http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#comments Comments from 'Who are Your Advocates?' in Next Level Blogger at BiggerPockets.com http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3530 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3530 Advocates are absolutely important in helping to grow your business. We regularly ask our members and visitors to share our site, give a testimonial, spread the word, etc. While they'd do it without that little push, it is always to give a little reinforcement/encouragement as a reminder. http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3534 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3534 Right on...just asking can produce some great results. It's not always going to get you the result you want, but you either get great feedback or learn something new...it's always the right thing to do to ask for what you want! http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3539 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3539 This is great stuff... Your points about business owners not being aware of who their advocates are are right on... I believe that a primary contributor to this is that most businesses are too busy finding new customers and don't take the time to ensure the ones they have become raving fans. http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3547 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3547 Or even recognize those repeat customers who have likely referred others to them as a secondary thought because we get used to stopping at and using the same places over and over as a matter of habit as long as they dont treat us disrespectfully. http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3552 http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/593/blog_posts/3552-who-are-your-advocates-#c_3552 Peter - rock on! for most business owners, it's still all about what Chris Brogan refers to as "carpet bomb" marketing. Build a HUGE list, etc...and hope that a certain percentage of your message sticks with some. Very inefficient and impersonal. Actually paying attention to your advocates allows you to run lean and mean...lower costs, more personal attention, much higher closing ratios and many more benefits. btw...i responded to your email. Let me know if you didn't get my response :) Jim - no doubt. Reward your advocates, and they'll become even BIGGER advocates!