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We're in the heart of summer and for me, July was a very busy month. I'm talking with several prospective clients about how to best market their businesses. I've got a number of writing and editing projects in the works. And I was recently asked to write a series of document design and writing-related "how-to" articles for a local publication, Business to Business (B2B) magazine. I am extremely honored to contribute to B2B, and I'm very exited about the opportunity to share information with other business folks. But enough about me--let's focus on you! This month's feature article doesn't deal with writing so much as it does with marketing. But writing is, of course, still involved--it's just a bit more indirect. Every business needs to spread the good word about its service or product, and establishing credibility is an essential part of obtaining new clients. One way to do this is to ask someone else--preferably a satisfied customer--to contribute a few words about their experience with your business. Comments from happy clients can work wonders; inject these words into your marketing materials and you'll jump ahead of the competition. And don't forget, archived WriteTips issues are now available. You can revisit these issues as often as you like. And I hope you visit often! All the best, Cassie Hart Marketing With Testimonials Your customers love your products, your service, and your commitment to quality everything. And you've never received a complaint, so you're certain that your business is #1 in the customers' eyes. Now it's time to make this assumption a reality by asking these folks to speak their minds. What's a testimonial? A testimonial is a statement from someone with something positive to say about your product or service. Ideally this person has had more than one encounter with your business and has been pleased with each experience. Testimonials are used in all sorts of promotional literature. They appear in brochures, booklets, flyers, and on websites. Testimonials offer a non-biased point of view, allowing prospective customers to see how you've helped individuals with similar needs. It's one thing for you to talk about how great your business is-- it's another to hear positive feedback from other customers. How can I obtain testimonials? It's simple, really. All you need to do is ask for them. Approach a few of your regular customers and ask if they would mind providing a quote about their experience with your business. Here are two basic ways to obtain testimonials: * Call or send an email asking for feedback. Sometimes it helps to provide question prompts, such as: "How has our product helped make your job easier?" or "What do you like best about our service?" * Save letters and holiday cards from satisfied customers. A complimentary personal note could be all you need to begin building your testimonial collection. Remember to always ask for permission before using a customer's quote in print. It's a good idea to provide a short letter restating their comments, explaining how the statement(s) will be used, and requesting a signature for permission to use these words in your marketing efforts. Now that I've collected several testimonials, what do I do with them? Put testimonials on your print materials and your website. As your collection continues to grow, consider rotating comments so that fresh, new perspectives are offered. And finally, don't stop asking for testimonials-- as your customer base grows, you're testimonial bank has the power to grow, too. View testimonials for Cassie Hart Copywriting and Editorial Services
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email: cahart@att.net voice: 309.454.1908 web: http://www.cassiehartwriter.com |
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