Local service businesses such as plumbers, HVAC companies, and roofers often face a dilemma: they can spend continuously on advertising to generate leads, or they can hope that referrals come their way. A new platform called Get Referrers aims to provide a third option by helping contractors systematically build referral networks.
The platform, which launched recently, focuses on connecting local service businesses with professionals who are already in a position to recommend them. These include realtors, property managers, homeowners associations, apartment communities, insurance professionals, home inspectors, home warranty companies, and commercial property managers. Instead of selling shared consumer leads, Get Referrers helps contractors develop ongoing relationships that can produce multiple opportunities over time.
“Local service businesses have traditionally had two choices: spend money continuously to generate leads or hope referrals come their way,” said Scott Gould, Founder of Get Referrers. “We created Get Referrers to give contractors a more systematic way to build relationships with the people in their communities who are already in a position to recommend local service providers.”
The distinction between advertising and referral relationships is central to the Get Referrers model. A paid advertisement is designed to generate attention or a lead while the campaign is running. Maintaining that source of customer acquisition generally requires continued spending. A referral relationship, by contrast, has the potential to produce opportunities beyond a single transaction. A realtor may work with dozens of buyers and sellers. A property manager may oversee multiple properties. An HOA or apartment community may require local service providers throughout the year.
Get Referrers identifies potential referral sources within a contractor’s service area and then builds and operates a customized outreach campaign designed to introduce the contractor to those potential referral partners. The process includes identifying relevant referral sources, building dedicated outreach infrastructure, creating personalized email and contact-form outreach sequences, allowing contractors to review and approve messaging before campaigns begin, managing scheduled outreach and responses, using AI to classify replies and identify potential referral opportunities, and bringing responses into a unified inbox for the contractor.
The platform serves a broad range of home and commercial service categories, including plumbing, HVAC, roofing, electrical, landscaping, painting, pest control, flooring, moving, restoration, pool and spa services, general contracting, and other trades. Contractors select their trade, service areas, preferred types of work, and referral audiences. Get Referrers then handles the infrastructure, sourcing, and outreach while allowing the business to approve its messaging and manage resulting conversations through the platform.
For local service businesses, the launch of Get Referrers represents a shift away from the cycle of paying for ads, clicks, and individual leads. By turning referrals into a system, the company aims to help contractors build a source of future business that does not have to be purchased one lead at a time. More information is available at GetReferrers.com.
