Something to Benefit Everyone Doing the 9 x 12

[YoungRichDude]

After reading numerous marketing books, the one thing that they stressed upon was testimonials. I can see the 9 x 12 being a very successful business. I know with testimonials it would be even easier to pitch. With so many people on the forum having success with program, why not get every one to pitch in testimonials from business owners that are satisfied with the project. When you make a statement about your service it is only a CLAIM, but when people make testimonials about your service it is a FACT to the people watching. If we can get pictures with the business owners and their testimonial, video testimonials, etc I know that it would be easier to have successful future campaigns.

[YoungRichDude]

So I'm guessing no one can provide testimonials?

[Bouncer]

YoungRichDude, I got asked that yesterday actually lol. She said "can you send me some success stories because we're a small business and we're advertising with clipper magazine, we don't want to go in blind".

[Artee]

I'd love to provide some when I do get some, but I'm just starting :)

[Russ]

Your customers success has very little to do with what other people have experienced. Success has to do with the vehicle (clearly yours is better than the Clipper) and the offer. If her offer is successful in the Clipper it will be successful on your card too.

Business owners have to understand that if advertising provides an ROI then they should get the message out in every possible venue available. It's like the SEO azzholes that claim the yellow pages are dead. As if any real business owner would stop doing something if it provides an ROI.

You are probably not old enough to remember the ads - How To Make $4,000 Per Month From Your Home Computer (or something like that - this was when computers were new). That ad ran everywhere. It was in all of the big papers in magazines for years. And since it worked in the WSJ, I assume the guy didn't ask the NY Times for success stories so he wouldn't be flying blind. It just doesn't make any sense.

Sorry...I digressed there. You can confidently tell these people that if their ad is successful in the clipper, it will be successful on your card too. Why wouldn't it? All you need is confidence.

In fact...you should ask her for some success stories proving her offer is appealing to the consumers that receive it.

[Mister Natural]

Your customers success has very little to do with what other people have experienced. Success has to do with the vehicle (clearly yours is better than the Clipper) and the offer. If her offer is successful in the Clipper it will be successful on your card too.

You can confidently tell these people that if their ad is successful in the clipper, it will be successful on your card too. Why wouldn't it? All you need is confidence.

In fact...you should ask her for some success stories proving her offer is appealing to the consumers that receive it.


RUSS !

This is a BRILLIANT technique to spin for the bizz owners. A true golden nugget of wisdom. I'm still learning things from this forum.

And the sentence in RED.... another genius idea on how to qualify some of those knuckleheads for your card.

Good Stuff

[YoungRichDude]

Your customers success has very little to do with what other people have experienced. Success has to do with the vehicle (clearly yours is better than the Clipper) and the offer. If her offer is successful in the Clipper it will be successful on your card too.

Business owners have to understand that if advertising provides an ROI then they should get the message out in every possible venue available. It's like the SEO azzholes that claim the yellow pages are dead. As if any real business owner would stop doing something if it provides an ROI.


Sorry...I digressed there. You can confidently tell these people that if their ad is successful in the clipper, it will be successful on your card too. Why wouldn't it? All you need is confidence.

In fact...you should ask her for some success stories proving her offer is appealing to the consumers that receive it.


Thanks Russ! Your advice is definitely a very good way to look at it. I never really thought about looking at it that way. Got to love this forum and its jewels.

[Russ]

Thanks guys..

The truth is that most business owners won't ask you for sample/references/success stories IF you are confident in what you do. I don't mean false confidence...I mean real confidence. Which is not as simple as snapping your fingers but it's a heck of a lot easier if you actually focus on it and work at it.

[Bouncer]

Russ, dope! Ah I love it. And you're right, got to play your cards like you're winning no matter what.

[mojo]

In fact...you should ask her for some success stories proving her offer is appealing to the consumers that receive it.

Talk about leveling the playing field. Awesome rebuttal.

[mojo]

After reading numerous marketing books, the one thing that they stressed upon was testimonials. I can see the 9 x 12 being a very successful business. I know with testimonials it would be even easier to pitch. With so many people on the forum having success with program, why not get every one to pitch in testimonials from business owners that are satisfied with the project. When you make a statement about your service it is only a CLAIM, but when people make testimonials about your service it is a FACT to the people watching. If we can get pictures with the business owners and their testimonial, video testimonials, etc I know that it would be easier to have successful future campaigns.

Russ' answer provided a great rebuttal to those businesses who are actively advertising.

However I do believe the object of your post does have merit and I for one would love to see more testimonials that we can all leverage in our business.
The question although asked from prospects in a variety of ways still lead to one conclusion which is how has this postcard improved/increased orders, sales, calls, and foot traffic to a previous postcard client.

[Russ]

Russ' answer provided a great rebuttal to those businesses who are actively advertising.

However I do believe the object of your post does have merit and I for one would love to see more testimonials that we can all leverage in our business.
The question although asked from prospects in a variety of ways still lead to one conclusion which is how has this postcard improved/increased orders, sales, calls, and foot traffic to a previous postcard client.

Here's the thing...

Is this really going to help you?

Do you think if you are pitching a cupcake place in Podunk that quoting a testimonial of a cupcake place in Seattle will really help? Personally I think it just emphasizes the point that you haven't done anything locally - that you are an unknown entity.

Customers have been trained to ask these questions - trained by every advertising azzhole who walks through the door. They don't know what else to do besides ask you these questions. They'd look like idiots if they didn't have any questions so they revert to the familiar.

So what you do instead is head it off at the pass...

"We're new in town. I could blow smoke up your butt about some other cupcake place in another state. And the truth is that I can get those testimonials together if you really want me to. But honestly, what works in another state is probably not going to really assure you, is it? The thing is, I really can't guarantee you any specific result. Any more than the yellow pages can. What I can guarantee you is that your ad will be seen by a heck of a lot more people using my card then it will be buried in an envelope. And I can guarantee that I'll work with you to create the best possible offer so you stand the best possible chance of bringing a bunch of new people into the store.

Most people who ask me about testimonials are really more concerned with me than they are with the card - they want to make sure that I am not a flake. If that is the case here and you are worried about whether I am a flake or not then I've brought a copy of 3 business references with me. If you are really serious about giving this a try then I'll give you the references to call after you write the check, but before you sign it. This way you still have control but I know you are serious."

Just a thought...

To me 'foreign' testimonials do more harm than good.

Russ

[mojo]

Russ you're RIGHT... End of that discussion..xoxo:smile:

But for others who're reading, it's okay to consider the testimonial question because there are some people who really want to know what results
other advertisers have received with your service. Consumer personalities are not all the same. Some buy through warm and fuzzies and some hard data, etc.

[Russ]

Russ you're RIGHT... End of that discussion..xoxo:smile:

I have no axe to grind...and don't care if people agree with me or not. The reason I am banging my drum is that I know some people (not necessarily you) will use this as a procrastination device.

Having said that, I'll get out of your way so you can get back to it (procrastination) :)

[mgmason]

The thing is, I really can't guarantee you any specific result. Any more than the yellow pages can. What I can guarantee you is that your ad will be seen by a heck of a lot more people using my card then it will be buried in an envelope. And I can guarantee that I'll work with you to create the best possible offer so you stand the best possible chance of bringing a bunch of new people into the store.

Thanks Russ, I can feel the confidence in that statement and you make a great point that the owners don't know what else to ask.