal customer profile. You can use tools like BuzzSumo, HypeAuditor, or SimilarWeb to research influencers based on their content, reach, engagement, and audience demographics. You can also look for influencers who are already using or promoting similar or complementary products to yours.
An an influencer myself for many technology brands I have been o may influence panels on exactly this question. Key is to understand from the outset what is in it for the influencer and align your compensation to them with their need. Too often the ask is for free influence or to influence in return for a free license or freebie of the vendors offering that is unlikely to be of use or something of value to the influencer! If you want a good influencer, appreciate you need to approach them with the right and appropriate offer.3
The second step is to build a genuine and respectful relationship with the influencer, before asking for a referral. You can do this by following them on social media, liking and commenting on their posts, sharing their content, and sending them a personalized message. You can also offer them some value, such as a free sample, a discount code, or a testimonial. The goal is to show them that you are a fan, a peer, and a potential partner, not just a salesperson.
After all, it's ALL about relationships. Ask about them. Ask what they liked about the job you did...and ask if they know anyone else who may benefit.
The third step is to ask for a referral in a polite and professional way, after you have established some rapport and trust with the influencer. You can do this by explaining how your product can benefit their audience, how it aligns with their brand, and how it can help them achieve their goals. You can also provide them with some incentives, such as a commission, a bonus, or a free product. You can also make it easy for them to refer you, by giving them a referral link, a landing page, or a script. The key is to make it a win-win situation for both of you.
The fourth step is to follow up and thank the influencer for their referral, and to keep the relationship going. You can do this by tracking the results of their referral, sending them feedback, and showing them appreciation. You can also offer them more value, such as referrals back, cross-promotion, or collaboration. You can also ask them for feedback, suggestions, or testimonials. The idea is to make them feel valued, respected, and rewarded for their referral.
The fifth step is to repeat and scale the process with other influencers, and to leverage the referrals you get. You can do this by identifying more influencers in your niche, building more relationships, asking for more referrals, and following up and thanking more influencers. You can also use the referrals you get to create social proof, testimonials, case studies, or content that you can share with your prospects and customers. The point is to create a referral network that generates consistent and quality leads and sales for your business.
The sixth step is to avoid some common mistakes that can ruin your chances of getting a referral from an influencer. This includes approaching the wrong influencer, being too aggressive or generic in your pitch, expecting a referral without offering anything in return, spamming or pestering the influencer, and violating their trust or reputation. However, if you follow these steps and approach an influencer in a respectful, professional manner, it can be an effective way to boost direct sales results.