It doesn’t take an expert to know that referrals are one of the most effective ways to boost conversion rates. 

This is especially important for small businesses, which obtain a staggering 60% of their business through referrals.

So where is the problem then? 

Well, most referral emails don’t get a reply because most of them don’t stand out and are dime a dozen.

Thus, to help you get a reply to your referral emails, we’re about to share the best examples of referral outreach email templates. 

Furthermore, we’ll show you 2 effective and smooth ways to create them.

Enticed to learn more?

Let’s get started, then.

What are Referral Outreach Emails?

Businesses use referral outreach emails to seek out probable customers by mining the current customer's professional contact network. 

These messages enable them to identify potential leads who could have related painpoints or issues.

Why are Referral Outreach Emails Important? 

Referral outreach emails are important for multiple reasons:

  • They can be a great way to grow your business

By reaching out to potential customers or clients who may be interested in what you have to offer, you can increase your chances of making a sale or landing a new client. 

  • Referral outreach emails can help you build relationships with potential customers or clients.
  • In addition, referred clients are cost-effective because you hardly need any investment and the return is multifold

A referred client provides double the lifetime value compared to a non-referred customer.

To sum up, referral outreach emails present an invaluable business opportunity to both acquire and retain customers and build their trust and loyalty. 

What Elements Must Referral Outreach Emails Have?

Although referral outreach emails come in many shapes and sizes and depend on the type of business, there are elements they must have.

  1. Use an engaging subject line

An engaging subject line is punchy and succinct. It should deliver what you offer, so potential clients know what to expect.

Subject Lines Examples:

  • Inviting referrals for [business unit name] || [job title]
  • [Referral program name] || Inviting referrals
  • Referral from [Name of the person]: [job title]
  • [Name of the person] referred me for [job title]
  • “Contacting you at [Referral] ‘s suggestion.”
  • “[Name] suggested I reach out.”
  • Referral by [Name of the person]

Again, depending on the type of referral and your connection to a person you write to, you can include an emoji in your subject line.

  1. Show the referral incentive

Although there would be people who will refer their contacts to you, it is more likely that they will like some benefit for helping you out. 

Therefore, offering incentives might be the right thing to get them going. 

Consider offering discounts, special offers and rewards, vouchers and gift cards, etc.

  1. Personalize your referral emails

In order to get your email open (and read), you should personalize it. Think about the client in question and see if you can find some common interests. 

It is here that you can mention mutual connections that refer you. By doing so, you’re adding more weight to your email, along with familiarity and trust.

In addition, pay attention to how you introduce yourself in a mail- you should write the opening lines in such a way as to invite the recipient to continue reading. 

Furthermore, use a friendly and approachable tone. In other words, keep it light. This way, you can avoid sounding too pushy or salesy, but more casual.

  1. Pay attention to the content

Make sure to include all the relevant info, such as incentives, a clear CTA, specific terms and conditions that customers must meet, etc.

What’s more, make the referral process easy and smooth. Most people will give up if it is too much of a hassle. 

To avoid this, consider including a special referral link that is easy to copy or social media buttons for easier sharing.

  1. Choose the right time to send your referral email

It is important to choose the right time to send your referral mail because it increases the chance that your client will open it and read it.

There are no rules for the right time, but Friday afternoons might not be the best option since most people log off then.

Now that we've covered the theory, let’s finally jump to 15 referral outreach email templates.

15 Referral Outreach Email Templates To Attract New Partnerships

Let’s take a look at some effective email templates. 

1. Asking for a Referral from a Loyal Customer Template

Loyal customers are a great way to get a referral. Moreover, satisfied and happy customers are willing to spread the word.

Therefore, check first how satisfied they are with your services.

Hello [Customer name],
I'm so glad to hear you're happy with the results of working with [Your company name] so far. I knew we could help, and I'm pleased you're seeing results so quickly.
Since things are going so well, I found myself wondering if you have any colleagues at similar companies who would benefit from our [product/service]. I would love to help them achieve similar growth.
Regards,
[Your name]

Or take a look at this one.

