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  • The Small Business Reverse Testimonial Referral Tactic

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    Every now and then I like to post a simple tactic that readers can put to use today. This is one of those posts.

    I’m a big fan of acquiring testimonials from happy clients to sprinkle through your marketing materials. I know this technique gets overdone by the Internet marketing crowd, but when a prospect reads a credible comment from another person, endorsing the promise of you marketing message, it does have an impact. I advocate asking every single client for a testimonial, whether you use them all or not, because I think it forces the client to consider the value you bring or, and this is equally important, allows them to discuss why they don’t feel comfortable providing you with a testimonial.

    Pretty straightforward to this point, but now for the reverse part.

    When you receive a testimonial from a client, clip a very powerful sentence or paragraph and print (you can do this in-house with post card templates from an office store or StockLayouts) 10-12 postcards with you client’s comment, a simple offer and your contact information. Then, send these cards to your client and ask them to jot a hand-written note and send them along to folks they think would benefit from this offer. (Yes, put postage on the cards for them.)

    The power of this little technique is that you have made yourself very easy to refer, you have personalized the referral and created a marketing approach that may stir a little buzz from sender and receivers – all good things. Plus, any client that sends these out has just resold themselves on being a client.

    Now, all you need to do to create a flood of referrals is focus on making every client testimonial happy.

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    Posted by: John Jantsch on Jul 20, 06 | 1:01 pm
    Category: Referral Marketing | Tags:

    View Comments
    • Of course, it helps when clients/customers give you the testimonials in the first place! I’ll have to make a separate post about “training” people how to give testimonials for you to use in your marketing materials
    • <pingback>...Blog: When you receive a testimonial from a client, clip a very powerful sentence or paragraph and print (you can do this in-house with post card templates from an office store or StockLayouts) 10-12 postcards with you client’s comment, a simple ...</pingback>
    • K
      I see this as a means of co-promotion which is often why people lend testimonials in the first place. They know their company's name will be mentioned.
    • Bailama Pessima
      I agree stron business realeations are built on helping each other. I would write a testmonial not for a vendor. For someone I trusted like a partner.
    • John Jantsch
      Michael - I wouldn't write a testimonial for someone I considered a "vendor" - I would write one for a supplier I considered a partner and that's the difference.

      Strong business relationships are built on helping each other - try presuming that and the impact might change.
    • I have to say I'd be put off if a vendor asked me to do this. I'd find it presumptuous and it would have a (mild) negative impact on our relationship.
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