Below is a straight cut and paste of a post by legendary word of mouth sage, Seth Godin. I don’t even want you to have to click a further link to get to this, it’s that important.

People often ask me, “How can I ask for referrals?”

Actually they are usually also thinking, and sometimes even adding, “It seems so self-serving because it’s all about what I want. In fact to be honest, business isn’t that good at the moment, so I need all the buyers I can get. I’m getting desperate, and I feel like if I ask people for referrals it’s like begging!”

Welcome, and all hail Seth Godin…

Don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone

IWantSandy is folding, as are a number of web companies. So is that restaurant you loved down the street. Users are outraged. Outraged!

When you find a service or establishment or product that gives you joy, it’s tempting to keep it to yourself. Perhaps it’s uncomfortable to recommend it to a friend (after all, you might seem silly) and even more uncomfortable to recommend it to a stranger (after all, you might seem like a shill).

Plenty of people hesitate before spreading the word about a political candidate or a business or a medical device. We’re worried that we’ll look silly, or that the place will end up being too crowded and now we won’t be able to get in. Or perhaps we’re concerned about losing our uniqueness…

Anyway, the outcry that accompanies the closing of one of these businesses should be enough to remind you that your hesitation has a cost.

It’s simple, I think. In a world where consumers have so much power, we now have two responsibilities:

• If you don’t like what an organization stands for, work actively to spread the word and force them to change

and

• If you will miss a product, a service, a book, a site or a professional when they close up shop, stand up, speak up and bring them masses of new business.

We get what we promote.

Courtesy of Seth Godin’s Blog and you can sign up there to get more of his wisdom.

Be what you want others to be – give your own word of mouth, be a networker and a referrer. Live both sides of the referral relationship, and people will end up following your example.

I’ve referred you just now to someone I value, Seth Godin.

Who can you GIVE a referral to – today?

-Martin Russell

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