A repeatable, ethical referral system
for professionals who don’t want to sell.
Clients By Referral helps professionals turn referrals into a confident, structured part of how they work - without scripts, pressure, or awkward conversations.
Why referrals often feel awkward - even for capable professionals
Referrals are supposed to be the “best” way to grow a professional practice. Yet for many professionals, they’re also the most uncomfortable part of it.
Not because referrals don’t work, but because the way they’re usually handled doesn’t fit how professionals actually want to operate.
Common issues include:
Referral advice that focuses on scripts, techniques, or closing lines - rather than trust, context, and timing
A sense that asking for referrals risks putting pressure on clients or cheapening the relationship
No clear structure for when referrals make sense, who to involve, or how to follow through
Referrals happening inconsistently, often by chance rather than by design
The easiest option becoming avoidance: “I’ll just do good work and hope it happens”
For thoughtful professionals, this creates a quiet tension.
You know referrals matter - but you don’t want to pursue them in a way that feels awkward, forced, or sales-driven.
The issue isn’t confidence or personality. It’s the absence of a system that fits professional work.
Referrals don’t need to be asked for. They need to be designed.
Most referral advice assumes the problem is asking. Asking more confidently. Asking more directly. Asking at the right moment.
For professionals, the real issue usually sits earlier than that.
Referrals work best when they are a natural outcome of how you work with clients – not a separate conversation bolted on at the end.
When your services, conversations, and client experience are designed with referrals in mind, the need to “ask” largely disappears. Referrals happen because it makes sense, not because you remembered to raise it.
This is the shift Clients By Referral is built around.
So what is Clients By Referral?
Clients By Referral is a structured programme designed to help professionals build referrals into the way they already work - rather than treating referrals as a separate sales activity.
It focuses on creating the right conditions for referrals to occur naturally: through clearer positioning, better conversations, and a client experience that makes referrals appropriate and easy.
The programme does not rely on scripts, pressure, or persuasion techniques. Instead, it provides a practical framework for understanding when referrals make sense, who should be involved, and how to handle them in a way that feels professional and aligned with your values.
Originally delivered live to professional advisers, Clients By Referral has been refined into a focused, self-paced programme that allows you to work through the ideas, apply them to your own context, and build a referral approach that actually sticks.
What Clients By Referral gives you
Clients By Referral is not about learning how to “ask better”. It’s about building a referral approach that fits professional work and feels sustainable over time.
Through the programme, you’ll develop:
A clear understanding of when referrals make sense within client relationships
A structured way to introduce referrals without pressure or awkwardness
Language and conversation frameworks that feel natural and professional
A referral approach aligned with how you work, not bolted on afterwards
Greater consistency, without relying on reminders, scripts, or willpower
Confidence that your referral activity reflects your values and standards
Rather than chasing referrals, the focus is on designing your work so referrals become a natural by-product of doing good work well.
How the programme works
Worked through progressively, not rushed
Clients By Referral is designed to be worked through progressively, not rushed.
The programme is structured around a clear sequence of ideas that build on each other. Each part focuses on a specific aspect of how referrals fit into professional work - from positioning and client conversations through to real referral scenarios and follow-through.
Reflection and application, not consumption
Rather than consuming content passively, the emphasis is on reflection and application. You’ll be guided to think about your own services, your client relationships, and your existing approach, then adapt the ideas to your context.
There are no scripts to memorise or generic techniques to apply blindly. The goal is to help you develop a referral approach that makes sense for how you work, with your clients.
Built to last, not complete-and-forget
You can work through the programme at your own pace, revisiting sections as needed as your confidence and approach evolve.
Clients By Referral is intended to be practical, considered, and durable - not something you complete once and forget.
Two ways to work through the programme
Clients By Referral is available in two formats, depending on how you prefer to engage with the material and apply it to your work.
Both options are built around the same core programme and ideas. The difference is in how you work through it.
Solo programme
Self-paced, individual application
The Solo programme is designed for professionals who prefer to work independently at their own pace.
You’ll move through the programme on your own schedule, with space to reflect, test ideas in practice, and adapt the framework to your specific context.
