Roadmap to Referrals, Ep #395: How to Accelerate Your Referral Growth
Host: Stacey Brown Randall
Guest: Candace Fraser, Founder of AlphaRev
Date: January 6, 2026
Episode Overview
Stacey kicks off the first episode of 2026 with client and referral success story, Candace Fraser, founder of AlphaRev. This rich conversation focuses on how Candace dramatically accelerated her business' referral growth—without relying on manipulative or traditional tactics—by leveraging Stacey's step-by-step, science-backed methods. Through sharing concrete examples, results, and lessons learned, the episode offers both inspiration and practical advice for business owners looking to achieve natural, sustainable growth through referrals.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Why Referrals Matter (07:50)
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Candace’s Perspective:
- Candace has built her network deliberately for 20 years, believing “your network is your net worth.”
- When launching AlphaRev (Feb 2025), Candace prioritized referrals due to bootstrapped resources—maximizing ROI from her existing relationships.
- She views referrals as the logical, cost-effective strategy for expert-based, service-oriented businesses.
Quote:
"I've been building [my network] for 20 years... On top of the fact I bootstrapped this baby. I wanted to build my business affordably with my bootstrapped resources, and knowing that I had built this network over time really made a lot of sense." (08:50, Candace)
The DIY Phase: Using Free Resources (11:18)
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Candace’s Journey Before Investing:
- Started by searching “referrals” on Amazon and reading Stacey’s book “Generating Business Referrals Without Asking.”
- Joined the email list, attended free workshops, and implemented advice from podcasts and newsletters.
- Saw tangible early wins but managed everything manually, which soon became “onerous,” highlighting the limitations of DIY approaches.
Notable Quote:
"I created my own kind of spreadsheets that tried to put it all together... I did some of that self-implementation, started seeing success. But, wow, this feels really like a lot. Is there a better way?" (19:33, Candace)
Betting on Herself: Investing in the Referral Accelerator (13:27)
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Decision-Making Process:
- Candace weighed the potential return against the investment and made the leap, seeing it as betting on herself and her business.
- She notes that her background work with Stacey's free resources set her up for greater success and smoother implementation in the Accelerator.
Quote:
"I made the leap of faith and I bet on myself… All I would need is another signature or two, which I've since gotten, which is remarkable. That gave me that return on the investment." (13:40, Candace)
Implementation and Mindset Shifts (15:47, 20:47, 22:16)
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Action Taker Mindset:
- Candace attended the Accelerator "not to play, but to win," completing homework assignments nightly.
- The workshop provided critical frameworks and language, making her outreach more effective and efficient.
- Having Stacey as a coach for troubleshooting and encouragement proved invaluable—helping through bumps in the road and building confidence.
Memorable Moment:
"I didn't come to play. I came to win." (15:47, Candace - as recalled by Stacey)
Workshop Breakthrough:
"I literally slapped my hand to my forehead and sat back in my chair like, 'Oh, my gosh, you mean I don't have to do it the way that I self-implemented? There is a better way and I found it and now it's scalable for me.'" (21:09, Candace)
The Results: Referrals, Revenue & ROI (23:37)
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Quantifiable Outcomes:
- 15 active referral sources generated 88% of AlphaRev’s total revenue in year one.
- Achieved growth beyond her aggressive targets: 138% increase in Q3 over Q2, followed by another 32% in Q4.
- Calculated a 282% return on investment (ROI) for her Accelerator participation.
Performance Quotes:
"The total referral count that I received this year was 15. Those active referral sources have provided about 88% of my total income for the year." (23:54, Candace)
"Between second and third quarter... I was able to increase my income 138% quarter over quarter. And then... still increased it in the fourth quarter by another 32%." (25:08, Candace)
"That would be a 282% return on my investment." (27:03, Candace)
The Power of the First Client Referral (28:07, 29:14)
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Major Milestone:
- Candace received her first referral from a client, compounding exposure and trust in her methods.
- The referral process became self-sustaining and exhilarating, underscoring the professional and emotional value of client-driven referrals.
Emotional Response:
"It was surprising. Like, happy cry surprising. It was reinforcing the work that I did and was doing for them. And it helped me to understand, okay, this is not only possible, but it's probable if I put the right measures in place." (29:14, Candace)
Stacey’s Insight:
"There’s something even greater than the client who says they love working with you, and it’s the client who puts their reputation on the line and refers someone else to you." (30:32, Stacey)
Looking Forward: 2026 and Beyond (28:07, 29:14)
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Building on Success:
- Candace plans to map out her client journey more intentionally, plant referral seeds, and create scalable processes with her team.
- Her focus: delivering remarkable experiences so clients become referral sources themselves.
Future-Oriented Thinking:
"I'm very optimistic that I'm going to be able to continue to serve people... and intentionally planting seeds at meaningful places so that I can now start to... essentially have an exponential effect and work with even more clients." (28:07, Candace)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Stacey (on Candace’s approach):
"You trusted the process... You took super fast action. So, that's like, even a higher level of ideal client for me." (10:29, Stacey)
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Candace (on the Accelerator):
"I would tell someone... I got a 282% return in my first, you know, 11-12 months of business and it helped me to stay independent, to be able to help other businesses." (33:05, Candace)
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Candace (on referral milestones):
"I almost want to have my first client referral framed on my wall next to me to remind me that, yes, I'm worthy, yes, I can do this, yes, I'm providing value, and it's meaningful for them." (32:46, Candace)
Important Timestamps
- 04:30 — Candace introduces her business model and philosophy.
- 07:50 — Why referrals matter for bootstrapped, expert-based businesses.
- 11:18 — How consuming free resources provided early wins and proof of concept.
- 13:27 — Decision process: Investing in the Referral Accelerator.
- 15:47 — Mindset: “I didn’t come to play, I came to win.”
- 19:33 — The limits of DIY—pivoting to the Accelerator for efficiency and scale.
- 21:09 — Epiphany moment: discovering scalable frameworks.
- 23:37 — Results: 15 referrals, 88% revenue via referrals, major growth numbers.
- 27:03 — ROI calculated: 282% return.
- 28:07 — Looking forward: new strategies and excitement for continued referral growth.
- 29:14 — Receiving the first client referral: emotional and professional impact.
- 33:05 — Candace’s pitch to future Accelerator participants.
Where to Find Candace
- LinkedIn: Candace Flandrau Fraser (unique French middle name)
- Email: candace@alpharev.com
- Website: [Linked in show notes]
For more details and all links, visit the show notes at stacybrownrandall.com/395.
Summary & Takeaways
This episode beautifully illustrates the journey from DIY to strategic investment in referral-based business growth. Candace’s willingness to implement, trust a proven process, and “come to win” resulted in exponential ROI and confidence. Key themes include the importance of action, the critical role of referrals for service businesses, and the profound impact of thoughtfully nurtured relationships. For anyone curious about whether investing in a targeted approach to referrals pays off—listen to Candace’s story. “Betting on yourself” isn’t just a slogan; with the right blueprint, it’s a business-changing strategy.
“Take control of your referrals and build a referable business.” — Stacey Brown Randall (36:23)