Three Alternative Methods On Getting Quality Testimonials with Bonus

Here are three alternatives to increase your testimonial numbers or their quality. Create an online diary or blog, use an auto responder method, set up a form on your web site or set up a survey.

1 -- Set up an Online Diary

Usually an online website diary is a fun way to keep friends and family up to date on what is going on in your life. Online diaries can also be used for testimonial submission with conversational style recommendations about your product/service. Online diaries are offered on many web sites, even famous persons like Oprah, Dr. Phil, or Tony Robbins.

You set it up on their site and paste the page link into your "thank you for purchase" auto responder, on your web site or into other marketing materials. Include a 1-2-3 learning experience on what is included in a good testimonial with various examples. People will appreciate the learning opportunity by taking the time to complete the process. In addition, their quality will increase.

Online diaries are updated frequently, thus giving a higher perceived value. They also have a warmer conversational style that increases reader connection. Because a diary is considered "private", it increases curiosity and they will read longer.

Two additional blessings are that you will save transfer time and others will read the other comments.

The offside is that you will want to monitor the entries to avoid some kids having fun.

You can also enter regularly updated customer comments received through other means on the product/service improved their life.

You can increase credibility by including the customer's profile. Include their picture or audio testimonial or a video segment of them using the product. You can also scan in and include handwritten letters or notes you receive.

A blog is an upgrade of the online diary with additional controls.

There was online diary software available to help you set up your own online diary, however, blog software replaced it.

Resources:

Set up your own diary at: http://www.diaryland.com/. They provide a personalized URL: your-name.diaryland.com. I recommend this resource because I like the personalization capability.

Here is a course on how to set up an online diary at:
http://personalweb.about.c om/cs/htmltutorials/a/310emailcourse.htm

Here is some great startup information on blogs:
http://www.creativity-portal.com /howto/writing/blogging.html

2 -- Auto responder Method

After they make a purchase or receive a freebie set up an automatic auto responder requesting a testimonial. You can include a link to the online diary as the only choice or as part of multiple submission options.

If you offer an ecourse, forward them a progress report request. This can easily be set up in the auto responder system for easier production. Ask them no more than 3-5 questions that don't encourage yes/ no answers. Ask them to rate their learning experience or make suggestions too.

Resources:

All about auto responders: http://marketing-of-training.com/expert_advisors/ask_massimo/2002-03-23 .htm

How to Write a High-Profit Auto responder Series http://javafaq.nu /article232.html

How to Use an Automatic Responder for Effective Prospect Follow-up http://www.isitebuild.com/automatic_respond er.htm

3 -- Fill-in-the-Blank or Multiple Choice Form

You can design a "fill in the blank" or "multiple choice" form in HTML or in text. HTML is easier to complete yet can take too long to down load if long or in some international browsers.

You can send the form through an auto responder system before or after completing something. They make the purchase you automatically send them the form. The form makes submission easier for them to complete and will increase the response rate.

There are software packages and vendors who will set up this form and track the results for you.

Resources:

How to Write HTML forms: http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/forms/
http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/in teract/forms.html#h-17.1

3. Web Survey Collecting

Use web surveys to gather their recommendations. There is software to help you create surveys and track the results. Survey hosting can be an online based or PC-based product.

Web Survey Software

Perseus Software: Free trial offered, several versions available, price range $495-$995 http://www.perseusdevelopment.com/softwareprod/download.html Archived Copy Downloads may not work!

Survey-Said software http://www.surveysaid.com/survey-software-introduction.html

Hosted Software http://www.hostedsurvey.com/ Survey Pro http://apian.com/

Survey Vendors

SurveyMonkey.com http://www.surveymonkey.com. Basic is free, upgrade is available. They offer a great comparison chart that I found very interesting.

Free White Papers, Articles, and ebooks on Survey How-tos.

