Tired of watching your Google Ads budget vanish into thin air?
There’s a reason 92% of consumers trust referrals. While you spend 4-5 figures a month on Google Ad leads, your competitors are booking premium jobs for free through referrals that convert at up to 30% higher rates.
A strong referral program transforms your network into a sales force.
Real estate agents, property managers, and satisfied customers become your biggest lead generators—pre-qualifying prospects before they reach your inbox.
✅ Trust on tap: Referred customers choose you over random Google Ads every time.
✅ Premium leads: Referral leads convert better—and rarely price shop.
✅ Lower costs: Zero upfront costs. Pure profit potential.
Affiliates are the #1 source of business at 2 College Brothers Moving and Storage. Grab Wade Swikle's affiliate marketing playbook here.
Stop chasing ice-cold leads and start generating premium referral jobs—on repeat. Here's your action plan.
Start with your target. Example:
➡️ Revenue goal: $50,000
➡️ Average move value: $2,500
➡️ Referral jobs needed: 20
➡️ Partners needed: 4 (@5 jobs each)
Metrics to track:
➡️ Leads per referral source
➡️ Booking rate by partner
➡️ Average revenue per referral
➡️ Partner engagement levels
Did you know? 41% of movers don’t track critical KPIs. But those who do usually have margins of 10% or higher. Learn their secrets in the SmartMoving State of the Moving Industry report.
Keep your affiliate program simple but attractive:
Quick-start checklist:
☑️ Choose incentives (cash, gift cards, move discounts)
☑️ Set clear terms for completed moves
☑️ Build a digital portal for easy submissions
☑️ Create dedicated landing pages
☑️ Set up automated follow-ups
Pro tip: Start simple with two tiers:
Your referral network shouldn’t stop at realtors. Here's who's sending quality leads to top moving companies.
High-value affiliates:
➡️ Real estate agents
➡️ Property managers
➡️ Mortgage brokers
➡️ Interior designers
➡️ Professional organizers
➡️ Storage facilities
➡️ Apartment complexes
➡️ Home improvement stores
Partner outreach that works:
☑️ Daily sales team touchpoints
☑️ Automated email campaigns
☑️ Social media connections
☑️ In-person visits
☑️ Regular check-ins
Success tracking:
✅ Monitor opened emails
✅ Log pending referrals
✅ Schedule follow-up calls
✅ Track conversion rates
Pro tip: Offer a welcome bonus. 2 College Brothers offers new affiliates 1,000 bonus points just for joining their referral program. This gets partners excited and engaged from day one, while showing them you value their participation.
Quality service drives referrals. Today's customers expect:
⭐ 150+ reviews minimum
⭐ 4.5+ star average
⭐ 1-2 new reviews per week. Bonus if they describe the move in detail and mention the crew by name.
Keep the reviews flowing and Google will reward you, too.
Primary review sites:
➡️ Google Business Profile
➡️ Facebook Company Page
➡️ Yelp Business Listing
Other review platforms:
➡️ Angi
➡️ Thumbtack
➡️ HomeAdvisor
➡️ BBB
➡️ Trustpilot
Launch these proven referral strategies:
☑️ Ice cream partner program: Offer $10 shop gift cards per referral. Your cost: $5, their win: new customers.
☑️ Power lunch sessions: Host quick training meets over catered lunch to win partners.
☑️ Local influencer push: Tap content creators who get affiliate marketing to showcase moves.
☑️ Community champions: Build advocates in Nextdoor and Facebook Groups for organic referrals.
☑️ 9-month check-ins: Follow up with apartment moves. Offer: "Keep the discount or share with friends."
☑️ Smart business cards: Add QR codes linking to your affiliate portal for instant partner sign-ups.
More referrals = more revenue. (If you run things right.) SmartMoving makes it easy to track partners, manage leads, and follow up faster with...
✅ Dedicated affiliate portals
✅ Automated lead tracking and routing
✅ Revenue reporting by lead source and location
Manage your referral program—without headaches—in the same system where you manage sales, ops, and accounting. See it live 👇.