Referrals are huge in any business. When a customer signs up
online for information, products, or services it is the perfect
time to have them input contact information for referrals as
well. Generally this is done by providing an additional field
where the customer can enter a list of email addresses.
Unfortunately for you, the customer can rarely be hassled to take
the time to think about who might benefit from your service
nevermind to look up their email addresses and then type them in.
This is where the Email Referral System (ERS) becomes a valuable
asset.
Instead of providing a blank box for entering email addresses, the
ERS prompts the customer for a GMail (Google Mail), HotMail or
Yahoo username
and password. Once entered, the customer's entire list of contacts
will appear on the screen. They can then check off the friends they
would like to refer and an email can be immediately sent to the
referrals. This solves two problems common with trying to obtain
email referrals: (1) most people don't know their friends' email
addresses off-hand and (2) by providing the customer's
entire contact list it reminds them of people they may otherwise not
have thought to refer.