Two channels, two very different results
I recently turned on Google ads. Early days — they’re bringing clicks, and so far zero leads. (I’m tracking it honestly if you want the running detail.)
At the same time, with no budget and no effort on my part, one client has kept referring me to their family. No ad account, no targeting, no cost-per-click. Just “you should talk to Tyler.” And those conversations convert, because they arrive pre-trusted.
An ad has to earn a stranger’s trust from zero. A referral borrows trust that already exists. That’s why one keeps working and the other keeps sputtering.
So I’m paying attention to what actually works
It would be easy to keep pouring money into ads because that’s what you’re “supposed” to do. But the data is telling me plainly where my leads come from — relationships, not impressions. So I’m going to feed the channel that’s already feeding me.
The referral program (simple on purpose)
Here’s the whole thing:
The offer
If you’re a past or current client and you refer someone who becomes a client, I pay you a flat referral thank-you for each one — no cap on how many. I’ll share the exact amount with you directly.
Who it’s for
Existing clients only, at least to start. These are the people who already know what it’s like to work with me, so their word carries real weight.
How to refer
Just connect us — an intro text, an email, or send them my way and tell me to expect them. When they come on as a client, you get paid. That’s it.
Why keep it this plain
I thought about a fancier structure — tiers, discounts, points. But complexity kills referral programs. Nobody refers a friend to chase a coupon code. A flat, real thank-you that’s easy to explain in one sentence is far more likely to actually get used.
Next to paying for ad clicks that haven’t turned into leads yet, a warm, ready-to-go client in Oakland or Genesee County is a bargain. I’d rather put that money in the pocket of someone who vouched for me than into an ad auction.
The bigger point for your business
If you run a local business, your happiest customers are almost certainly your cheapest, highest-quality marketing — and most owners never ask them for anything. You don’t need a referral app or a monthly subscription to do this. You need a clear offer and the nerve to mention it.
If you want help setting up a dead-simple referral system for your own business — or you’re a client who wants in on this one — reach out and let’s talk. I’ll report back on how it goes, good or bad, because that’s the whole point of building in public.