How to conduct a web survey: http://www.vovici.com

Top-10 Web Survey Issues and How to Address Them http://www.digitalbiz.com/pages/library/research/top_10.html

Set Your Web Survey Goals http://www.workz.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl_page.html,template=1&content=1326&nav 1=1&

Perseus offers seven different white papers that will expand your knowledge on taking surveys. http://www.perseusdevelopment.com/surveytips/whitepapers.html

*** BONUS ON AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE ***

Four areas that will increase the quality of your testimonials:

1. Ask them what their goal was for using the product/service

2. What positive emotions did they experience by using the product/service?

3. Did they experience any reduction in fears and concerns after using the product/service? What worries were removed from their lives? (Before and after picture)

4. How did _______ help other people in their lives?

Catherine Franz, a Certified Professional Marketing & Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and articles available at: http://www.abundanc ecenter.com blog: http://abundance.blogs. com

---

Packaging Trends You Cannot Overlook (part #1):

1) People are buying in smaller quantities. Our busy lifestyle... Read More

Wealth Knowledge & Power ? Lost Secrets From Ancient Masters

Behold! He with the light cometh!He shall light thy darkest... Read More

Words that Sell

We all know the English language contains hundreds of thousands... Read More

Six Ways to Boost Response on Your Surveys and Gain More Useful Information

So... you spend time and effort putting together a survey,... Read More

Build A Successful Business By Staying Connected

Over the course of your business life you'll come in... Read More

The Top 10 Ways to Market your Business or Professional Practice Without Advertising

Every business and professional practice MUST be in the public... Read More

The Key to Success

Good business is about communication... not just what you say... Read More

Create A Business Card That Sells and is Effective

Why does your business need a business card?Business card is... Read More

Be a Smarter Marketer - Learn the L-A-W for Trade Shows

People attend trade shows because they are in a specific... Read More

Networking Events ? Lose the Fear and Gain the Benefits

"Kevin, are you saying I need to go to Networking... Read More

What Is Multi-Level And How Should It Be Worked

Multi-level marketing is really a partnership. You go into... Read More

Listen To What The Marketing Experts Say

But more importantly, watch what they do. If you do... Read More

Lead Generation: What Is It worth?

Our business environment has changed dramatically. Companies must now be... Read More

Avoid These 5 Web Site Blunders!

The Web is intended to help people find information quickly... Read More

Trigger Button Marketing

Sometimes, experiencing bleak sales is a matter of failing to... Read More

7 Tips to Grab New Clients

As a business professional, you probably realize the value of... Read More

Customers: The Key To Successful Marketing

How well do you know your customers?What is the primary... Read More

Growing Your Brand Assets

Okay. Raise your hand if you think brand management is... Read More

Profitable Marketing Programs Part 2: Figuring Break Even Point

In Part 1 -- I discussed how to consider both... Read More

Promotional Mugs: Become a Part of the Legendary Coffee Experience

When you want someone to like you, associate yourself with... Read More

Meaning and Marketing - The Trigger

In previous articles under "Meaning and Marketing", we have learned... Read More

Consumer Thinking And Search Marketing

12/20/04According to a recent article by ComScore Networks, about three-quarters... Read More

Make More Sells With Colors

How Colors Effect Our Emotions?One of the most interesting things... Read More

Marketing Strategy 101: 10 Marketing Strategies I Learnt From My Oral Surgeon

This is how the conversation went on my follow-up visit... Read More

Getting Personal ? Innovative Marketing for Small Business Owners

The small business marketing strategy you can't afford to miss... Read More

Marketing With Business Cards

Many businesses today overlook the importance of business cards as... Read More

The Dare-To-Be-Different In Marketing Checklist

There is a big payoff in being different. When you... Read More

Ready, Aim, Fire...Oops...Wheres The Target?

Everywhere you go on the Internet you find the words,... Read More

An Easy Start to Mail Order

Listing names of Big Mail Requestors, and sending out packages... Read More

Your Marketing ? From The Couch To The Cash Register

When you put time or money into any marketing plan,... Read More

Beware: Marketing Sinkholes Ahead!

Life provides your business with enough opportunities for failure. Don't... Read More

Data Map Charting for Mobile Businesses

As we study the demographic regional variations for small service... Read More

The Death of Product Packaging as We Know It.

It used to be you that if you had a... Read More