Over the last few weeks Mark Shaw has started up a new Twitter account @msrfr where he will re-tweet any request for recommendations (msrfr) from other Twitter users. Mark has kindly taken time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions I put to him about #msrfr…
Mark Shaw
1.) What is #msrfr all about?
One of the greatest benefits of Twitter is that it allows you to refer or advocate for others. I am a huge fan of advocating and referring others as and when I can. Yes, I do have my own rules re referrals. These include: getting to know the service or product really well, using the service or product if relevant and getting to know the people behind the service. To me its not just about referring or advocating anyone, its about referring or advocating people that I know can deliver, are great at what they do, offer that extra special service, and are great fun to refer.
So, with all that in mind, I have been thinking of new ways that I can advocate and refer others and help others to advocate and refer people in their networks. I have come up with the #rfr idea. #msrfr stands for requests for recommendations. Each day I will simply retweet any messages that I come across where peeps are asking for recommendations from others for products / services / ideas etc… I will simply retweet them and include the hashtag #rfr in the tweet so peeps can create a search column for the results
2.) What inspired you to come up with the #msrfr scheme?
I have been using Twitter for over 3 very happy years. During this time I have been continually shouting from the rooftops that yes Twitter is all about being social and having fun, but it is also the greatest marketing and lead generation tool there is…. Period….
Gradually people have been getting that message. Many have bought my Book – Twitter Your Business whilst others have simply followed me to get tons and tons of Twitter related Tips. But I wanted to really and I mean really demonstrate my knowledge, my expertise and effectively ‘put my money where my mouth is’ and clearly demonstrate my belief that there is nothing better than Twitter when it comes to lead generation for your business, so I set up the #msrfr request for a recommendation twitter account
Twitter Your Business
3.) How can people get involved with #msrfr?
Thats really easy. All they need to do is follow the http://twitter.com/msrfr twitter account. Each day they will see approx 100 new business leads. All they then need to do is reply to the person looking for the request.
4.) Do you feel that it has been well received and embraced by the Twitter community?
The initial reaction has been amazing. My http://twitter.com/msrfr twitter account is closing in on 1000 followers as of 30th May, and people are referring, advocating, helping and supporting each other. Exactly what i had hoped for.
5.) After watching a recent episode of The Apprentice where they were tasked with finding certain items for a hotel, do you think that the RFR scheme would have helped them?
Absolutely… I believe that asking your network for recommendations is the best and often the fastest way to find what you are looking for, and it comes with the added bonus that others have recommended it as well. So you should be getting good value and great service / products
6.) Have there been many people/businesses who have secured extra work via RFR?
For sure.. In the 2 weeks since set up, 3 businesses have actually messaged me and told me of new business success as a result of using the #msrfr requests for a recommendation service from the http://twitter.com/msrfr twitter account. There have been more businesses that have got great leads, new followers, and I am sure new business, they have just not told me.
7.) What do you personally get from MSRFR?
As I said earlier, I wanted to demonstrate my knowledge and expertise with Twitter. I wanted to actually show people what I have been saying for over 3 years, that Yes Twitter is about being social and having fun, but it also represents the greatest marketing and business lead generation tool there is. I personally filter all the requests that I find so that I send out the ‘best business leads’, there is nothing automated about the account. I am a staunch advocate of all that Twitter has to offer. I firmly believe that Twitter is the greatest marketing tool ever invented and I want to prove it. Its also a fun thing to do and I enjoy helping peeps..
8.) How do you see MSRFR developing over the coming months?
Thats really easy. I want the http://twitter.com/msrfr twitter account to have hundreds of thousands of followers, and for each and every one of those followers, gaining new business and referring / advocating for others so they can gain new business. I want people to really understand the ‘true value and potential’ of Twitter and for everyone that wants to utilise Twitter for lead generation to join this account and benefit for free.
I’d like to thank Mark for answering these questions and giving us a brief insight into MSRFR. For more info please visit Mark’s website of follow the @MSRFR account on Twitter!
Where did May go? The month seemed to fly by. If you have missed any of my blogs during the month, below are a selection of some of the more popular posts.
