How to ask for referrals as a solopreneur
The who, what, when, and why of reaching out for help.
I’ve never been good at asking people for help. Then I lost my job, decided to start a solo business the next day, and needed clients… fast. I turned to my network to ask for both referrals and recommendations to jump-start my business.
Asking for referrals is uncomfortable. Most solopreneurs would rather wait for business to come to them than put someone on the spot. But referrals are one of the most effective ways to grow a solo business. A warm introduction from someone who knows your work carries more weight than any cold pitch or LinkedIn message. Now, a few years later, most of my business comes from referrals.
The trick is knowing who to ask, when to ask, and how to make it easy for the other person to say yes.
