Last week I shared how a simple postcard used by a real estate agent had great referral potential for members of this newsletter...as well as where it could be improved to get more response.

This week I promised to talk about the recycling calendar I came across, and how it could be incorporated into your business.

(This is the secret of a lot of successful businesses... finding strategies and tools OUTSIDE their industry they can use in their own industry.  Don't be restrict by only what's going on in your industry...innovations come from what from your competition isn't taking advantage of that you can!)

However, the problem with most referral generating tools is:

a) no one uses them! and
b) they end up wasting too much time for too little results

Most people leave referrals to "please tell others about us" ...which means things happen on THEIR schedule...not yours.

If you're sitting around waiting for the phone to ring you don't have a referral system, you have word of mouth -- the phone rings when THEY decide to call.

If, on the other hand, you can set things in motion that means the phone rings when you expect it (and, similarly, you can make the phone STOP ringing when you don't need it anymore)...congratulations -- you have a referral system!

My parent's new recycling calendar caught my eye over the holidays.  (Yes...I'm great fun a parties!)

It was from the city recycling department and, rather than my recycling 'calendar' this was an actually calendar that you can mark your appointments on, etc.

BUT...that wasn't the amazing thing.  Instead of having a pretty picture of a meadow, or river, or something for every month, the top portion of the calendar had some great recycling tips and information that you'd really want to know for each month.

It also had ads for different businesses along a quarter of the page AND even within the calendar it had special dates marked with links to other businesses.

For example, the month before taxes were due, the day on the calendar said "taxes due in one month...call ABC Accountants at 555-5555 for your biggest rebate yet!"

I don't know how the city department was making use of this idea, but can you see the potential for your business?

Yes, putting together a calendar would cost some money, and time...but here's how you can do it for free (and make a lot of sales from it).

First...just having something in front of leads / clients face EVERY DAY, every month, for the entire year is valuable beyond belief (tell me your free pen with the company name does that?).

Imagine your leads and clients not only looking at, and using, your calendar every day, but it's also full of great, timely information about their house.  Every time they look at that calendar they'll think, "man, what a great company these guys are to be so helpful."  Think they'll be more apt to refer you...or use you again in the future?

But here's how to get all these benefits for free.  Remember those ads on the side of the calendar as well as in calendar itself?  That's who's going to pay for YOUR referral system.

Imagine...could you get a plumber, a electrician, a landscaper, a roofer, a tree trimmer, and a whole pile of other, non- competing, home-improvement businesses to buy some ad space or contribute some helpful information?

Think that'd be enough to subsidize, or even cover the cost of a calendar, especially when they can use the same for their clients and leads (and, therefore, advertise your company to their network for free!)?

Not only do you control who gets involved (and, therefore, control the quality of the companies involved), you control your costs (if there are any) for your company.

Only want to send it to clients?  Great.  Just want to send it to your "A" leads?  OK.

However, you can take it further.  What if you offer it to your clients friends and family?  Referral tools right? Think a calendar someone uses everyday will create more referrals and leads than just asking "to pass our name around"?

This thing can be as big, or as small, as you want it.

Sure, it may not be for everyone...but joint ventures are a great idea for everyone, and this is one way to make use of those relationships.

Keep your eyes out for strategies and tools other businesses are using, both within and outside your industry, and figure out how you can make them work for you.