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Questions About Testimonials
Hi Everyone,
Has anyone ever dealt with situations where you do a good job for a client and then ask for a testimonial, and they say you're their "secret weapon," and don't want to tell anyone about how you helped them?
I consulted with a client for a few hours and she said that her sales increased 300% during the month after I worked with her and she put my suggestions to work.
Needless to say, I was ecstatic. However, I'm running into more and more cases where people don't want to say what a great job you did for them too publicly because they know that a lot of their competitors will see it.
She sent me some very vanilla language which was essentially worthless, and she asked me not to link to her blog -- which is evidence of how what I suggested worked for her.
Ugh.
Then I've had other people say they'd be happy to provide a testimonials if I pay them. Say what?
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else is seeing similar things.
Thanks!
dM
Has anyone ever dealt with situations where you do a good job for a client and then ask for a testimonial, and they say you're their "secret weapon," and don't want to tell anyone about how you helped them?
I consulted with a client for a few hours and she said that her sales increased 300% during the month after I worked with her and she put my suggestions to work.
Needless to say, I was ecstatic. However, I'm running into more and more cases where people don't want to say what a great job you did for them too publicly because they know that a lot of their competitors will see it.
She sent me some very vanilla language which was essentially worthless, and she asked me not to link to her blog -- which is evidence of how what I suggested worked for her.
Ugh.
Then I've had other people say they'd be happy to provide a testimonials if I pay them. Say what?
Anyway, just wondering if anyone else is seeing similar things.
Thanks!
dM
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Robert Enriquez on -
I do SEO, and finding a good SEO is like finding a needle in a haystack. Most ppl dont want to tell everyone their secret weapon because they're afraid that they'll hire you.
I have had a few clients do that to me, but then I started asking for the recommendation, testimonial or linkback UPFRONT.
ALL say ...if you do a good job for me then I'll allow you to put a link on my footer or give a testimonial.
I haven't had one client who told me they wouldn't do that.
Also, setup a contract where you have to be exclusive to their company niche or company within a certain time period. For example, I worked with a mortgage company who wanted to be sure that I wasn't going to go to his competition after I completed my services.
We setup an exclusive or NDA where I was not allowed to work for the same type of niche in that state for 6months-1year AFTER my services were done with the client.
Set the expectations upfront as everyone will always say YEA YEA YEA or that's no big deal or I'll tell my whole family, friends, business partners, or tweet that you're the best. Of course you need to do a good job or they'll do the opposite.
There are 'some clients' that you cannot get a testimonial from, and it's all part of the business. I do alot of SEO to SEO consultation, and those SEOs don't want anyone to know that they needed help, and had to hire someone else. Online Reputation Management is a big one as most ppl do not want to disclose their past problems.
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