--- name: referral-ask description: "Use this skill when you want introductions and referrals from happy customers, partners or your network: \"ask for a referral\", \"get warm intros\", \"customer referral program\", \"write an introduction request\". Picks the right moment and the right people to ask, makes the ask specific (named companies or roles), writes a forwardable blurb so the introduction takes the referrer one minute, and follows up and thanks properly. Warm introductions convert far better than any cold channel." license: MIT metadata: title: Referral ask category: abm-expansion tags: "Founders, Sales, Customer Success, Agencies" author: prosyo version: "1.0.0" keywords: "how to ask for a referral b2b, warm introduction request email, customer referral program, claude referral skill, double opt in intro" inputs: "Happy customers or contacts, Target accounts, Recent wins" outputs: "Who to ask and when, Specific ask, Forwardable blurb, Follow-up and thank-you" --- Use this to turn goodwill into introductions. Most people are happy to refer; they just need a specific ask and an easy way to do it. ## Inputs - Customers or contacts who are happy (recent results, good feedback, renewals). - Target accounts or roles you want to reach, and any known connections. - Recent wins to reference. ## The play ### 1. Ask at the right moment Right after a visible win: a result they shared, a renewal, a great review, a successful rollout, a thank-you message from them. Not during an open support issue. ### 2. Make the ask specific "Do you know anyone who might need this?" gets "I'll think about it." Instead, name two or three companies or a precise role: "I noticed you're connected to Dev at Lumen and know the ops team at Fabrikam. Would either be open to a short intro?" ### 3. Use a double opt-in Ask the referrer to check with their contact first, so the introduction is welcome. Offer to send a forwardable blurb. ### 4. Write the forwardable blurb Three or four sentences the referrer can paste: who you are, what you did for them, why it might matter to the contact, and an easy next step. Written in the referrer's voice, short enough to forward from a phone. > Dev, thought of you: Sam at Acme helped us cut month-end close from 9 days to 4. Given your new entities at Lumen, might be worth 20 minutes. Happy to connect you if useful. ### 5. Follow up and thank Reply to the introduction within hours, move the referrer to bcc, and tell them what happened afterwards. Thank them whatever the outcome; a handwritten note or a small, appropriate gesture works. Follow any rules their company has about gifts, and disclose referral rewards. ## Templates **The ask** > Hi Priya, really glad the 4-day close held through quarter end. One favour: you mentioned knowing the finance lead at Fabrikam. Would they be open to an intro? I've drafted a short note below you could forward if they are. No pressure at all if it's not a fit. **Thank-you after an intro** > Priya, thank you for connecting me with Lena. We've got a call next week. I'll let you know how it goes, and I owe you one. ## What good looks like - Asks name specific people or companies. - The referrer spends under a minute. - Every referrer hears back about the outcome. - The common mistake is a quarterly mass email asking all customers for "any referrals", which almost never produces introductions. ## Rules - MUST use double opt-in introductions. - MUST disclose any referral reward and respect the referrer's company policies. - NEVER contact someone claiming a referral that has not happened. - NEVER ask a customer with an open problem for a referral. ## Example prompts - "Priya just renewed and shared great results. Write a referral ask for two specific companies." - "Write a forwardable blurb for our customers to send to peers." - "Design a simple customer referral program for a B2B SaaS."