How to enhance your reputation with the written testimonial

In the next few blogs, you are going to get ideas on how you can increase your reputation throught customer referrals.

Third party endorsements have always been the single most effective way of increasing your attraction to prospective customers. I'm sure you already now this.

My question is how many of your customers have you asked to give you testimonials?

In this issue, let's focus on the quality of the testimonials you receive. Have you ever had a testimonial that says something like,

'She is a great coach'?

Or

'It was an enjoyable experience working with him'?

What do these testimonials mean to you? Other than a temporary boost to your ego, they mean nothing. When I first started collecting feedback forms for testimonials, I picked up hundreds of 'nice' testimonials. But then I realised that the tetimonials were only useful for therapeutic purposes to me. They mean squat to anyone else.

Think about it. Who are you really trying to impress with an endorsement? Prospective customers, I would think. Maybe even suppliers. So make the testimonials count.

When you ask your customer for testimonials, help them by structuring it for the benefit of future customers. Here's the structure that you can tailor to your own business. Yout customer will write the following:

1. What they enjoyed/liked about the product or service.

2. What was or will be the biggest impact on their business?

3. How does it affect profits or savings or confidence, etc

4. What they liked about doing business with you specifically.

5. That they strongly recommend your services to other prospective buyers.

Here are the reasons why you ask:

1. To give readers (of the testimonial) a specific example of one of your services.

2. To demonstrate that your product/service does what you say it does.

3. To give them a measurable and tangible result.

4. People buy from people they like, know and trust.

5. Readers are being asked to a call to action by the third party. Very powerful stuff!

Here's an example of a testimonial I received from an ecstatic client recently:

"I have just been to The Persuader's Referral Explosion where I discovered a system of generating sales leads with the least amount time and effort. I couldn't believe it. After less than 90 minutes of applying the Referral Explosion system with just one of my contacts, I received over 20 strongly qualified referrals. Each referral is worth the equivalent of 10 times the investment I made in attending this workshop. Thank you, Harun! Thank you!

Harun provoke's you to think beyond your capabilities and inspires you to achieve amazing results. If you are thinking of growing your profits quickly, you must attend the Persuader's Referral Explosion" (G Gill, Arthur Marsh Insurance Brokers)

So now you have no reason for not getting every single customer to give you a glowing testimonial. If they are not willing to do this, you may reconsider if they are a truly 'happy' customer.