Every entrepreneur should have an understanding of the power of business testimonials and references. They are nothing more or less than personal endorsements, but they can make a huge difference to your company's bottom line.People are extremely skeptical about doing business with companies they are unfamiliar with - especially if you're strictly online. Something as simple as a good testimony can give them the confirmation they need to buy whatever you're selling.Here's how to maximize on this:Take your best 5-10 clients and put their contact info on a list that you can easily email to interested ones. Be sure to let your clients know that from time to time, you may have someone contact them. Usually, most clients don't mind this - as long as people aren't calling them every single week.In addition, post some testimonials on your web site. Use pictures if you can.It sounds simple, but doing this will drastically increase your chances of converting a potential client into an actual client. This well demonstrates the power of word-of-mouth advertising; What satisfied customers have to say can be very influential to others.On the flip-side, be careful yourself when you are contemplating doing business with an unfamiliar company. Search their web site for testimonials. If there are none, call the company and ask for a list of references. This way you can talk to their actual clients, who can tell you whether or not they are legit.If a company tells you that they have no testimonials or references, this may be a sign that they are running a scam. Don't jump to conclusions too fast though - It could just be a new company, with no existing clients. This, however, is rarely the case.Dante LeeGet More Business Building Strategies atThe Black Business Cafe~www.theblackbusinesscafe.ning.com
This is so true. Testimonials are key to gaining confidence and trust with potential clients. And if you are in sales it is the combination of your personality, enthusiasm, and the testimonials that help close the sale.
Hey Lady...I have been aiming to stop by your page to just say hey and commend you on a great job that you are doing.
I feel you on the spam..I have a notice going out to The BBC for changes effective December 1.
Thanks for all you do and for what you do for The Black Women Community.
I am getting back to the basics and will be back soon to start back posting. I believe in adding value, so it's a pleasure to share information that I find or come up with that can assist people in going to that next level. Every little bit helps.
This is a great post, which is why I have decided to feature it on 'The Business', a digital magazine featuring the best Small Business discussions and material on the BBWO Network. This is a new feature, so it is still being customized and I would love your feedback. Feel free to add comments on 'The Business' page. I've been wanting to set this up for a while now, especially after reading the responses I got from my post 'Putting the Business Back in BBWO.' As our community gets bigger, it is becoming a SPAM magnet, and I want to ensure that does not happen. We are experts in our own right with tons of info and experiences to share, which is what I want BBWO to continue to be about. If you feel as I do, great! Continue writing these wonderful posts and I will do all that I can to promote you and your business.
Quick tip: If you haven't already done so, feel free to include your web banner or business details at the bottom of this post. I hope that with the new Magazine page, more traffic will be directed to your page!
Great article. A good percentage of my sales come from referrals. People wanted to work with trusted individuals, so it literally pays to be good to your customers.
Comments
I feel you on the spam..I have a notice going out to The BBC for changes effective December 1.
Thanks for all you do and for what you do for The Black Women Community.
I am getting back to the basics and will be back soon to start back posting. I believe in adding value, so it's a pleasure to share information that I find or come up with that can assist people in going to that next level. Every little bit helps.
Charlene Brown
The Black Business Cafe
Quick tip: If you haven't already done so, feel free to include your web banner or business details at the bottom of this post. I hope that with the new Magazine page, more traffic will be directed to your page!
Take Care,
LaShanda