Paula Frazier began her referral marketing education with BNI (the world's leading business networking organization) in February of 2001 as a member. She worked her way up serving as an Assistant Director, Area Director and then proudly became an Executive Director. Since then she has been recognized within BNI's international community for building a "Top Producing Revenue Region" and realizing "Market Penetration Success". Paula has served BNI's Founder, Dr. Ivan Misner, as a part of his Founder's Circle and gives back to the organization that has given so much to her by participating on their Strategic Alliance Board and the BNI-Misner Children's Charitable Foundation.

Paula is also committed to her role as Franchise Owner and Master Trainer for Referral Institute, the world's leading referral training organization. As an active part of this organization from the beginning, Paula helps teach franchise owners how to market their new business by referral...from the ground up. Paula has been awarded for her contributions to Referral Institute's program development and operates one of the companies' most successful franchises in the world.

In the last year, Paula's business networking articles have been featured nationally in BeneathTheCover.com and MondayMorningMotivators. She is also acknowledged in the New York Times best seller, Truth or Delusion - Busting Networkings Biggest Myths. Check out #33...Delusion with a TWIST!

Paula considers her family to be one of her greatest successes. She's been happily married to her husband, Neal, for over 17 years. They have four incredible children.

Her day EVERYDAY is dedicated to helping people create referrals for life.

As a referral marketing specialist, I help people create referrals for life through training, coaching, consulting and keynote speaking engagements.

There are four ways to market your business (and they ALL work):

1. Traditional Advertising - This includes print, tv, radio, billboards, internet, promo items, etc. Is your advertising budget producing ALL of the results you need? If not, compliment it with another form of marketing.
2. Public Relations - PR is typically intended to create visibility and credibility within your community (not necessarily sales).
3. Cold Calls - They absolutely work...as long as you know YOUR numbers (average value of a contract, average time from contact to contract, average transaction, etc).
4. Word of Mouth/Referrals - MY SPECIALTY!!! It is proven to be the least expensive, most effective way to market your business. While most business professionals agree that referrals are a huge part of their business, only a fraction of them have a PROACTIVE referral marketing plan in place to generate the referral revenue they need...and want. As a referral marketing specialist, I offer training, coaching and consulting to help people develop their plan and strategically, purposefully make it happen. Ultimately, it's about doing the right things, at the right time with the right people.

Over the last several years I have participated in many of the programs offed by Referral Institute and taught by Paula Frazier. When I first began this training, I was unable to even identify key metrics for operating my business. Now I understand these metrics and monitor their values rigorously to keep an accurate pulse on my business.

While the programs are based around building and nurturing relationships, the largest value for me has been the ability to measure and monitor the relationships that mean the most for my business. Recognizing the relationships that are most important to my business, and recognizing relationships that have the potential to be important to my business, allows me to seek out these relationships and focus on them.

Each year, the metrics that I now measure have improved. Most important among these metrics: average project price has increased, closing ratio has improved and project lead times have decreased. The Referral Institute programs have taught me how the relationships that I choose to establish and maintain are related to the bottom line numbers that drive my business.

Mike Zinni, President - Zincastle Software

To the aspiring business person;           

My name is Darryl Burks. I have owned three technology companies over the last 15 years all of them focused on service and support. In each of these companies I have spent countless thousands of dollars on advertising. Newspaper ads which yielded no results. Radio ads which gave me a lot of name recognition, but very few actual customers. Telephone book ads which gave varying degrees of success and a lot of calls from competitors trying to get my pricing information. What I have learned is that 80 to 90 percent of my profitable long term customers have come from referrals, commonly called "word of mouth".

In the past this has happened just by being in business long enough to get lucky enough to talk to the right person. Since taking the Certified Networker Course, I have been able to shortcut this. I have learned in this class how to first identify what it is that I want to accomplish, and then identify those people who can help me accomplish it. In addition, I now know how to help them help me reach my goals.            

If you are:

1.      Just starting your career.

2.      Stuck in a slump you can't seem to get out of.

3.      Successful but feel you should be able to achieve more. 

Then I would encourage you to attend the next available Certified Networker program. The time and money you invest will come back to you many times over.

Darryl Burks, President - Burks Technology

Thank you again for the Referral Pipeline Seminar. I learned more about the referral process and how to develop my referral sources. I actually did leave the Seminar with appointments set for myself and my referral partner! This is the best thing to happen in my business in a long time!!

Laura Francis, Life Coach - LAFLines, Inc.