Erin Braford’s Post

Are you overwhelmed with everything involved in growing your business? Here's an easy fix: 1. Build a free team to help you (Seriously, you can have a no cost team) You put your effort to help others. Build a great connection. Learn what they do. Common objections. How to introduce them to ideal client. 2. Here’s the bit that I took a long time to grasp. I had to ask others for help. I had to be: Open. Vulnerable. Share my personal struggles. 𝙉𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚. The more I opened up, it helped people to build a stronger connection with me. This wasn’t with everyone. It wasn’t public. It was privately. With the right people. 3. And then once you know about them. Teach them about: You, share your vision. Your business. Your ideal client. Common objections. And how to refer you. Equip them with your referral toolkit. I pass at least 5 referrals every week. Why? Because the more people I help, > the more the it makes me feel good. Why do people like passing referrals? > It makes them feel good. Hope this reminder helps you. P.S. Do you "consistently" pass high quality referrals? Yes/no?

Want to be a welcomed guest vs. an annoying pest to prospective clients and referral partners? Follow up with them without asking them to buy something. - Help them solve a problem. - Send them something useful. - Support their business/project. - Facilitate introductions - Help them level up their network - Become the go to 'connector' Don't make it all about 'Me! Me! Me!' Building relationships by making it about THEM. THEM. THEM. Then ask for a favor, invite them to reconnect to discuss how you can partner and/or ask for a referral or introduction to some who could benefit from what you offer. Who are 5 people you value that you can add value to before 5pm today?

On Friday I sent 3 qualified referrals to trusted members of my network. I count these referrals as HUGE wins for me and my business. Why? Because I added value to at least 6 people in my network (if not more). You want to have longevity in business? Be a resource. Create introductions. Refer tee’d up opportunities. That’s how you win. Referring an opportunity to someone is the highest form of business respect. Give (without your hand out) and you will find that you will build a network that is better (and likely more successful) than any amount of followers.

Referrals feel like little miracles. Miracles feel unpredictable and unreplicable. However, if you’ve cultivated enough referral relationships, you can accurately predict the number of “miracles” your firm needs in a year to meet your revenue goals. Check out the “referral needs calculator” I made to visualize how many relationships you should aim to have to meet your revenue goals for 2024. The link is in the comments below. 👇🏼

People want to buy but they don't want to be sold to Initially, when I joined Linkedin, my main goal was to sell services, but the expected outcomes didn't quite materialize. Despite efforts to promote services, there wasn't much response, and sales didn't pick up as anticipated. I joined Miss Muthoni Njoroge's telegram channel, she gave us an idea as beginners, instead of just focusing on sales, the idea was to prioritize building a community and fostering meaningful connections. She emphasized on community-building over direct sales pitches. By dedicating time and energy to forming connections and offering value through pro bono work, the goal was to establish trust and credibility within the network. This approach recognized the importance of relationships in business and suggested that nurturing a supportive community could lead to opportunities for collaboration and, eventually, financial success. From my own experience, I've learned that community-building is the cornerstone for business growth. Rather than immediately pushing for sales, I shifted my focus towards building genuine connections and contributing value to this community. This approach she gave us acknowledges the long-term benefits of relationship-building and suggests that by investing in establishing a strong network, financial gains can naturally follow as trust and credibility are built over time.

Stuck staring at your ideal client through glass? Here's how to break through! Step 1:  Leverage your inner circle. Start by mapping your existing network.  Think of past colleagues, friends, and even acquaintances. Who within your sphere of influence might have connections to your ideal customer? Step 2:  Become the ultimate connector. Identify a potential connector and reach out with a genuine offer of value.  This isn't about a quick pitch.  Focus on understanding their needs and how your expertise might benefit them.  Offer a free consultation or connect them with a valuable resource you know they'd appreciate. Step 3:  Remember, building trust takes time.  Over the next 30 days, continue to provide value to your connector.  Offer insights, solve a small problem, or simply be a sounding board.  The goal is to establish yourself as a trusted resource. By the end of the month, I guarantee you'll be in a stronger position to secure that coveted referral to your ideal client. Let me know how this worked for you. P.S. Check out the link in my bio on my instagram if you want to get a copy of The Tipping Point and learn more how to build a powerful network of referrals.

Niche-ing down is the most powerful strategy you can use to grow your business. Why? - You become the go-to expert - You stand out from the crowd - You command higher prices - You work with the best clients - You get more referrals Don't be a generalist who tries to please everyone. Instead, specialize in one specific area that you're passionate about and become the best in the game. It's not just about being good, it's about being remarkable. Find your niche and your business will thank you for it.

Think you can go it alone? Think again. When a client recommends you, it signifies a significant amount of faith and trust in you. It’s not just about the referral; it's about the relationship you've built that makes them confident in spreading the word about your services. Building these trust-based relationships is key to maintaining a steady flow of qualified prospects. Engage with your clients genuinely and offer them exceptional value, and they’ll naturally become your biggest advocates. Want to learn more about fostering these connections? Get the full insights here: https://lnkd.in/ez3CJYJy

What's the secret to connecting with your list through emails & blog posts? Is it who your leads and clients think you are? Is it your offer? Is it how often you write to them? No. It's how you talk to them. Your clients (and especially your leads) want to know the real person behind the professional headshot on your profile. They want to know what's been a struggle in your business and in your personal life (don't worry--you don't have to bare your soul). And they want to know about your wins, too. It makes you relatable and builds trust. And when your clients (and especially your leads) TRUST you, they are much more likely to reach out when they need what you do. So be yourself! You're much more amazing than you think you are. <3

Tell me something: do the people in your network know exactly what it is that you do for clients? To receive more referrals, you must be very clear about your ideal client. This clarity makes it easy for people to refer to  you by knowing exactly the problem you solve and who you solve it for.  Paint a detailed picture of the precise problems they face and how your business solves those issues. When people in your sphere come across someone fitting that description, you want your solution to jump to mind quickly. The more you can clarify and visualize this, the higher the quality of referrals you will receive.