Getting referrals is the lifeblood of any successful business especially if you are running your own business, such as an Internet home-based business. If you’re not getting referrals, then you had better have an absolutely gigantic advertising budget the likes of which few business owners have, and which those who do wish they did not need to spend.

Why should you bother to get referrals? Referrals are free leads. Each referral you get costs you very little in either money or time, because they are actually part of your compensation for giving your existing clients excellent products and/or excellent service. So, the cost of all of your referrals is actually just the money and time you spend selling to your existing clients. If you have a spectacular product and your service is second to none, they will give you referrals.

Every referral saves you from cold-calling, they are pre-sold on your brand and they were not brought in by paid advertising. Every referral you get has been given, in a way, a testimonial about your company at no cost to you and no effort to you.

It is not hard to figure out that by getting referrals, you are virally growing your business. It works just like that old TV commercial about the great hair shampoo that impressed a woman so much that she told two friendsand they told two friendsand so on, and so on

A referral is someone who wants to talk to you. It is someone who wants to buy specifically from you. It is not an individual who finds your approaching them disturbing. Its not someone you have to spend a lot of precious time trying to qualify.

So, what are some of the ways that you can use to start getting referrals?

1. Ask for them. Make it a habit to ask your clients for referrals every time you have a good reason to contact them either about a new product or to give them customer service. If you compose e-newsletters, have a section in there every time where you always ask them to show anyone they know who could use what you offer.

2. Always give incredible customer service to your existing clients, and always send a thank you notice every time they buy from you.

3. Keep personal relationships with your clients if possible. Remember their birthdays; think of ways to reward them for remaining clients such as by giving them special client discounts off newly released products; and other things that you think of to show that you care.

4. Exchange website links with any of your clients who also run businesses.

Keep in mind that getting lots of referrals is the best method to get your business booming and make tons of cash.