Networking Now:

Last weekend, my wife Beth and I were on a weekend trip. We wanted to go out for a nice dinner but weren’t quite sure where to go since we weren’t all that familiar with the town we were in. As Beth perused a local magazine for restaurant reviews, I logged onto the internet to search for the top-rated restaurants in the area. We settled on a steakhouse that was a more than a little bit out of the way and not so easy to get to. Why? Because the restaurant had phenomenal reviews both online and in the local magazine. That was enough to convince us we should take our business there because we were likely have a great experience.

So it is in business. Before people come to you for a particular product or service, they often want the comfort of knowing what others have said about you. Testimonials carry a level of credibility because they come from someone who has direct experience with your product or service. Consumers generally place more trust in a testimonial from another consumer than in a business’s own marketing message. They believe the average person is unbiased and has nothing to gain from providing a testimonial. Thie business stands to gain–or lose–everything, so its own words are seen as less trustworthy.

Have you ever asked a satisfied client for a written testimonial? I recommend making this standard practice for your business.

Written testimonials can be used in many ways to enhance your credibility and set you above your competition. Here are some key ways to use testimonials:

1. Place them on your business’s website. Some websites have them strategically sprinkled throughout so there’s at least one testimonial on each page. Others have a dedicated page where a browser can view several testimonials at once.

2. If your business attracts a lot of walk-in clients, it’s helpul to display your written testimonials, each encased in a plastic sheet protector, in a three-ring binder labled “What our customers say about us” or “Client Testimonials.” Keep this binder on a table in your reception area, where your customers can browse through it while waiting for services. It’s a good way to connect with your prospects and enhance your relationship with current clients.

3. Include testimonials with your business proposals. This works best if you have a wide variety to choose from; you can include a section of testimonials that are most relevant to a specific proposal.

If you make it standard practice to ask clients and contacts for testimonials, you’ll build your credibility and your business.

Be sure to check back next week ,when I’ll present the three keys to successfully using written testimonials and explain how to ask for testimonials.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 28th, 2009 at 9:43 am and is filed under Business, Ivan Misner, Marketing/Sales, Referrals, Self Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

9 Responses to “Ask for Written Testimonials”

1. David Lingholm Says:
   May 28th, 2009 at 9:42 pm

   The three ways mentioned my Dr. Misner are great ways to get started using testimonials. IF you are involved with services like Biznik, Yelp! or LinkedIn, you can ask for testimonials there too. Don’t forget the influence the social web can have on your ability to gain referrals!

2. Internet Home Business Says:
   May 30th, 2009 at 5:25 am

   Thanks Ivan for this information: Include testimonials with your business proposals. This works best if you have a wide variety to choose from; you can include a section of testimonials that are most relevant to a specific proposal

   Michel Richer

3. Twitted by BNI_LNW Says:
   May 31st, 2009 at 12:58 am

   [...] This post was Twitted by BNI_LNW – Real-url.org [...]

4. Jerry Brandt Says:
   June 1st, 2009 at 11:56 am

   Planetbuzz.com is a new “recommendation engine” that ties in testimonials with a online business directory that is multimedia and powerful. The owner of the company is a good personal friend. Might check it out on our web site under “Marketplace Ministries” button.

5. Marc Lemezma Says:
   June 1st, 2009 at 12:29 pm

   As always Ivan is on the money.

   I have automated testimonials on my website – every time a prospective client looks at a new page they get a new fresh one.

   I do a lot of business on-line and likewise get the majority of testimonials that way – usually on a weekly basis.

   When I get an email enquiry I respond including the most recent testimonial from a customer with a similar requirement.

6. Marc Lemezma Says:
   June 1st, 2009 at 12:30 pm

   I’d like to add that the testimonial I had from Her Majesty the Queen usually seals the deal!

7. Richard, Peacock Carter Says:
   June 1st, 2009 at 2:05 pm

   3 great ideas there, though working with a client recently, their profession’s (optional) federation/body attempts to dissuades members from displaying testimonials from being displayed – presumably because they’re open to abuse.

8. Susan Says:
   June 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm

   Love the look of your site – are you having fun with it? Keep up the good work and good luck with your site!

9. Three Keys to Successfully Using Written Testimonials Says:
   June 16th, 2009 at 8:50 am

   [...] tool testimonials can be when it comes to building credibility and generating new business (see last week’s blog on this topic), but it’s also very important to know how to successfully use testimonials and how to ask [...]

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