Hi Sandra Grauschopf! I was right in your spot several years where we needed to build something but I didn’t have any budget for it. Story of our lives!
My one suggestion is cleary define which activities you would want a client involved besides a reference call. Then - I would chat with your CS leaders and fill them in what you have decided on as those activities. I have found that once you get the CS team jazzed about it - they will start to mention clients they think would be interested.
We then sent out a survey to our clients and asked them of the activities what would they be most interested in. We really led with how we can help build their personal/ professional brand. That really got our clients to perk up when they heard that we wanted to make them look good in front of their boss and peers.
Once you have the survey results, notate in Salesforce what they want to be involved in (will need your Salesforce team to help with that part).
I then scheduled calls with the CSMs and had them think through who within their accounts might be good advocates and as we started to use them - we ensured it was all notated in Salesforce.
My biggest takeway - get the CS teams excited for it and let them know that these aren’t asks but rather opportunities!
Good luck and happy to chat more!
