Writing a testimonial for a business person gives them a very powerful marketing tool for their business.  As a business owner, if I stand up and say how wonderful Business in Heels is because every day we help women find the connections that lead to the growth of their businesses – well, what would you expect me to say?  But when someone else says it the meaning is multiplied by a factor of (insert big number here!)

So, how do you go about structuring a testimonial to have maximum effect?  The trick is to keep it simple, stupid.  Otherwise – no one will read it and you’ve wasted your time!

Start with the problem that needs a solution…

“Yesterday, it all went to Hell in a handbasket!  The photographer was booked, the caterer was booked, the speakers were booked and the crowd was locked in.  Then the venue called and told me last night’s storm damaged the conference room I had booked.  HELP!”

Introduce your Knight in Shining Armour…

“I put the call out and Maxine from Just Venues quickly responded.  She diligently listened to my problem and offered 3 similar venues close to the original.  Together, we quickly visited each one and she introduced me to the Event Coordinators so I could get a feel for their style.”

Wrap it up…

“Maxine’s professionalism, personalised service and calm manner eased my tension immediately.  I chose the venue and she took care of the rest by contacting the photographer, speakers, caterer and the attendees.  Thanks Maxine – couldn’t have done it without you.”

And put a bow on top…

“I feel very confident to recommend Maxine from Just Venues to help organise your next event.  She’s wonderful!”

That’s about 150 words that tells a short story with a beginning, a middle, an end, a damsel in distress and, most importantly – a hero!  Follow this recipe and you can’t go wrong.  

And remember, Christmas is the perfect time to give!  So why not give a properly crafted, effective testimonial?