GUIDELINES

  1. When you contact a prospective customer through a mutual acquaintance, you should use a less formal tone. Use this opportunity to refer to your mutual friend. Tell the reader what he/she liked about your product or service. Also, list the benefits the reader can get by purchasing your product or service.
  2. State the name of the person who told you about the reader. Also, mention why you wrote this letter.
  3. Promote your products by giving some information that will interest the reader. Either you can give a few details to spark the prospective client's interest, or you can choose to provide detailed information.
  4. Discuss what the mutual acquaintance liked about your product or service.
  5. Ask the reader to contact you or offer to communicate with him/her yourself. Also, invite to answer any questions.

SAMPLE LETTER

[Senders Name]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]

[Letter Date]

[Recipients Name]
[Address line]
[State, ZIP Code]

[Subject: Normally bold, summarizes the intention of the letter] -Optional-


Dear [Recipients Name],

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to speak with your sister, Ms. Amber Reynolds and she mentioned that you are in the market for a real estate broker to assess your home as you are interested in selling it. I have been in the business of real estate for over 25 years and have assisted numerous people in selling their homes. I have also been named the Top Real Estate Agent by an organization of Real Estate professionals five times. I have attached my business card and a brochure that details the services I offer. I feel it would be best, however, if we were given the chance to speak I can introduce myself better and answer any questions you may have. You can reach me at 333-3333. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Senders Name]
[Senders Title] -Optional-

[Enclosures: number] - Optional -
cc: [Name of copy recipient] - Optional -

Example of real estate agent sales letters using a reference.

Further things to consider when writing referral letters to professionals

Further things to consider when writing referral letters to professionals

Referral Letters

Referral letters are letters written to recommend someone for a job, review, consultation, or further action. Such letters are common in job application and can really help you stand out from the rest of the applicants and get noticed by potential employers. Hiring managers are more likely to look closely at applicants whom they share a mutual contact with. A referral can be a personal or business connection. He/she can be a friend, colleague, or an employee of the company in which you are interested. A good referral letter can help you secure an interview or job recommendation.

When writing referral letters, you need to know the people you are recommending well enough to bring the best of their skills, achievements, and character. State why the recipient should be interested in the candidate and how the candidate stands out. List the candidate's exceptional skills and qualities especially those that are specific to the position he/she is interested in, giving relevant examples. Write only complimentary but factual observations and avoid giving biased or insincere praise. Emphasize the key points that you want the recipient to note on the candidate's application. Close the letter with a positive call to action.

Letters to Professionals

Letters to professionals are letters sent to people who are engaged and qualified in a profession. The recipients of such letters could be professionals in business and administration, health, information and communication technology, legal issues, science and engineering, teaching, etc. There are many occasions where you may want to write to a professional. For instance, to obtain information, to apply for a job or academic program, to raise a complaint, or just to express your opinion in a coherent manner. In all scenarios, letters to professionals must be well-written and correctly formatted.

When writing to any professional, your letter needs to be focused and concise, so that your point is made clearly, definitively, and politely. State the purpose of your letter in the beginning without veering from the subject. Use a polite and respectful tone even if you are complaining; avoid slang or jargon and any other informal language. Adhere to the standard conventions and format of good formal letter writing and present your letter attractively. Reread your letter to find spots that need grammar and punctuation correction and to make sure that the recipient is addressed properly. Close the letter with your full, formal name and signature.

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