Hey everyone,
First off, I know it has been a while since you’ve heard from me here.
I haven’t disappeared. I haven’t stopped working on I Know A Guy. In fact, quite the opposite.
Over the past few months, I’ve been working on something in the background that I’m really excited to finally start sharing with you.
Today, I’m soft launching I Know A Guy Rewards.
You can check it out here: iknowaguyrewards.com
So, what is I Know A Guy Rewards?
In the simplest way I can say it:
I Know A Guy Rewards helps small businesses turn word-of-mouth referrals into an actual system.
Most business owners already know referrals are important. Honestly, they are usually some of the best leads a business can get.
The problem is that most businesses do not have a simple process for generating more of them.
A happy customer says, “I’ll send people your way,” but then life gets busy.
A friend says, “I know someone who could use you,” but there is no easy way to track it.
A business owner says, “I really need more referrals,” but they do not have a campaign, a reward, or a system that makes it easy for people to actually help them.
That is the problem I Know A Guy Rewards is built to solve.
The app allows a business to create a referral campaign, invite people to become referral partners, track referrals as they come in, and reward the people who help bring new business their way.
It is simple, practical, and built around something I already believe deeply:
Relationships still matter.
Who is it for?
This is built for the local business owner who gets most of their best business through relationships.
That could be:
A contractor who wants more remodel jobs.
A realtor who wants more introductions.
A service business that relies on trust.
A local shop that wants to reward loyal customers.
A professional who has a great network but no clear referral system.
A business owner who knows they should ask for referrals more often, but does not want it to feel awkward.
It is also built for the people who naturally connect others.
You know the person.
The one who always says, “Oh, I know a guy for that.”
That person can now become an approved referral partner for a business, share a simple referral link, and get rewarded when they help create a real opportunity.
Why I built it
Since starting I Know A Guy, I interviewed hundreds of business owners.
One thing kept coming up over and over again.
Referrals matter.
For almost every business owner I talked to, referrals were either their best source of business, their most trusted source of business, or the thing they wished they had more of.
And I kept thinking about my own business too.
In insurance, referrals have always been huge for me. But if I’m being honest, I was lucky if I remembered to bring them up at the end of a conversation.
Most people are not against giving referrals.
They just need a reminder, a reason, and an easy way to do it.
That is really what this app is meant to be.
Not some complicated marketing platform.
Not another thing that takes hours to learn.
Just a simple way for businesses to say:
“Here is who we help. Here is how to refer someone. Here is what happens when you do.”
What I’m looking for during the soft launch
Since this is a soft launch, I am not trying to pretend everything is perfect.
What I am really looking for right now is feedback.
I would love for business owners, referral partners, connectors, and people in my network to try it out and tell me what makes sense, what does not, what feels helpful, and what could be better.
During the soft launch, you can try it free for two weeks.
You can go here to check it out:
I would especially love feedback from:
Business owners who want more referrals and would like a simple system to manage them.
Local connectors who already send people to businesses they trust.
Podcast hosts, creators, and community builders who have audiences or networks that could benefit from referral campaigns.
Chamber leaders, networking group organizers, and business community people who are always looking for ways to help local businesses grow.
Referral partners and affiliates who want to introduce businesses to a tool that can help them generate more word-of-mouth business.
Potential partners
One thing I am especially excited about is the partner side of this.
There are a lot of people who already have relationships with business owners.
Marketing consultants.
Website builders.
Bookkeepers.
Insurance agents.
Chamber leaders.
Podcast hosts.
Networking group organizers.
Business coaches.
Local creators.
People who are already trusted by the business community.
If that sounds like you, I would love to talk.
I Know A Guy Rewards could be something you recommend to business owners who need a simple referral system. It could also be something you use with your own audience, your own sponsors, or your own clients.
For example, if you are a podcast host, you could use the app to help your sponsors run referral campaigns with your audience.
If you are a business coach, you could recommend it to clients who need a better word-of-mouth strategy.
If you are a connector in your community, this gives you a simple way to send businesses a tool that helps them grow.
This is still early, but I believe there is a lot of opportunity here for the right partners.
You’ll be hearing more from me
This is also the start of me getting more active again with I Know A Guy.
You will be hearing a lot more from me in the coming weeks as I launch more of the I Know A Guy Iowa interviews and continue building out the rewards app.
The heart of all of it is the same.
Helping good people meet more good people.
Helping local businesses grow through relationships.
Helping make the “I know a guy” mentality easier to actually put into action.
Thank you
I really do appreciate everyone who has followed along, subscribed, been interviewed, shared an episode, introduced me to someone, or supported this idea in any way.
This has always been bigger than just a podcast or newsletter to me.
It is a way to build a stronger network of people who want to help each other win.
So, if you have a few minutes, I would love for you to check out the soft launch of I Know A Guy Rewards.
Try it out.
Send me feedback.
Tell me what is confusing.
Tell me what you like.
Tell me who you think it could help.
And if you know a business owner, creator, podcast host, chamber leader, or connector who may be a good fit, I would love an introduction.
You can check it out here:
Thanks again, guys.
I’m excited to finally start sharing this with you.
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