I firmly believe that customer testimonials are one of the most powerful marketing tools available to any business. Nothing says “success” like a customer willing to put into words how much what you offer worked for them!

To this end, I encourage every business to solicit testimonials from their customers on a regular basis. This can be done in several ways:

• comment area in a post-transaction questionnaire
• online survey
• direct request for a testimonial
• use an unsolicited thank you letter or e-mail

Also, don’t limit yourself to written testimonials. Audio recordings and/or videos of your customers touting your products and services are great additions to a website. Just make sure they are real - they should look natural, unrehearsed and enthusiastic!

Whether written, audio or vide. testimonials should be published on your website, brochures, marketing collateral, the destination for a QR code. Hey, be creative, use a short one as your welcome voicemail message!

Please be sure that you have permission from the person to use their kind words as a public testimonial. There are instances where an employee is not allowed to use their position in a company to endorse another business and you don't want to cause problems for someone who likes working with you.