How To Get Referrals

From Free Stuff Wiki @ A4F

There are generally three main ways to get referrals: asking friends and family, trading, and congas. Of course, there are other methods that may or may not be successful, but these are the ones supported on A4F.

1 Friends and Family
2 Trading
3 Congas
4 Forums/Message Boards
5 Other Methods
6 Useful A4F Forum Links

Friends and Family

Asking friends and family is one of the best ways to get referrals because they're usually free! This works especially well around Birthdays and Holidays, because family and friends are more likely to help you get something for free. One good way to ask family and friends to help you is something like this:

"Would you like to help me get a free ipod for my birthday?
It's easy, costs less than an actual gift would cost, and takes only a few minutes from your home computer!
All you have to do is sign up for this website, complete an offer that you're interested in
(like AOL, Blockbuster, or GameCrazy), and that's it! It'll only cost like $10 at most, and would be the best gift you can give me!"

Some people also pay their friends to do referrals, because usually it's cheaper than referrals online. Many friends would be willing to help you out for $10-$15 (depending on the friend, of course user posted image ) - or even trade ref for ref with you if you help THEM get something free, too!

Trading

Trading Tips and Tricks: a mini-guide to help you get your referrals and avoid scammers.

Congas

What is a conga and how can they help get referrals?

Forums/Message Boards

If you are a enthusiastic member of a forum/message board, that is a very good place to start. Put your refferal link in your signature for people to see and signup under you. Remember DO NOT SPAM your link or you will most likely be banned from the forums/message board. If you make helpful posts or comments, people will notice it more than if you just repeat what someone else just wrote or keep posting "BUMP". Try to post your link in forums/message boards with high traffic and ones that specialize in the gift you are working on. For example, if you are seeking refferals to get a gaming system, it is a good idea to post in forums/message boards that talk about different kinds of gaming systems. Be sure to read the foums/message board's rules to verify that you are allowed to put a freebie website refferal link in your signature or posts. If

Other Methods

Other ways to find referrals include blogs, eBay, internet advertising, and similar creative methods. These are not all legitimate and allowable methods, as they may cause you to be DQ'ed on your freebie site, so make sure to read your site's TOS/T&C carefully before trying something new. Furthermore, A4F does not allow some of these other methods because they are considered spam [1].

Here are a some other methods for people who live on college campuses:

If you have a school bulletin board (for offers, rent, items for sale, etc.), post some referral/business cards so people can take them
Leave one on your door (if you live in a dorm) every once in a while with a sign that says "Take One"
Consider putting an advertisement in your school's newsletter, newspaper, or classifieds section
Leave some in the common area, lounge(s), and/or student unions where people frequent
Hand them out to your friends, classmates, teachers (if appropriate) and tell them what its for so they don't throw it away
Consider offering a cash payment for people who sign up and complete one or more offers

Other public places for possibilities are:

Laundromats
Truck stops
Gas stations
Libraries
Coffee shops
Internet Cafes
Clubs
Grocery Stores
Local Newspaper
Conventions (tables/booths)
Garage / Yard Sales / Flea Markets
Car bumper stickers or vinyl lettering
Websites (make sure not to spam)
Anywhere that has a message board or cork board

Remember to ALWAYS ask permission before posting your material in public places. Otherwise, you may be liable for spamming/littering and thus be breaking sites' Terms of Service.