Testimonials Are Underrated

While I was looking at my website statistics I was surprised to see that my hits were up 43%. As I started to dig deep to understand the source of this new found traffic, I discovered something interesting. I was receiving hits from websites that I had testimonials on. For example I gave a testimonial to Michel Neray who posted it on his website www.essentialmessage.com. Honestly, I was so excited about his workbook that I emailed him a thank you. I was surprised and glad to see he posted it and added a link to my site. Just that one act added traffic to my website.

What is my point? You are leaving opportunity on the table by not soliciting testimonials and giving testimonials. If you make it a practice to get testimonials and add it to your page with a link to their website, you will not only improve your traffic but the traffic of the person who gave you the testimonial. Likewise if you do the same for someone you are happy with, you will improve both yours and their traffic. There are many lessons, but the main one is that it pays in many ways to show gratitude.

I say go out and be grateful and then tell someone about -- post it on your website or blog!

Anatomy of a Launch

The launch is underway. I have read about launches and witnessed launches but this is my first official launch. So far it has way exceeded my expectations. I wanted to share with you my strategy for the launch of my Business Marketing Gym and the results because not only might it help someone, but I think it has been an interesting experience.

After getting my concept together and putting my ideas on paper, my first step was to share the idea with a business partner. He gave me some great feedback, and we ended up in an amazing mastermind session. I totally reworked the project. He suggested to have a "soft launch" with some of my key clients and contacts. Basically run it up the flag pole and see how it goes. I made a list of 6 individuals that I trusted and felt would add value to the process. I sent out an cryptic email and invited each of them to meet with me to hear my idea. In the email I said I considered them part of my inner circle and wanted them to be part of a great project I was putting together. Within two days of the email, I had five appointments.

As of this date, I have had two appointments. The first inner circle member signed up on the spot. The second one needed time to process and was positive about what he saw.

Next I have planned a meeting of the people who chose to become part of my Inner Circle or Charter Members of the Business Marketing Gym. There we will go over strategies for the full launch as well as implementation.

I have also scheduled three introductory sessions. This is getting very exciting. I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Why am I so amazed?

It has been a good week. There have been a lot of reasons for this. The main reason is because I have been doing what I tell my clients to do, consistently behave. After four steady weeks of good marketing behavior it is finally paying off.



The next step -- to continue behaving. It would be really easy to sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labor. The truth is there is still more work to be done. Just like planting a crop, the job is not done at the harvest. The soil needs to be taken care of afterwords. So to in marketing. As I continue to care for my clients, plan for my meetings and seminars, I must still cultivate. For without cultivation, there is no future harvest.

Know your audience

I have the privilege of giving a 10 minute presentation next week to a networking group I just joined. I honestly was not sure what to present. My business is very diverse. After talking with a couple of colleagues I decided to take an informal survey of the group to see what their biggest marketing challenge is. I am already getting responses. The good news is now I can try to tailor my presentation to the needs of the group.

Lesson learned: Know your audience, take a survey and give the results in your next presentation.

Planting seeds . . .

I sometimes find myself frustrated with the "quick fix" "get rich quick" schemes you hear over and over. People go in with their eyes glazed over with visions of money and fame. Within a short time they are disillusioned. Only a few will make it in those programs. The rest struggle and end up losing money.

I do believe you can make a lot of money, and you can make it as quickly as you want. However, I believe it takes a lot of work, a behavioral plan of action and a great shift in your thinking.

For example: When you first start out in the career as a sales professional, you find yourself face to face with a phone and the dreaded cold call. Yet if you keep your eyes on the goal and stay focused on the task, that "behavior" is a short lived behavior. Why? Because the cold calls are little seeds you plant along the your path. Once the seed is planted you start to cultivate, fertilize and nurture those lovely seeds until one day it turns into a sale. After a while you get better at planting, you learn what fertile soil looks like and the harvest is sooner than before. But you have to plant the seeds. You have to do the behaviors.

Jim Rohn said it best: "Either get good at planting in the spring or become very good at begging in the fall."

Enjoy the harvest!!