A recent case study by Cambridge based online marketing consultants HubSpot, revealed a 230% increase in traffic leads to the online referral network, Referral Key.

This exciting news is important for two reasons.

First and most importantly, it tells us that small business owners are thriving. They’re driving more sales by banning together and taking a proactive approach to exchanging qualified sales leads. Members can track these numbers right from their Referral Key homepage. Yet, these aren’t figures you’re likely to see on the evening news. And while the talking heads churn out report after report of massive layoffs and corporate failings, you aren’t going to see any figures about the solid sales leads so many talented small business owners have been able to generate in the face of  naysayers and pessimists.

Second, Referrals Key’s own growth is indicative of the power of a relationship based growth strategy. Whether it’s working with HubSpot to offer up useful content to the community as well search engines or it’s working with its members night and day to individually teach each members how to really take advantage of this tool, it’s all about reciprocal behavior.

Everyone wins this wins when we exchange referrals!