The cheapest, fastest, highest-converting marketing channel is — and has always been — word of mouth. The trick is making it easy.

1. The flat-fee thank you

$50 (or $100, or 5%) for any successful referral. Easy to track, easy to pay, easy to remember.

2. The two-sided incentive

Both your existing customer AND the new customer get $25 off. Removes the awkwardness of asking.

3. The vendor exchange

Pair with 3 complementary vendors. Refer to each other; track in a shared sheet; rotate who’s first.

4. The ‘wow’ surprise

No incentive announced. When a referral books, send the original customer a hand-written card and a small gift. They tell ten friends.

Pick one. Launch it this week. Don’t perfect it — perfect it later.