Roadmap to Referrals Ep #407: I Need More People Referring Me!

Host: Stacey Brown Randall
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Stacey Brown Randall addresses one of the most persistent concerns she hears from business owners and professionals: “How do I get more people referring me?” This is the first of a three-part series tackling the core questions around growing your referral base naturally—without resorting to asking, paying, or gimmicky tactics. Stacey guides listeners through a reflective process essential for building a functional plan to increase quality referrals, emphasizing the importance of strategy and self-awareness before taking action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Real Problem Behind Wanting More Referrals

• Stacey repeatedly hears from clients, audiences, and listeners the same longing: "I need more people referring me."
• She explains that many people immediately jump to tactic-driven solutions, but this is ineffective and exhausting.
  • Quote:
    “If you just try to dive in and try to do a bunch of stuff to get more people to refer you, you will waste time, you will burn out, you will be exhausted, and you will be completely turned off by the whole of cultivating new people to start referring you.” (05:20)

The Five Foundational Questions

Stacey structures the episode around five self-assessment questions. She encourages listeners to pause, reflect, and even write down their answers as they listen:

1. Do you know how many clients you need this year?

• Different service offerings may require a breakdown.
• Example: Stacey herself runs several programs, each with their capacity.
• Stacey dispels the myth that more referrers always equals more business; it must align with actual client needs.
  • Quote:
    “People will come up to me and they will say, I need like a hundred people referring me. And I'm like, okay, so that means you probably need a hundred clients a year right around. And they're like, oh, no, no, no, I need like 20. And I'm like, then why do you need 100 people referring you…?” (11:47)

2. Do you know how many referrals you need this year?

• The referrals needed ≠ clients needed, since not all referrals close.
• Referrals are one (not the only) way of bringing in clients, so the number may differ.

3. Do you know who your best referral sources or partners are right now?

• This might be specific people by name, or simply categories of people/industries.
• Knowing your current best referrers serves as the groundwork for finding more.

4. Do you have a profile of who is more likely to be able to refer you?

• Look for those who regularly encounter your ideal client (not a one-off).
• Emphasis: Ability to refer hinges on regular access to your target audience.
  • Quote:
    “The able to refer you means that they actually come across your ideal client with some level of regularity.” (21:20)
• Stacey will cover developing this profile in detail in her April 20-Minute Teaching session.

5. Do you know how many people you need referring you?

• Not a 1:1 ratio with your referral target.
• Factors to consider: existing partners, typical referral volume per partner, and desired growth.
• Again, calculation sets realistic expectations and avoids overcommitment.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the need for strategy before action:
  “There is an art and a science to how I teach it. And so the idea that you would just dive in and start doing all the things is like, let's be honest, we all know this. It's like a recipe for exhaustion.” (06:57)

• On preparing a referral source profile:
  “Do you have a profile of who is more likely to be able to refer you? And the able to refer you means that they actually come across your ideal client with some level of regularity.” (21:20)

• On building a tailored, sustainable plan:
  “Before you run off and join like a million leads groups or start attending networking events every night of the week… You need a plan, and the plan is going to start with the facts…” (30:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:04 — Opening; Introduction to the series and main listener question
• 05:20 — Caution against jumping straight to action; the importance of planning
• 11:47 — Misconception around quantity of referrers vs. needed clients
• 16:00 — Explanation of differentiating client needs and service offerings
• 21:20 — Importance of identifying those who can regularly refer ideal clients
• 25:00 — Details about the upcoming April 20-Minute Teaching on referral source profiles
• 28:44 — Question 5: Calculating how many people you need referring you
• 30:10 — Forming a data-driven plan; summary of the five key questions
• 32:30 — Closing invitation to next week’s episode and to sign up for resources

Resources Mentioned

• April 20-Minute Teaching:
  Topic: How to determine your ideal referral source profile
  Sign up link: staceybrownrandall.com/teaching

• This Episode's Show Notes & Transcript:
  staceybrownrandall.com/407

Takeaways

• Before seeking “more” referrers, pause and get clear on your actual needs using the five foundational questions.
• A sustainable, effective referral-building plan starts with self-assessment and understanding—not activity for the sake of activity.
• Join the next podcast episode for deeper dives, and consider Stacey’s 20-Minute Teaching for actionable, step-by-step guidance.

“Take control of your referrals and build a referable business.” – Stacey Brown Randall (32:48)