How to Use The Testamonials That You Collect

May
20
2010
by Tamara Suttle

Nothing puts potential clients and referral sources at ease as quickly as hearing from your colleagues and past clients  that you have been helpful to them.  That’s why it’s important to collect testamonials and to use them liberally. Here are some ways that I have effectively integrated testamonials into my marketing marketing efforts . . . .

  • I always offer to provide references to those considering attending my Annual Series of Private PractiImage of Multicultural Go-Aheadce from the Inside Out.  It’s a great way to show that my intentions are good i.e. I’m providing what I say I will provide.  It’s also a good way to let past participants brag on their own  successes and tell others what a terrific investment it was for their practices.
  • I pepper my handouts and fliers with testamonials.
  • I have used testamonials as the basis for an advertisement.
  • I have used written testamonials on each page of my counseling website.  (I have also seen other professionals actually use YouTube-type videos of testamonials.)
  • I also look for opportunities to include testamonials when I am writing proposals to present or teach at different institutions and organizations.  I may insert these into my cover letter or include a separate sheet with stats and comments gathered from previous presentations.

I’m sure that there are other effective ways to use the testamonials that you gather.  If you think of them, I hope you will leave them below.



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Getting Testimonials From Your Clients And Colleagues

May
17
2010
by Tamara Suttle

Unlike many professionals, those in mental health cannot ethically ask therapy clients / ex-clients for testamonials.  Nor can you use your client’s written expressions of gratitude without their permission.  However, there are other ways to ethically gather testamonials about your quality of work and your clients’ satisfaction.

Remember that you cannot ask your therapy clients for a testamonial. And, you cannot use your client’s actual words without their permission.

  • Always gather feedback when you present to your peers in educational setting – then paraphrase their comments;
  • Gather cheers (and jeers) when you offer psycho-educational workshops;
  • Collect clippings from the media (including print, video, and online sources) that include impressions of your work;
  • Consider asking for letters of reference from practice allies who know the caliber of your work;
  • If you have a web presence, and these days every private practitioner needs one, ask referral sources to write a brief statement for your website highlighting one of your strengths.

Check back in on Thursday and I’ll give you some ideas about how to use the comments that you collect.

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How To Build A Great Marketing Kit Series (9) – Client Testimonials

Aug
9
2009
by Tamara Suttle

Wordle of Marketing Kit Series

This is the ninth part of an 11 part series on How To Build A Great Marketing Kit.

Before you read further, you may want to read the introduction here.

Client testimonials are a key part of any marketing kit.  After all, these are the people who can speak with authority about your strengths (and weaknesses).  Their experiences can go a long way in supporting potential clients to initially consider working with you.  In transparent and ethical ways, you need to gather testimonials or other data in support of your effectiveness and clients’ satisfaction with your services.

This piece of your marketing kit may look like quotes or letters of reference.  If you opt for either of these, make sure that you have omitted or disguised all identifying information for your clients.

If you have been gathering data from your clients and want to use statistics to represent your clients’ experiences with you, your testimonials may look like statistics i.e. “Ninety-nine percent of Tamara’s clients say that they were satisfied with her services” and “Ninety-eight percent say they would return to use her services again if needed.”

When using statistics, it is critical that you have collected the data in an organized and consistent manner.  Don’t just fabricate numbers that sound good.  That could be considered unethical and false advertising.

Either way, you will want to put a human face on those testimonials.  Be ready to back them up with stories . . . about your clients’ presenting problems, how working with you was unique, and how your clients were better off for the time they spent with you.

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How To Build A Great Marketing Kit Series

Aug
1
2009
by Tamara Suttle

Wordle of Marketing Kit Series

This is the introduction to an 11 part series to help you
build a great marketing kit.

What do you need to take with you when you are marketing your practice to other professionals?

Take a few minutes right now to gather the items that you already have from the list above.  For now,  just take an inventory to see which ones are missing from your marketing kit.  Over the next few weeks, I’ll be talking to you in detail about the specifics of these 10 essential items – helping you create the ones you don’t have and, hopefully, helping you improve on the ones that are not presenting the professional image that you desire.

I hope you will drop me a note (by adding a comment below) to let me know if you have your marketing kit in order.

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