Hi [Name], 
Thank you for continuing to trust us for [specific need your business has met]. It’s a pleasure to serve you! You’re one of our best customers, and we’re grateful for your loyalty.
I was wondering if you might know any [friends/ colleagues/ peers] who are also looking to [meet needs/ achieve goals that you can meet] and who would benefit from [brand]. 
If so, I wanted to personally invite you to share our brand with them via our referral program.
Whenever you refer a friend through our program, and they make their first purchase, we’ll give you [reward] to thank you for helping our business grow.
Thanks in advance,
[Your name]

The above templates are good because they emphasize your client’s satisfaction and don’t sound salesy. 

Furthermore, they focus on the importance of building and maintaining a trustworthy relationship with a client, and the referral part comes more as a side note.

2. Asking a New Customer for a Referral Template

Although it might be harder to ask a new customer for a referral, there is one thing that works to your advantage, the so-called honeymoon phase.

If you land a new customer, they likely have an initial positive experience with your business. 

Therefore, the optimal time to ask them for a referral is during onboarding.

Hi [customer name],
Thank you for using our [product/service]. We hope your experience was amazing and one that is worth sharing with your friends, family, and colleagues.
You can invite your friends to try [your product/service] by sharing the link below.
We offer [incentive] for every referred customer.
[Insert call-to-action button]

I personally like the above mail because it doesn’t come across as salesy - it is to the point, not watered down and offers incentives.

Here is another example.

Hi [Name],
I’m happy to hear you’ve had such a great experience with our team so far. I knew we could help, and I’m pleased you’re seeing results so quickly.
I trust our team will take care of you through the rest of the onboarding process, but you can always reach back out to me with any questions. In the meantime, since things are going well, do you know anyone else who might want similar results?
I’ll gladly meet up with them and discuss how we can work together.
Best Regards,
[YOUR SIGNATURE]

The above template is probably one of my favorites because it is very nurturing. 

It focuses much more on your wanting to provide the best service to your client and make sure they’re satisfied..

3. Asking for a Referral From a Partner Template

Asking for a referral from a partner is an excellent way to broaden your audience and reach out more. 

Hello [Point of contact's name],
I've noticed that our customers who work with [their company name] have far fewer issues with [problem that they solve] on average. I think that [your company name] and [their company name] makes for a powerful combination.
Do you currently know anyone who would benefit from [your solution]? I'd be happy to help.
Best,
[Your name]

Here is another example of a successful referral outreach email.

Subject: [Your business name] and [their business name] Should Be Sending Referrals to Each Other

Hi [person’s name],
Hope all is well in the [their industry] business. With your business being in [scope of their business], I wanted to reach out as I see the opportunity for us to pass referrals back and forth.
We are a [scope of your business] company that offers [description of value proposition], making us extremely complementary to your offerings. One of the things that make us stand out is [description of differentiating factor].
Our ideal [customer/client] is [niche market and description of ideal customer].
I’d love to schedule a call to learn more about your business and ideal [customer/client] to see where we can help each other out. Let me know if you have any availability in the next few weeks or you can use the Schedule Appointment button below to find a time that works for you.
(Optional incentive statement): We are also offering [incentive] for every referred [customer/client] brought in.
Thank you,
[Schedule Appointment button]
[Name], [title]
[Organization]
[Email address]
[Phone number]
[Website]

As you can see, it all boils down to providing value and worth to your partner’s contacts.

The following template category is similar, but you can ask your colleagues for referrals this time. 

4. Asking for A Referral from a Colleague Template

A colleague could be anyone in your professional network that you’ve met or worked with. They don’t need to work in your niche to refer you.

