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Use Testimonials to Increase Business

August 13, 2010 by Frank Goley, Business Consultant

If you are a customer centric company and have satisfied customers, then getting testimonials shouldn’t be hard. In fact, it should be an automatic thing to ask a customer to make a testimonial for you when you complete a service for them, sell them a product or solution, or simply help them in some form. Here is the why and how on how to use Customer Testimonials to really boost your company profits.

Why Use Testimonials

Testimonials bring trust and credibility, two major factors in a prospect’s buying decision. When posted on your website, testimonials help sell a prospect with out your involvement. What an incredible automatic sales tool. Testimonials clearly show that you deliver, which at the end of the day, is why people buy from you.

Tips on Using Testimonials

§  Any Time You Have a Positive Interaction with a Customer: If someone says great things about your website or blog, ask them for a testimonial. If you send them a Free E-Book ask for their feedback and if positive, ask for a testimonial. If you went out the way for a customer and they appreciated all the effort, get a testimonial. Testimonials aren’t just about a successful sale, it is also about the way you successfully interact with you customers. 

§  Make Sure They are Genuine: The Customer may ask for your input on the testimonial but make sure the testimonial is genuine and comes from the customer. If they are contrived, it is evident. Understand they may be checked on.  

§  Place Them Everywhere: Good places to put and use testimonials include your Blog, Website, Sales Pages, Brochures, a Press Release, Direct Mail Letters, Solicitations and Referral Sources. Use Twitter, Facebook and the other Social Networks to spread the word when someone writes you a nice testimonial. It also raises awareness toward the person writing the testimonial, a nice thank you! 

§  Written and Video: Using both forms of testimonials works great. Video connects with visual and emotional people and written with others. Also, some prospects may be viewing from an office where they don’t want to have the audio on so have a mix of both. If video, include it on your YouTube Channel under a Testimonial section. This is a great way to spread the news about your company! 

§  Doesn’t Need to be a Customer: Having a strong partner write a testimonial really can say a lot about a company’s reputation. Think of your strategic partners, alliances, joint ventures, suppliers, vendors- all those you do business with. If they are favorable toward you and your business, it means you have a good business reputation which says a lot. It helps you close those bigger customers and build new business relationships.  

Today’s Video is on Using Twitter to Get Testimonials


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Posted in Business Growth Strategies.

2 comments on “Use Testimonials to Increase Business

  1. Hello Frank,

    Thank you for reminding us of how essential credibility is and how an intelligent use of testimonials can do wonders in promoting our business. The more visible we become through multiple marketing pipelines that we implement on an ongoing basis, the more business we will generate.

    To your continued success,

    Christiane

  2. Thanks for your great comment Christiane! Good business is all about solid credibility. Best, Frank

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