Testimonials: How To Provide Social Proof For Instant Credibility & Bigger Profits!
March 27th, 2012There are many ways to jump start creating credibility, expert status and stimulate sales and we’ll be exploring some of the best ways in this series.
Today we’re going to talk about using testimonials. If you have an ebook or product that you are trying to sell and you tell people how wonderful it is, that’s great, but it’s YOUR ebook or product, so of course you think it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Or, at least you should!
But why should anyone believe you? They know you want to sell them on your ebook and product and they believe that you’ll say whatever you have to say to make the sale.
But when OTHER people tell your potential buyer that they’ve had great results with your ebook or product and that this buyer should purchase it, that’s an entirely different matter. It’s called social proof. And in today’s market social proof is where it’s at.
So, how do you get testimonials to provide social proof? If you’re just starting out, the best way to get testimonials is to give your ebook or product away for free in exchange for a testimonial (until you feel you have enough to put on your website that will look impressive and tip the scales in favor of the sale.
Or better yet, if you have an opportunity to give your ebook or product away as a bonus with someone else’s product do so. Then ask for a testimonial. Since they got it for free, they probably won’t mind giving you one. If you offer a free thank-you gift in exchange-something they would find relevant and valuable- you have an even better chance of getting one. And by giving your ebook or product away, you’ll build your subscriber list, as well, at the same time!
You can also build a testimonial request into your auto responder sequence. Once someone receives your ebook or product, either for free or as a sale, continue to stay in touch with him or her through an auto responder sequence. First, share reasons why your buyer should use what he or she has purchased and then help him or her do it. Only then- once you’ve given ample time to actually do it- ask for your testimonial. And again, if you give a relevant and valuable free gift in exchange, your buyer will be more apt to give you one.
You can also run a contest for the best testimonial for an ebook or product after it’s been out for a while, or after doing an ebook launch, product launch or blog tour (when you have a lot of new buyers). The key here is to offer a prize that they really want. You can even have more than one; one for the best testimonial, one for the funniest, one for the first one etc. It’s up to you how many categories you want to reward. But make it fun and get people involved and excited and you’ll get some great testimonials!
You can also create a fan page for your ebook or product on Facebook and get people to post about it. Some of them will be great testimonials! You can create a blog around your product or a page on an already existing blog and ask for comments. Again, some of them will be great testimonials. And if you do live calls, occasionally someone who has bought in the past will share their experience on the call providing a great testimonial. When you get one of these be sure to make a copy of it and transcribe it then ask for permission to use it.
Also save emails you receive with flattering comments. If they don’t quite add up to a testimonial, contact them and ask if they’d be willing to expand it into one.
And don’t forget Amazon. Remember, people can leave reviews there. So, if you see one that knock your socks off, contact the person and ask if you can use it on your site and in your other marketing materials.
Once people are aware of and using your ebook or product and getting amazing results, you’ll have no trouble getting testimonials.
And when you reach the point where you have garnered a reputation as an expert, just offering to put a testimonial on your website, where your buyer will gain much-wanted publicity for themselves, is often enough to do the trick.
Just be sure to always ask for permission before using testimonials on your website and in your marketing materials. And make sure that you follow the FTC rules or you could be slapped with a big fine. (Basically, that means only use average results people can expect from reading your ebook or using your product, not extraordinary ones.)
Follow these suggestions and you’ll always have ample testimonials for your eBooks and products!
Ellen Violette is a world-renown eBook/Internet Marketing Coach, and author in her own right. She teaches people how to write an ebook in 72 hours or less from scratch, and how to communicate their message to create a 6-figure income using ebook- and writing-centered strategies that stop stress and overwhelm.
She’s the creator of The 3 Days To eBook Cash Workshop, eBooks For Sale in 4 Days Or Less, How To Write A Profitable eBook In 30 Days Or Less With Articles, eBook Profit Marketing Secrets, eBook Empire Builders, The Accelerated Wealth Blueprint, Virtual eBook Expo, eBook Empire Builders and more.
Her company also formats and publishes ebooks for authors (www.ebookthis.com) and offers social-media services for authors and coaches (socialmediaexpertservices). You can learn more at www.theebookcoach.com