Subject: Ideal [Client/Customer] for [Your organization name]

Hi [member’s name],
Hope all has been well since [our last meeting or another event you saw them at]. I wanted to reach out briefly to provide a description of the perfect referral and the best way for you to connect me with them.
As my business primarily does [scope of business] and [emphasizes or prioritizes] [description of differentiating factor], the ideal [customer/client] is [description of niche market and ideal customer/client].
Additionally, a good center of influence referral who we like to partner with to acquire leads is [description of a person or business that can send you leads].
In terms of how to connect us, you can have them contact me using the information below, email me with the lead cc’d on the message, or send them a link to my scheduling portal for a phone call.
Please send me some details on your ideal referral and the best ways to connect you with them when you get a chance.
(Optional incentive statement): We are also offering [incentive] for every referred [customer/client] brought in.
Thank you,
[Schedule Appointment button]
[Name], [title]

The above referral template has a friendly tone, mentions a common reference, the event and offers an incentive.

5. Fun Referral Outreach Email Templates

Yes, depending on your business relationship and the purpose of your referral, an outreach email can contain fun elements that will grab attention.

Here's what we know:
  1. You like [your brand name].
  2. You know people.
Here's what we think you should do:
  1. Refer [your brand name] to people you know.
  2. Those people make a purchase.
  3. Those people get [type of reward].
  4. You get [type of reward].
  5. Refer a friend as many times as you want.
There's no catch! Just people helping people discover the best brand for [what you offer].
High five!
[Insert call-to-action button]

It is straightforward and succinct but has the element of fun in it.

The following example isn’t completely a referral mail, but you can use its beginning if you’re looking for a fun intro.

Hi (First Name),
Our founder ( Referral Name) couldn’t stop talking about (Company Name)
during our weekly meeting and asked me to reach out... he put so much emphasis that I literally wrote your name on my fridge...
Not sure if you have heard of us, but at (Your Company), we
regularly work with (Industry) companies to help them automate
and scale (Goal).
I poked around on your LinkedIn to get a sense of who you have
on your team right now, and I agree that you could potentially be a
good fit for our program. We see that companies of your size, with
your team structure, often run into challenges trying to scale
without dumping a ton more money into ads that might not work,
outsourcing, or adding more salespeople.
Would you be open to chatting about what you are currently doing
to see if there is a fit and learning about a few lesser-known ideas
we developed that could help?
If so, just reply to this email, and we can set it up.

Adding a fun element can go a long way, but once again, make sure it is appropriate, given the circumstances.

6. Asking for a Referral After the Clients’ Positive Review Template

If your client leaves a positive review on social media or some other public platform, it means they are happy with your services or products.

This makes asking for a referral much easier because you already have a good starting point.

Hi [Name],
I just saw that you gave us a great score on the customer satisfaction survey you completed a few days ago. I’m so happy to hear we’ve met — and maybe even exceeded — your expectations with [Product/ Service name].
Can you please do me a favor? I’m trying to find others who would benefit from the same features you’ve enjoyed. Is there anyone you can think of who might also have a need for our [product/ service]?
Thanks in advance,
[YOUR SIGNATURE]

Or how about this one?

We saw your recent [review/social media comment], and wanted to reach out to show our gratitude. 
We’re so glad [mention the need you met based on the feedback they gave]. 
Thank you for sharing how much you love us with the world! 
Since you were so willing to share us with others, we were wondering if you have specific friends in mind who might benefit from [products/services]. 
If you do, please refer them using our referral program: [insert link to referral program page]. 
Whenever a friend you refer [purchases/joins/subscribes], we’ll send you [reward] to show our appreciation. 
Thank you again, 
[Your name]

Here come more examples for this template category.

Hello [Point of contact's name],
Thanks for sharing [reference the information in a post you enjoyed] on your LinkedIn post. I was able to converse with quite a few of your constituents in the comments, and as I got to know [name of person you engaged with in the comments] more, I think her business could benefit from [solution you provide]. Since you and I have had a great working relationship thus far, would you mind initiating a formal connection between [prospective referral name] and me? I'd greatly appreciate it!
Looking forward to hearing from you,
[Your name]

This category is super important because social media is part of everyday’s life. 

If you already have clients who praise you and spread the word digitally, show your appreciation and strengthen their loyalty by offering an incentive.

And most likely, you’ll get even more positive reviews from them in the future.

Let’s finalize this category with another referral template.

