Using Customer Testimonials - Part 2/2

Always Thank Your Customer for Their Testimonial

If you thank your customer for their testimonial it will increase the good will you already enjoy and confirm the customer’s choice for extending their good name and giving you a testimonial. Take a moment to send a personal letter thanking them for their time and effort. The following are a couple of example letters you might use as a guideline for thanking your customer.

Thanking your customer always tends to improve your rapport and solidify your relationship. Besides, it’s common courtesy.

How To Use Customer Testimonials Once You Get Them

It’s not enough to receive customer testimonials but knowing how to use them in your marketing activities is what makes the difference. The following are seven ideas you can use to implement testimonials into your marketing program.

Idea # 1 – Create a “What People Are Saying…” report.

Create your own “What People Are Saying…” report by putting copies of your best testimonials together in a booklet and giving them to prospects. This will become a very powerful marketing tool for you.

Idea # 2 – Put testimonials on your website. Scatter testimonials from customers all over your website. Many webmasters make the mistake of creating a testimonial page and putting all the testimonials one page. Place testimonials wherever you make bold claims. If you have testimonials pertaining to a specific product, place those testimonials under that product.

Another great area to place testimonials on your website is on the right and left borders. They will be a constant reminder of your credibility. If you have a sign-up page of any sort, consider including a testimonial that talks specifically about what you are asking your visitor to sign up to, whether it be your newsletter or access to special information.

Idea # 3 – Always include a testimonial in your advertising. You’ll never see an ad for a weight loss product without a testimonial. Why? Because those advertisers know that people are skeptical of all ads (not just weight loss ads) and testimonials overcome skepticism more than any other marketing tool.

Idea # 4 – In every direct mail piece you send, include a one or two page full of testimonials. This gives automatic credence to whatever offer you are sending. You can make the testimonials a part of the sales letter but from my experience, sending loose leaf pages of testimonials make a persuasive statement.

Idea # 5 – Include customer testimonials on an audiotape. It’s one thing to read a testimonial but another to hear a real live person. You can even include the pictures and bios of those people on the tape in your mailer. I know of marketers who sells information products who includes an audiocassette tape with his sales letter. All the audio tape contains is a recording of customers praising his product. It’s powerful.

Idea # 6 – Do joint endorsed mailings. If you have an associate that has customers who might be good prospects for what you sell, ask if he would like to participate in a joint endorsed mailing in which your associate would send a letter to his customers endorsing (giving a testimonial) you and your products and services. In return you send a letter to your customers endorsing your associate’s products and services. It’s a win-win.

Idea # 7 – Do an endorsed referral letter promotion. This tactic is similar to Idea # 6 but the promotion is done with your customers. Hold a contest of some sort and award prizes (incentives) to those customers who send in the names and addresses of three friends who they know would benefit from your products or services. Then send each of the three friends a letter with the testimonial of the person who referred them.

This could give your referral program a jolt.

Start a “Testimonial Drive” Today

Chances are, you have not been diligent in asking for customer testimonials. I would urge you to make a commitment today to start asking for testimonials from 100% of your customers. You can’t have enough customer testimonials.

Make a plan today to begin a “Customer Testimonial Drive” and set a goal to obtain 100 customer testimonials within the next three months. Put a thermometer on the wall if you have to, but start today. Draft your testimonial request letter and send it out this week. Then start following up on your requests by phone next week.

Conclusion

Testimonials are a powerful tool in helping you to break down your prospects skepticism and fear. When customers give you a testimonial it works to solidify your relationship with them because they have “gone public” with their statement of support for your business.

Ask for testimonials from your customers as soon as they purchase your product or service. Ensure that their testimonial is very specific. Always get a picture of your customer to use with your testimonial. Don’t forget to thank your customer for pledging their public support for your business. Find innovative ways to integrate your customer testimonials into your marketing program.

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Description

The easy way to get better testimonials for your products! Inside this ebook you will learn: How to get your first few testimonials How to get a constant flow of quality testimonials How to create a feedback incentive How to set everything up To hear or not to hear. That is the question.