Business referrals are one of the most powerful networking tools you can use to grow your business. They can help you acquire new customers, increase your sales, provide helpful feedback, and so much more. Your happy customers are your greatest advocates. Yet, to maximize the impact of these advocates, you need to understand what motivates them to refer people to you.
Thanking someone who refers you is an essential part of the business. However, it can be challenging to figure out how to do that. Here are four tips for composing a powerful business thank you note.
How to Write a Business Referral Thank You Note
There are many ways to write the note depending on what type of relationship you have with the person who referred you. Here’s how:
1. Thank the person first
Start off by thanking the person for all their help and support in your business.
2. Remind them of your relationship with them
Whatever type of relationship you have, be honest about it. You may have just met, or you’ve known each other for years, but they must know how much you appreciate them.
3. Explain what the person has done for you
Tell the person about the progress in your business by thanking them for referring you to your prospective client. If they have directly referred you to someone, be sure to write an additional paragraph about the relationship with your new referral source. You can also thank them for any tips or information they have provided you in this paragraph.
4. Give your contact info
Lastly, include all of your contact details so the person who referred you can easily get in touch with you if there are any questions or concerns they may have later.
Samples of Business Referral Thank You Notes
Formal business referral thank you note
Dear Rebecca,
I want to thank you for referring me as the perfect attorney to Ms. Johnson. I know she has also worked with your company in the past. I have already sent the information that will be useful to her and have scheduled an appointment for this upcoming Thursday. This was very thoughtful of you to refer me to someone who you know is looking for my services and it has been a pleasure working with you as well.
Thank you again for your support and knowledge about this company. I appreciate everything that you have done to help me in my business venture.
Best,
Ralf Clay
Casual business referral thank you note
Dear Jerry,
I wanted to say thank you for referring me to your friend, Carl. I have already talked to him about his insurance options and am looking forward to setting up his appointment. You are very knowledgeable about this industry, making it very easy for someone like me who is just starting out. Thank you again for all of your help in the past few months. I truly appreciate it, and look forward to working with you in the future.
Best,
Jane Holmes
Thank you note for someone who has directly referred you to their friend or colleague
Dear Maria,
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for referring me to Kim. I have already spoken to her about her boss’ retirement plans, and she was very excited to find out more information about it. You are right – Kim is great!
It has been a pleasure working with you during my time at XYZ Company. I hope that we can stay in contact even after I leave the company. I would love to gain as much knowledge about insurance as you and learn everything I can before applying for a job later on down the road.
Thank you again for referring me to Kim! I am excited to work with her in regards to this issue.
Best,
Sarah Griffin
Business referral thank you note for someone who has sent you to another professional
Dear Roger,
Your referral of Ms. Wilson was instrumental in my new relationship with the X Company. They were impressed with my credentials, and gave me their insurance packages – which I will be contacting them about soon! Making the connection is very important, and I’m glad that you didn’t mind getting me in touch with Ms. Wilson. I appreciate everything that you have done for me throughout my business career, and don’t plan on leaving your company anytime soon!
Thank you again for helping me with this issue, and please send my regards to Ms. Wilson when she returns from her vacation next week.
Thank you so much,
Leah Stillman
Referral thank you note after meeting with the person who referred you
Dear Ryan,
I wanted to take a minute to properly thank you for referring me to Mr. Brackett. I can tell that he has a great deal of respect for you in your professional field, and it really showed during our meeting today. Through his assistance, I was able to show him what we could do in regards to his retirement plan. He was very pleased with the options that you had told me about, and is now considering my services for his company.
It has been a pleasure working with you in my business career, and I will be sure to pass along your information to any of the friends or colleagues that are looking for insurance.
Thank you again!
Jane Wentworth
Benefits of a Business Referral Thank You Note
You’d be surprised how many companies fail to send a thank you note to someone who has given them their business. There are many reasons why you should send a thank you note to the person who referred you, including:
Showing appreciation
The person who referred you is a huge deal in your business. You must show them how thankful you are by sending a handwritten thank you note with a small gift. Sending the note shows that you care, and it will give the person confidence in recommending people in the future since they’ll know you’ll take the referral seriously.
It saves time and money
By keeping in contact with a person who has given you business, you’re not only building trust but also saving yourself from spending time finding new leads when someone has already referred you to an ideal client. This will save your company money by cutting on marketing costs for a prospective client that you already had a connection with.
Increase your chances of being referred in the future
When you make a good impression on someone and show them how appreciative you are by thanking them for their referrals, there’s a higher chance that they will refer you to their other connections. In a world where relationships are everything, it’s important to show gratitude when someone does something for you.