Sell More Products and Services with Testimonials

By Judy Cullins
Posted Tuesday, February 1, 2005

Testimonials are all-important to sell anything. You may already have testimonials for your new book and service, but do you have testimonials for other promotional pieces?

Next time you check out a Web site, notice the testimonials. Testimonials imply approval and recommendation. It's great to have them for your product, even your service; yet, most professionals don't use testimonials for the most important marketing tools--the ezine, the article, and the teleclass.

The Ezine

Does "Subscribe to my ezine" motivate you? To draw your target market's attention, you need to title your ezine and add a short benefit-driven description. Just like a guru recommending a book, you'll reap far more subscriptions when you add a testimonial.

Ezine subscriptions doubled in just one month for "The Book Coach Says" when the Web site added a ezine testimonial from Dan Poynter, self-publishing guru, "Book writing and marketing nuts and bolts--definitely worth your time." This short line ran just above the place to collect ezine addresses for the ezine.

The Article

Those of you who send articles to opt-in ezines and other Web sites are probably increasing your ezine subscriptions as well as selling more products and service.

To take this one step further, add these articles to your own Web site with a navigation bar "free articles." People visit your site because they want free information.

After they get to your free articles, put a blurb at the top. When people compliment you on your article, use their blurb as a testimonial right above your articles. Here's one from a reader that added many new eBook customers: "You hit another one out of the park. I learn just what I need from your succinct, informative and original articles. Thank you."

The Teleclass

Just like a book, this product will pull far more participants when you add testimonials from past classes to your email sales letter.

"WOW! My Sales Letter worked!!!! Thank you for presenting your 3-session teleclass and eBook 'Create Your Homepage With Marketing Pizzazz.' You helped me focus on who my target market really is-- a major accomplishment. Knowing the difference between benefits and features helped me produce a sales letter that got me a sale the next day I put it up on my site."
- Harriet Meyerson, "Fire Up Your Staff On A Shoestring
Budget"
- (http://www.confidencecenter.com)

Web visitors don't want to take much time. They only want to spend time on what they know will assist them. Expand your use of testimonials to capture your potential buyer's interest. Then watch your sales grow!

About the Author
Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," and "How to Market your Business on the Internet," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says...and Business Tip of the Month at (http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml) and over 140 free articles. Email her at mailto:Judy@bookcoaching.com