Well, maybe all of that is true – but as it turns out, my friend, you are living in what we marketing coaches call “Referral Fantasy Land.”

Want more referrals? OK listen up.

YOU need a referral blurb. My friend, management training expert Eric David shared this idea with me. I wanted to introduce him to the CEO of a small 10-person professional services firm, one of my clients. He said, “David, that would be great. I’ll send you the email.”

I asked Eric, “What??”

He said, “I have an email ready to go that contains everything you need to send your CEO contact about meeting me, what I do, and why it might make sense for him.”

Dang… I was impressed. He says, “I’m building my business 100% through three strategies: 1. Personal networking; 2. Referring good people I know to others they should be connected to; and 3. Arming my network with this paragraph of email copy – his referral blurb.

You want to see what this looks like, don’t you? Sure you do… OK you win:

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Dear XXX,

I want to introduce you to my friend and colleague Eric David. Eric is the Delaware Valley licensee for Crestcom International, a leader in management and leadership training. After meeting with Eric and hearing about his training program, I think his materials and training methodology make a lot of sense (and could really benefit your organization). I suggested that you would be a great person for him to meet and feel completely comfortable asking if you would be open to meeting him for 30 minutes or so. Based on what I know about Eric and Crestcom, this 30 minutes will be well worth your time and there is no obligation if you are not interested after the half-hour meeting.

Thanks in advance for giving this your thoughtful consideration. I’m looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

===

Now, as a marketing speaker and marketing coach, I asked Eric 2 things:

1. Do you mind if I steal this?

2. Do you mind if I try to improve it?

He gave his blessing, so here’s my version. Notice that I changed not only the business (I’m a marketing coach, he’s a management trainer) but I also tweaked some of the “ME” language into “YOU” language aimed at the recipient. Made it more about THEM. This is key. Take a look:

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Dear XXX,

I want to introduce you to my friend and colleague David Newman. David works with small business owners and independent professionals who want to do a better job of marketing themselves and grow their business. After meeting with David and exploring how you are currently attracting, engaging, and winning clients, you may discover that his marketing programs make sense for you (and could really benefit your bottom line). I suggested that you would be a great person for him to meet and feel completely comfortable asking if you would be open to meeting him for 30 minutes or so.

Based on what I know about David and his track record of helping small and solo business owners succeed – even in this economy – your 30 minutes will be well spent, even if it’s just to explore other ways you might be helpful to each other. Thanks in advance for giving this your thoughtful consideration.

I’m looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

===

OK, now it’s your turn. You ready? Use this template:

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Dear XXX,

I want to introduce you to my friend and colleague [YOUR NAME]. [FIRST NAME] works with [TARGET BUYER PERSONA] who want to [SPECIFIC BENEFIT or OUTCOME]. After meeting with [FIRST NAME] and exploring how you are currently [VERB STATEMENT OF AN IMPORTANT GOAL OF THEIRS], you may discover that his [TOPIC EXPERTISE] programs make sense for you (and could really benefit your bottom line). I suggested that you would be a great person for him to meet and feel completely comfortable asking if you would be open to meeting him for 30 minutes or so.

Based on what I know about [FIRST NAME] and his track record of helping [BUYER PERSONA CATEGORY] succeed – even in this economy – your 30 minutes will be well spent, even if it’s just to explore other ways you might be helpful to each other. Thanks in advance for giving this your thoughtful consideration.

I’m looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

===

Send your referral blurb to 10 of your trusted allies, referral partners, and close business friends… and then leave a comment back here to tell me how much money you’ve made with this one incredibly powerful idea – your referral blurb.