Rapid Result Referrals?  Does Roy Sheppard's book deliver?

"Rapid Result Referrals" by Roy Sheppard, 2001

There aren't a whole lot of books on referrals.  I have managed to find about 10, many of which are out of print or hard to find.  "Rapid Results Referrals" isn't easy to find - it's generally not available in Australia - so you will have to go to Amazon or the like to get it.  Is this book worth tracking down?

A qualified yes.  This book does have some great referral insights and ideas.  The majority of the book is presented as 3-8 pages of prose discussing a topic and then many pages of bullet point ideas you could implement.  It's a bit like a shopping list you can pick and choose from.  Some people will like this style, others may find it a bit tedious.  This book also references many ideas from other referral texts (with notations) so its also a good if you just want to get one book on referrals.

However, the book doesn't really present a referral process or system. It has an idea called PeoplePortfolio(TM) that is repeatedly referenced, but this is more of an overall strategy to be "well networked" than a process you can use with your client base to educate and promote more referrals from them.  Indeed, the guts of the book's referral ideas are presented as 120, very loosely organised, bullet points over 40 pages.  The remainder of the book spends time on networking, testimonials, public speaking and press relations.  I don't also agree with all of the author's recommended strategies in asking for referrals and, particularly, with the style of getting referral introductions.  But the majority of the tactics are sound.

I like practical and this book has a lot of practical tips and ideas.  Yes, some are basic and some I don't 100% agree with, but with 120 referral ideas plus many more pages on referral discussions, networking and referral culture, there is plenty here for everyone.  Recommended.

Order from Amazon.com in the US...