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One of the best methods of communicating the benefits of your product in a believable way is through testimonials
When you say it yourself it sounds like bragging. Potential customers will also give your statements less credit, they know that you want to sell your product or service so anything you say is suspect. On the other hand when people, with nothing to gain, say positive things about your product it is easier to believe and rely upon.
You should strategically place testimonials on all your marketing material. Place them on your webpage. Add testimonials to your brochures or pamphlets. You can even put a succinct testimonial on the reverse side of your business cards. Any contact form of communication you have with the public or your customer database really should include at least one testimonial.
Now you might be saying ‘that’s all well and good, but how do I collect testimonials from my customer database’. This article will provide you with some simple rules to follow when collecting testimonials from your customer database.
Rules for collecting testimonials from your customer database:
- The best time to ask for a testimonial is right after they’ve received the product or service. If you leave it weeks or months after delivery the client may not remember you at all let alone what they liked about your product or service.
- Ask for feedback rather than an outright testimonial. Customers like to know that their opinion is valued. By asking for feedback you give them the opportunity to share with you the good and bad aspects of your service. With permission you can then use the positive comments as testimonials and the negative feedback can help you improve your customer service.
- Keep your customer feedback forms as short as possible. One page questionnaires are best but never more than 2 pages long. Your customers are busy people, so the shorter the form the better chance you have of having it completed. Ask targeted questions. Examples include: What did you like best about our product? How you would you describe our service? Detail one experience you had with our product or service.
- Now this is very important. At the end of the form ask their permission to use their comments in marketing for your company and have them sign it. If you are using an online collection process have a check box.
- Often you will get testimonials that are a bit long winded or contain spelling mistakes. Don’t be afraid to edit, but make sure you ask the client to approve the modified testimonial in writing before you use it. The best way to do this is via email.
Testimonials are an essential ingredient of essential marketing. Just follow these steps and you’ll start building a library of valuable testimonials in no time.
Get your free testimonial template guide from Faith Saunders by going to http://www.picrmsoftware.com.au/free-testimonial-template-and-guide/
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Tags: how to collect testimonials, testimonial template, testimonials guide