How To Build Your ‘TESTIMONIAL BLOG’ – And Skyrocket Your Profits Effortlessly!

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"How To Build Your 'TESTIMONIAL BLOG'
- And Skyrocket Your Profits Effortlessly!"
by Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian
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If you know how to blog, already sell a product or service,
and have customers or clients, you have all the ingredients
to set up an ultra-powerful system to convert a mind-boggling
fraction of your prospects into customers - without lifting a
finger.

Think I'm pulling your leg? Well, I'm not. This short how-to
guide will show you exactly how to tap into a primitive human
instinct that guides everybody - including your prospective
buyers - and use it to position you, your business and your
product or service as their best choice.

I'm talking about the immensely powerful factor called 'Social
Proof'.

In a book based on groundbreaking research, Dr.Robert Cialdini
revealed the power of the 'herd mentality' in marketing to a
crowd. It is an automatic, instinctive reaction of animals
(and humans) to follow a crowd - because, in the majority of
cases, it is protective, beneficial, and can even determine
survival.

That's why we gather in communities, seek opinions and
feedback, are influenced by peer pressure. Going with the
majority opinion means you don't need to research every single
decision you make every day - and without this support system,
life would be extremely complex and stressful.

But how is this relevant to marketing your business with a
blog?

Simple. The highest form of social proof a potential buyer is
looking for is validation of your product or service by peers.

* You want to know what your friends think about a movie
- before going to see it.

* You ask your colleagues about the food
- before eating at a new restaurant.

* You talk with employees and staff
- before thinking about working at a new firm.

By offering an easy way for potential buyers to discover the
great things about your business and what you offer, you've
short-circuited the process and can get a hesitating prospect
to make a buying decision almost instantly.

How to do it? Use your blog.

There are 4 steps to the process:

* Set up your blog to allow comments and feedback from
visitors

* Start discussions about various facets of your business

* Invite clients and customers to participate in the
interaction

* Steer the conversation to your strengths - and showcase it
for your prospects

The hardest part is getting your clients and customers to post
to your blog. Be proactive about it. Invite them to share
their thoughts and opinions about your product. Ask them to
write about their experiences doing business with you.

- What did they like most?
- What did they find most useful?
- How did your product impact their life, make it better?

On your 'testimonial blog', lead the discussion to specific
topics. Post a short note and invite comments from your
clients. When visitors to the blog read the exchanges, they
get priceless insight into your company's culture and values -
and that's practically impossible to share in any other way.

But simply putting up a 'testimonial blog' and wishing that
your clients will flock there to post messages just won't
work. You need to offer them an incentive.

You may post special offers on the blog frequently, so clients
will keep coming back. You may offer discounts to customers
who regularly leave feedback or post comments. You could give
away gifts and coupons in exchange for their suggestions.
Give them a place in the spotlight by featuring their success
story in your newsletter or promotional material.

Get creative. Put yourself in your customer's shoes and think
about what might make them excited about posting to your blog.

Be careful, however, not to cross the line where you are
perceived as offering a 'bribe' in exchange for
testimonials. Your role should be a facilitator of
discussion about your product and service, and should not try
and manipulate the nature of the feedback itself.

If you give great quality to your clients, that will become
obvious in the conversation on your blog. But if you are not
offering value, beware - this ultra-powerful strategy could
turn against you and become deadly to your business.

Social proof is a double-edged sword. Grab it by the handle,
and you'll have more business than you can manage!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr.Mani Sivasubramanian is an expert at using blogs as a
powerful marketing medium and is author of 'Blog Profit
Ideas Exposed' - www.EzineMarketingCenter.com/blogbook

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'Whatever the mind can conceive and believe... it can achieve.'
Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich

To your success,

Frank Bauer

Owner of More4you.ws & Add2it.com