by Brian D McEvoy

Are you making the most of testimonials that you got from satisfied clients? If not, here are 7 ways to boost your marketing efforts

1) If you?re using testimonials on your website, make it stand out from the rest of the text. Try to use a colored box or use different fonts. Anything that makes it look different from the rest of the text on your site. Include the client?s (buyer?s) name and their website if they have one (but don?t hyperlink it as you don?t want your valuable visitors to click away from your site). Pick a testimonial that is specific to one aspect of your offer (eg, super customer service, speedy delivery, awesome price etc). To give the testimonial more value and credibility try and add a photo of the person who gave the testimonial. How do you get this? Just ask for it!

2) Have a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page and include testimonials here. This is very powerful if you can use a client testimonial as an answer. For example, you may include a question about customer support, and then use a testimonial confirming how good it is, as the answer.

3) Use client testimonials in any follow-up autoresponder series you may use. If you’re talking about a particular aspect of your business, then include comments such as “and here’s what Mrs Johnson said about”

4) Put all your testimonials together as a pdf report that potential clients can download for free from your website. This would be great if you could include photos of the writers (if you get a testimonial, but no photo, then just write back to them and ask!) as it will add even more credibility.

5) Turn your testimonials into case studies and articles to use for promotional purposes. Start off with enticing headlines based upon the main point each testimonial focuses on like Super Support Service, Awesome Attention to Details, etc. Then include quotes or excerpts and even a link to your site for more information or to download the entire report or case study (or have this preloaded into an autoresponder and offer the web address to it as a Free Report in your last paragraph). Submit the articles to online article directories.

6) Use snippets of your testimonials in offline marketing like brochures and print newsletters and post cards. And use some online in blog posts and blurbs with forum comments and other interactions.

7) Use Press Releases. Similar to case studies above, use press releases with testimonials as social proof that your product or service was a real benefit to someone. Submit the press releases to online press release sites and PRWeb.com. If you think offline publications and media sources may have an interest in your service, product or information then take action: submit your items and follow up with the editors and publishers.

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