This is not unusual. Many of us only start to request, or collect, client testimonials when we have an immediate use for them. However, if you collect them as you go along, you will get better comments and have them ready whenever you want to use them.

Quick explanation:
Testimonials are simply comments from happy customers, saying how they’ve benefited from your products or services. They are important because a good testimonial significantly affects the way that your potential clients perceive you, and makes them more likely to buy from you. You can use testimonials to good effect on your website, sales pages, leaflets, business cards, email signatures, delivery packaging….just about everywhere, in fact.

So, what you need to do is have a process for gathering testimonials and keeping them in one place, in a ‘testimonial repository’. Here’s what I do, and it’s really easy:

1.  I ask for feedback all the time. If it’s good it’s a potential testimonial, and if it’s about something I could improve upon then it’s free business consultancy!

2.  When I get good feedback (whether it’s asked for or totally unsolicited) I reply and thank the person, and then ask if I can “quote them on that?”.

3.  If they say I can quote them, I copy and paste their comment into an Evernote notebook (you can use Word or any other text or note taking  programme), making sure to record who said it, and their title and/or business name.

That’s it!

There are so many benefits to having a testimonials repository, not least of which is that it reminds you of how much you are valued by your clients – essential info for small business owners!

What is the best testimonial or client comment that you’ve ever received?  I’d love to know.