How to Ask for Referrals as a Translator

In life, like in business, you need to know who you are. Your strengths and your shortcomings. But in business, it is quite amazing when your historic clients know you and your work, and choose you day in and day out. This constitutes an unbeatable business card, and is a great advantage to add to your sales efforts.

Make It Personal in a Good Way

Do not feel overwhelmed when you need to ask your clients for referrals. It’s not a crime (not yet!). Quite the contrary, in these days marked by the indelible opinion of customers, positive referrals from your client base might be powerful. Wherever you look, you will find reviews, stars, kudos, scores, and many other evaluation metrics to show who’s trustworthy in all areas of expertise.

As with anything, there are several ways to obtain such referrals. Do not be blunt or aggressive in your request. The best way to proceed is to make your client feel appreciated, recognized, and unique among the rest (each and every one of them). Your first step would be identifying your most satisfied clients, aka, those who have consistently expressed how happy they are with your products or services.

Then, approach them personally. You could call them on the phone, send them a personalized email or even arrange a personal meeting. Your main goal there is to show them your gratitude for their business. Be genuine and highlight how much their support means to you and your company.

Timing, Timing, and Then More Timing

You guessed it. When seeking referrals from a client, you need to choose carefully the moment when you approach them. It should be one when your client is most pleased with your service. An example would be after a successful project or a positive feedback meeting. This will increase your chances of receiving a great referral.

Do not be vague. You need to be clear and explain why you are asking for a referral. Let the client know how it would help your business grow. You want to focus on your goal and “drive” the referral in the same direction.

Incentives – No Harm Done

Just so you know, providing an incentive can dramatically increase your chances of receiving great referrals. Besides your superb performance as a professional or a service supplier, clients love to feel you are giving them a little bit extra. It is only human nature. Many of your clients will be happy to refer your business out of the good of their hearts. Nevertheless, adding a tangible “reward” for their time and effort will not hurt. This reward could take many forms: a donation to one of their favorite charity organizations, gift cards, or perhaps discounts on future services.

You have to make sure that the incentive is appropriate for your client base. As you already know, you should always deliver on your promises. If a client provides a referral as per your request, you need to acknowledge it promptly and deliver the reward with no delay. This will support their positive referral, it will reinforce trust, and possibly encourage them to refer more clients along the way.

Neatly Tracked Referrals

Last, but not least, it would not hurt to apply a tracking system to all your referrals. It does not need to be a fancy concoction. Its main goal would be to track referrals and acknowledge the clients who provide them, plus the results they help to bring about. You will definitely find your way around it. There is much to be gained from client referrals, and you should not underestimate their value when the time comes to sell your products or services.