Learn How to Give the “Right” Gifts through Video Games

In the last few years, my daughter has enjoyed playing video games like Stardew Valley. Haven’t heard of it, no worries - I’ll catch you up. Stardew Valley is a fun, interactive game where you inherit a farm from your grandfather and your goals are to take care of the land, grow food, raise animals (like chickens) and connect with locals. The main character was stuck in an office job where people were miserable and (dying).
 
You also live in a small town with stores where you can purchase seeds and much more for your farm. There’s even a mega market chain and a small independent store where you are encouraged to support the locals. There are lots of individuals in the community that you are encouraged to build relationships with.

How do you build these relationships?
 
You start conversations!
 
This isn’t too far from how helping and gifting in the referral partnership world works! I define a referral partner as someone who is an individual that you have a relationship with and sends prospective leads to a business.
 
I have been teaching my clients my framework C.O.I.N. on how to build a system for your referral partners. (Learn more about C.O.I.N.).
 
In Stardew Valley there are two interesting examples that highlight parts of the C.O.I.N. framework.
 
Example #1
 
If you have conversations with the local mayor, he will inform you on the local festivals you don’t want to miss. The more you speak with certain members of the community, you build trust and become friends. You also earn “friendship points” - you are encouraged to gain more friendship points by talking to specific people daily and giving them gifts.

I have a great framework that focuses on building your referral partners in your business.  You can learn all about it. One of the parts of the framework is “I - Interact & stay top of mind” It’s vital that you touch base with your referral partners (you can also interact with clients this way too!) and connect with them at least once a quarter. This could be simply sending them an email, a call and sending them a custom video to check in!
 
Example #2
 
In the game Stardew Valley, you are expected to touch base with the locals and interact all the time. You are rewarded for it! If you give people gifts, it builds on the relationship and trust.
 
If you interact with the local scientist (if you give him a special shell), he becomes impressed. He then asks if he can set up a bat observatory in your backyard and in return, offer free fruit. It’s exchanges like this that make the games so unique and rewarding.
 
You earn more friendship points by the types of gifts you give (more points if you give a gift they love!)
 
This also reflects on an important part of my C.O.I.N. Framework which is N - “Nurture and send the right gift.”
 
I recommend in my C.O.I.N. framework to reward your referral partners and give them a gift if they refer someone to work with you and it works out. (You can always send a handwritten card to your referral partner to thank them for sending someone your way!)
 
What’s extra special here is being sure you give the “right” gift. Something that’s useful and custom is always a winner. An example could be a cutting board with your referral partner’s name engraved on it or a travel coffee mug with photos of your referral partner’s favorite vacation spot. The more creative you can be, the better.
 
Do you play a game or have another example that demonstrates how starting conversations, being top of mind and gift giving grows a relationship? Let me know!