Hello [customer name],
We are so grateful for your kind words. Thanks for sharing your review with the community and us.
We were wondering if you have any friends or colleagues who would benefit from our [product/service]. We would be forever grateful if you took the time to share the good word.
Every time your friend [joins\subscribes\purchases], we will send you [reward] to show our appreciation.
[Insert call-to-action button]

One more category to share is asking for a competitor's referral.

7. Asking for a Referral From a Competitor Template

Asking for a referral from a competitor might not be the first thing to come to mind when we speak about referrals.

However, if you dig a bit deeper, you’ll find out that just because you might work in the same niche as your competitor doesn’t mean your target audience is identical. 

This is especially true for larger industries. 

Nonetheless, things look promising for small businesses, too. 

Although the business space here is more crowded, referring your competitors and having them refer you can be a great way for both parties to tap into new audiences.

And, what’s more, to expand their reach.

Subject: Looking to Exchange Leads with [their organization name]

Hi [person’s name],
Hope all is well in the [their industry] business. I wanted to reach out about some referral opportunities for you and me. Similar to your company, I offer [description of value proposition] through [scope of business].
The primary difference, however, is that [description of how you are different in terms of market niche or scope of service].
That being said, I see a lot of potential for my firm to send leads your way and vice versa due to the different specialties we each have.
I’d love to schedule a call to learn more about your business and ideal [customer/client] to see where we can help each other out. Let me know if you have any availability in the next few weeks or you can use the Schedule Appointment button below to find a time that works.
(Optional incentive statement): We are also offering [incentive] for every referred [customer/client] brought in.
Thank you,
[Schedule Appointment button]
[Name], [title]

The above referral template plays on the mutual benefit and provides more business opportunities for both parties.

Hello [Point of contact's name],
I've noticed that you specialize in [insert specialty or niche]. I've had quite a few clients I've turned down recently who could've used services in that area. I'd be happy to send them your way in the future because my ideal client is more along the lines of [description]. If you have any overflow in that area, my company [write in your value proposition] and could provide those clients value.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
[Your name]

The referral template above is yet another great example of providing mutual benefit and value and tapping into new audiences.

One of the greatest benefits of competitors’ referrals is that it opens the door to new audiences and collaboration.

There is, however, a category of templates you’ll need regardless of what kind of referral email you send - writing follow up emails.

Don’t get discouraged in case your first referral outreach mail doesn’t get a reply. It is common to send two to three follow up mails before any reply.

These 15 referral outreach email templates should be more than enough to get you started.

In case you still aren’t sure if you’re up for creating referral outreach emails, let us show you 2 easy ways to create them.

2 Easy Ways to Create Referral Outreach Email Templates Using TextCortex

TextCortex is an AI-powered writing tool that helps create blog posts, emails, product descriptions, ads, and social media posts easily. 

In addition, it works on use-case model principles, and therefore it provides more accurate and high-quality content. 

So, how can you use TextCortex to create referral outreach emails in 2 easy ways?

  1. Convert your bullet points into an email

With this feature, your random ideas can be turned into emails. Furthermore, you only need as little as 3 bullet points to do so.

You just need to click on the icon, choose your favorite variant, and tweak the content further.

And in case you want to modify part of it, or even the whole concept, you can always rewrite it.  

  1. Use our Rewrite feature

If you’ve already had templates and content that performed well and that you want to reuse but without copying them, a Rewrite feature can help.

You can tweak the existing content until you find the one you’re satisfied with.

In addition, you can paraphrase sentences and paragraphs in bulk. 

Highlight the part you want to edit and click on the icon.

However, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to TextCortex.

On top of rephrasing and writing tools, you can use TextCortex to create content within any textbox across more than 30 different platforms.

Furthermore, there are more than 60 creation templates. Here you’ll also find email templates.

Overall, Text Cortex is a great and efficient aid for all your content needs.

And since Text Cortex is aware of the importance of a good referral, we’ve also put it into practice.

Just take a look at some of our amazing referral rewards below.

textcortex-referral-system

Download the free Chrome extension so you can create engaging and high-quality content at no time while earning referral credits.