Are you asking your customers for referrals?

Today’s Monday Morning Quote is all about maximizing your revenue potential and comes from John Jantsch and his book, The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself

“If you truly believe that your products and services offer world-class solutions, then you are doing your customers a disservice by not making it very easy for them to introduce these benefits to their friends. If you find yourself saying, “I believe you get referrals by doing good work, not by asking for them,” then I’m going to suggest that you’re not really sure of the value of your products and services. Remarkable companies always ask for referrals, not simply as a way to acquire new business, but also as a way to help the most people get the results they are after.” – John Jantsch

P.S. The web development company I referenced in today’s video is Emerge Inc., the same company that programmed the Carlin Ad-Speak Calculator.

You are guided by a nervous system that is programmed to avoid risk and the pain of loss. And what you stand to lose or gain from your available choices impacts every decision you make.

Emotion is the driving force used by your nervous system to influence your decisions.

Feelings of fear and trepidation are triggered by the unknown. These emotions prompt you to invest your resources cautiously.

Feelings of trust, comfort and security are triggered by things familiar:  Family and friends.  Ethnic background.  Political affiliations.

Humans have long trusted the wisdom of groups as a survival mechanism. Neuroscientist Gregory Berns explains, “There is, of course,  great value in belonging to a group. Safety in numbers, for one. But there is also a mathematical explanation for why the brain is so willing to give up its own opinions: a group of people is more likely to be correct about something than an individual.”

In essence, your natural instinct is to follow the herd. And it’s counterintuitive for you to venture out on your own. That’s why many business owners continually look to their competitors for ideas and inspiration. But beware: this approach is littered with fool’s gold.

Here’s what you must always remember: [...]

Are you getting involved, or are you being left in the dust?

Today’s Monday Morning Marketing Quote talks about the importance of getting involved in social media, and comes from Frank Agin and Lewis Howes and their book, LinkedWorking: Generating Success on LinkedIn the Worlds Largest Professional Networking Website.

“When you become actively involved, you create the perception that you are a courageous, driven and optimistic person. When you become actively involved, others get the sense that you are caring and generous. When you become actively involved, people deem you as trustworthy and reliable. These things then combine and make it so that people cannot help but to know, like and trust you — which are the building blocks for every solid professional relationship. From here it is inevitable that your network becomes more productive – and opportunities are sure to follow.” – Frank Agin and Lewis Howes