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Easy Free 10 minutes

How to Ask for Referrals (Without Being Awkward)

Use ChatGPT to write natural referral requests that bring you free leads from happy customers.

What You'll Need

Steps

1

Pick the right moment

Timing is everything for referral requests.

  • Right after the job when they're happiest — same day or next day
  • Or after they leave a positive review
  • Or when they reach out to thank you or compliment your work
Tip: Strike while the iron is hot. A week later, they've moved on.
2

Ask ChatGPT to write the request

Get a natural-sounding message you can personalize.

  • Go to chat.openai.com
  • Type: 'Write a short text message asking a happy customer for referrals. I'm a [your trade]. Keep it casual and not salesy.'
  • Review the options it gives you
3

Personalize it

Make it sound like you, not a robot.

  • Add their name
  • Reference the specific job you did
  • Keep it short — 2-3 sentences max
  • Example: 'Hey Sarah! Glad you're loving the new fence. If you know anyone else who needs work done, I'd really appreciate a referral. Thanks!'
4

Make it easy to refer

Remove friction from the referral process.

  • Give them something to share: your phone number, website, or business card
  • Ask: 'Feel free to pass along my number to anyone who needs help'
  • Even better: 'Can I leave a few business cards with you?'
Tip: Some people love referring but don't know how. Give them the words.
5

Consider a referral incentive

Optional: Offer something in return.

  • Simple: 'Send me a referral and I'll buy you a coffee!'
  • Better: '$25 off your next service for every referral'
  • Best: '$50 cash or gift card when they book'
  • Track referrals so you can thank the right people

You're Done!

You asked for a referral! Referred customers close 4x faster and spend more than cold leads.

Pro Tips

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