This option suits individuals who:
Like to think things through privately
Want flexibility around timing
Prefer a self-directed learning experience
Group programme
Shared language and aligned practice
The Group programme is designed for organisations or teams who want to train together.
Participants move through the same core material, but with the added benefit of shared discussion, reflection, and alignment.
This option suits teams who:
Like a common language and approach
Want to embed a consistent referral mindset
Prefer discussion and shared perspective
Both options are designed to support thoughtful, professional application of the programme. The right choice depends less on experience level, and more on how you prefer to engage with the work.
A programme shaped by real professional experience
Clients By Referral was originally developed and delivered live to professional advisers in client-facing roles.
Over time, the ideas were refined through direct application. What worked, what didn’t, and what felt genuinely appropriate in professional settings where trust matters.
The result is a programme shaped by real client conversations, real constraints, and real professional judgement.
Real feedback from participants
This programme is not for everyone
Clients By Referral is designed for professionals who want to handle referrals with judgement, care, and integrity.
It may not be a good fit if you’re looking for:
Sales scripts, persuasion techniques, or “closing” tactics
Shortcuts or ‘quick wins’ without changing how you work
High-pressure approaches that prioritise volume over trust
Generic referral advice that ignores professional context
A one-size-fits-all formula to follow blindly
The programme assumes you already care about your work, your clients, and how you show up professionally. It’s built for people who want a referral approach that reflects those standards.
If you’re comfortable taking a considered approach - and prepared to think about referrals differently - Clients By Referral is designed to support that shift.
Programme options and pricing
Clients By Referral is available in two formats. Both provide access to the full programme and core material. The difference is how you work through it.
Multi-learner enrolment for group learning
$300 + GST per group learner
A self-facilitated version of Clients By Referral for teams who want to build a shared, ethical referral approach across a practice or firm.
Participants work through the same six-phase programme individually, supported by structured group discussions and an internal coach who guides reflection, consistency, and application.
Designed for organisations that care about quality, professionalism, and long-term reputation - not volume tactics.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It’s a structured training programme that teaches professional advisers how to create a comfortable, ethical referral process with their clients. It combines online learning with practical tasks designed to turn good intention into repeatable practice.
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For professionals who have genuine client interactions - advisers such as financial planners, lawyers, accountants, consultants - who want to discuss referrals confidently and consistently. It’s not a sales technique; it’s a client-centric skills and process framework.
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Solo: You undertake the programme individually, at your own pace, completing six phases of content and on-the-job tasks.
Group: A team from the same organisation learns together. One person is a coach and receives extra guidance to support the group through the programme.
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Both versions include six phases, each with roughly one hour of online learning and practical activities. Group also includes structured group meetings for reflection and practice. You progress at a pace that suits your schedule (typically over a few months).
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Expect around one hour of structured online learning per week, plus time spent on practical tasks. If you’re in a group, meeting time is additional. This flexible rhythm is designed to make implementation natural rather than burdensome.
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You’ll gain:
A repeatable referral process tailored to your practice
Greater confidence discussing referrals
Written referral profiles and conversation frameworks
On-the-job tools and templates
These help you move from hoping for referrals to systemising them respectfully.
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Someone empowered to coordinate progress and encourage participation. The coach schedules and facilitates group meetings and supports implementation. They also get access to a coach-specific training module.
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Access to the programme contents lasts 12 months, so you can review and embed the practices beyond initial completion.
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Yes. After an initial group purchase, you can enrol additional learners either as part of a group or individually with the Solo version.
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Group coaches can email questions and get feedback on materials or approach. Individual learners can complete tasks independently; any additional support opportunity is clearly defined at the point of purchase.
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You’ll receive a detailed email with instructions. If it doesn’t arrive within 15 minutes, check spam/junk folders and ensure the email address entered is correct.
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If referrals are already part of your growth strategy but inconsistent or awkward to discuss, this programme helps you systemise that process ethically and with better outcomes. If referrals are not a meaningful source of business for you, this may not be the right focus. (This is a positioning clarification, not a hard exclusion.)