How to Bring Up NWG Without Being "That Sales Person"
Nobody wants to be the person who makes everything about selling. The good news? Being an NWG referral partner isn't about selling at all. It's about helping. Here's how to naturally bring it up.
🎯 The Mindset Shift
Repeat after me:
"I'm not selling anything. I'm connecting people with someone who can help them."
You're not trying to close deals. You're not pushing products. You're just being a helpful person who happens to know a guy who builds great websites.
When you operate from this mindset, conversations feel natural instead of forced.
💬 The Casual Mention
The easiest approach. Someone mentions they need a website (or complains about theirs), and you casually say:
"Oh, you need a website? My friend Joe does that. He's really good — not one of those big agencies, just a guy who builds custom sites for small businesses. Want me to connect you?"
That's it. No pitch. No pressure. Just a helpful mention.
🔧 The Problem Solver
When you hear someone complaining about a website problem:
Them: "Ugh, my website is so slow and my web guy never responds."
You: "That's frustrating. I actually know someone who helps with exactly that — builds fast custom sites and is super responsive. His name's Joe. Want me to intro you?"
You're solving a problem, not pitching a service.
👀 The Opportunity Spotter
Sometimes opportunities come up naturally in conversation:
- Business owner mentions they're starting something new
- Someone says they can't find a local business online
- You visit a store and notice they don't have a website on their business card
- A friend posts on social media about their business growing
In these moments, you can simply say:
"Hey, random thought — do you have a website for that? I know a guy if you ever need one."
📱 Social Media Openings
Social media is full of opportunities if you're paying attention:
- Someone posts about starting a business → "Congrats! Let me know if you need a website guy."
- Business owner complains about their website → "I know someone who fixes exactly that!"
- Someone asks for web designer recommendations → "Check out NWG — [link]"
Keep it casual. You're helping, not advertising.
🤝 Networking Events
Business mixers, chamber events, BNI — these are natural places to meet business owners.
How to bring it up:
"What do you do?" → They answer → "Nice! Do you have a website for that?"
Then just listen. If they express any frustration or say they don't have one, that's your opening:
"I know a guy who builds custom websites for small businesses. Super reasonable pricing and he actually responds when you text him. Want his info?"
📝 Scripts That Don't Sound Like Scripts
Here are some natural-sounding phrases you can use:
- "I know a guy who does that..."
- "My friend Joe helps small businesses with websites..."
- "You should talk to my buddy Joe..."
- "There's this web guy I know who's really good..."
- "Have you heard of Neighborhood Website Guy? That's what they do..."
Notice how none of these sound "salesy"? That's intentional.
🚫 What NOT to Do
- Don't force it — If the topic doesn't come up naturally, don't shoehorn it in
- Don't be pushy — If they're not interested, drop it
- Don't oversell — Let Joe's work speak for itself
- Don't badmouth their current situation — "Yeah, your site looks terrible" is not helpful
- Don't make it weird — If your only goal is the commission, people sense it
✨ The Secret Sauce
The most successful partners don't "sell" at all. They just:
- Listen — Pay attention to what people need
- Connect — Make the introduction when it makes sense
- Step back — Let Joe take it from there
That's it. Three steps. No pressure, no quotas, no weird sales tactics.
Remember
Your job is to connect, not to convince.
If someone's not interested, that's totally fine. Move on. The right people will be glad you mentioned it.
Next up: "Handling Objections Like a Pro" — what to say when they have concerns.