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Marketing FAQ of the Day: How Do I Get More Referrals?
- DAB Marketing
- Aug 23
- 3 min read
Referrals don’t happen by accident. They happen because you ask and you make it easy for customers to say yes.
Here’s a simple, repeatable system you can run on every job—pressure washing, window cleaning, paver sealing, roof soft wash, you name it.
The Moment That Matters
The best time to ask is right after the reveal—when the driveway is bright, the windows sparkle, or the pavers pop again. That’s when your customer feels the win and wants to share it.
Say this on-site:
“Glad you love it. Do you know anyone nearby who could use this too? I’m happy to take care of a neighbor while I’m still in the area.”
If they hesitate, follow with:
“Totally fine. If someone comes to mind later, I’ll text you a quick note you can forward.”
The 3-Touch Referral Playbook
Run these three touches on every job. It turns one customer into two or three without buying a single click.
Touch 1: On-site ask
The script above. Ask while the result is fresh and visible.
Touch 2: Same-day text
Send before you leave the street. Keep it forwardable.
“Thanks again, Amy—your windows came out great. If a neighbor wants the same, reply with their name or forward this text. I can fit one more today or tomorrow.”
Touch 3: Next-day photo + line of sight
Send a quick before/after and make the neighborhood connection.
“Here’s your before/after. If anyone on Oak Ridge asks who cleaned your glass, feel free to share my contact. I’m still scheduling Oak Ridge this week.”
Package It As A “Street Special”
People love a deal they can do together.
Offer structure that works:
Two homes on the same street: each gets a small perk or priority scheduling.
Three homes: add a bonus like exterior window touch-up, gutter face wipe-down, or a small square-footage paver sand top-off.
Keep it simple. No coupons, no math puzzles. “Neighbors save when we service the street together.”
Put Tools In Their Hands
Make referrals effortless with assets that feel professional, not pushy.
Door card or “neighbor note.” Short card that says “We just serviced [address]. Want the same result? Scan to book.” Include a QR to your Quick Quote or booking page.
Before/after photo text. Customers forward pictures more than links.
Yard sign for 24 hours. “Pavers restored by [Brand]. Ask [Name at Address] how it went.” Social proof lives on the lawn.
Short URL + QR. Every asset should point to one clean landing page.
Tie It To Your 5er Rounds
You’re already on the street. Convert proximity into pipeline.
Knock the five closest doors with a friendly update: “We just finished at [address]. If you’d like pricing while I’m here, I can take a look now or text you a quote.”
Leave the “neighbor note” when no one answers. Write the exact service and the date so it feels personal and recent.
Track It So It Grows
What gets measured gets repeated.
Ask every new lead: “Who should I thank for referring you?” Make it a required field in your CRM.
Tag leads with the referrer’s name or address.
Target benchmark: 25–40 percent of new jobs from referrals in mature neighborhoods. If you’re below 20 percent, you’re not asking consistently.
Reward Without Training People To Wait
Protect margin while honoring advocates.
First referral closed: handwritten thank-you card and a small upgrade on their next service.
Second referral closed: dollar credit or a fixed-value add-on.
Third referral closed: VIP status—priority scheduling and an annual maintenance perk.
Always thank publicly (with permission). “Shoutout to Amy on Oak Ridge for the referral—appreciate you trusting us.”
Scripts You Can Copy Today
When they compliment the work
“That means a lot. Who else nearby should I help while I’m in the area?”
When they ask, ‘What do I tell them?’
“Tell them we did your [service] yesterday and we’ve got a ‘street special’ this week. I’ll take care of them like I did for you.”
When you text a referrer to close the loop
“Quick update—your neighbor John booked for Friday. Thank you for the intro. I added a window touch-up on your fall visit.”
Make Reviews Fuel Referrals
Reviews create the permission for referrals.
Ask for the review at the reveal.
Text the direct review link.
After they review, send the referral text:
“Thank you for the review. If any neighbors want the same result, feel free to forward this text. I’m still booking your area this week.”
Bottom line: Referrals scale when you ask consistently, make it easy to share, and give neighbors a reason to act now while you’re still in the area.
Need help? Reach out to us today!
