An authentic, naturally delivered testimonial is a great way to bring positive word-of-mouth to your marketing mix, from your website and Facebook page to YouTube and commercials. A rehearsed, scripted testimonial that says everything the boss wishes someone would say often comes off as phony and can damage your credibility.
Warning: this is not for the defensive or easily offended. This is for those of you who are willing to hear the truth so you can better market your business. It’s also for those of you feeling confident and smug that your marketing is fine, because chances are you’re letting it languish when you could be making it rock.
As a web marketing agency we are called upon by our clients to create and execute ideas, but many times, we work alongside the marketing departments of those companies and are called on to offer our opinion on who would be a good hire for their internal staffing needs. Here are three of our suggestions based on our experience.
Finding the right people to help manage your online business isn’t easy. In fact, it’s getting harder every day. To an uneducated consumer, a simple Google search for web design services can be overwhelming. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the things that consumers looking for these services need to be aware of.
I don’t care how great your website is or how many trees you want to save, you’ve got to walk into a meeting with something to hand a prospect even if it’s as simple as a business card. If you can’t even do that much you’re going to have a credibility problem right up front.
You’ve set the stage, you know what you’re talking about and you’ve got the courage of your convictions. Is it possible that you could still be turned down? Even if you’ve got the best price in town? Alas, even the smartest, best-dressed and most confident among us can still come up short if that’s all we are.
Face it; some of us walk into meetings with a nice, long stride and a strong handshake, pearly white teeth shining in our ‘sup-dude smiles. And some of us hesitate, stutter and sweat. But if you would rather close the deal than be offered a handkerchief you need to exude the confidence that you should have if you’re an expert at what you do.
When it comes to whatever you’re selling – business consulting, search engine marketing, financial advice – you’d better know your s#*@ inside and out. Any schmoe can iron a shirt, polish a pair of shoes and throw some authority around. But if you don’t know your s#*@, it’s going to become obvious eventually.
I taught kindergarten in a previous life and the most valuable piece of advice I ever got was from a veteran teacher who said, “Never smile on the first day of school.” She was one of the kindest, warmest people I knew, certainly no ruler-wielding ogre, but her point was that it was important to let the kids know who was boss.
As a service professional or consultant you are probably independent. You’re your own boss, own your own business and make your own rules. You may work from a home office or do a lot of teleconferencing. Maybe you’re not a suit-and-tie type of guy or a stockings-and-heels type of girl. But appearance leaves an impression that can make or break your sale.
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