Meet Our “Influencer of the Week,” Ivana Taylor!

Ivana Taylor, Publisher of DIY Marketers

Nominated by: Wendy Weiss

Ivana Taylor is the publisher of DIYMarketers.com, where small business owners get low-cost tools, tips, and strategies to do marketing for about $17 a day. Her popular weekly Twitter Chat, #BizapaloozaChat, reaches about 2 million small business owners each week. She’s been a contributor to AMEX OPENForum and has appeared on MSNBC.

Connect with Ivana on LinkedIn, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, subscribe to her Youtube channel, or visit her website to learn more about her work. You can also grab their 7-Days to a Flood of Ideal Customers email course for FREE!

Ivana’s Insights

There’s no silver bullet or magic sauce — the only way to get these kinds of results is by running a referral system inside your business. Most small businesses say that the bulk of their business comes from referrals, yet they treat referrals like a happy accident. Here are a few tips for leveraging your network to generate new sales.

Step 1: Treat referrals like the goldmine they are! Stop leaving referrals to chance and start treating them as an intentional strategy. Recognize their immense potential and make them a priority in your marketing efforts.

Step 2: Build your referral network. Take the time to identify friends, influencers, and partners who have connections that align with your target audience. These are the individuals who can become your secret weapon in generating quality referrals.

Step 3: Nurture those relationships like a boss. Once you have your referral network in place, don’t just let it collect dust. Put your networking skills to work and regularly engage with your connections. Show genuine interest in their offerings, take the time to understand their businesses, and build strong relationships based on trust and mutual support.

Step 4: Consistency is your secret weapon. In order for your referral system to work its magic, you need to be consistent. Treat it like a daily ritual that you simply cannot skip. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to connect with your network, ensuring that you stay on their radar and maintain those valuable relationships.

Step 5: Give to receive. Referrals are a two-way street. It’s not just about what you can get; it’s about what you can give. Be proactive in supporting your referral partners by promoting their services, making introductions, or collaborating on projects. By providing value to your network, you create a reciprocity that encourages them to refer clients your way.

Step 6: Keep tabs on your success. Track your interactions, received referrals, and the outcomes they generate. This data will be your guide in refining and optimizing your referral system. Identify what’s working well and what may need adjustment, so you can continuously improve and maximize your results.

Step 7: Always be refining. Referral systems are not set in stone. They require ongoing evaluation and refinement. Keep experimenting, learning, and adapting as you go. Stay open to new strategies and opportunities to make your referral system even more effective.

By following these steps, you can create a referral system that puts you in control of your success—no more relying on random luck or chance encounters. Take charge, build those relationships, and watch as your referral network becomes a powerful engine that consistently brings in high-quality leads and boosts your sales to new heights.

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