One of the most effective ways to get new customers is to have old customers provide some kind of testimonial on how good or effective a product and service was. Even for myself I often try and go through customer comments and reviews on products before deciding what to get. For companies they often solicit clients for comments to post on places like their website as well. It got me thinking though. With how valuable a testimonial can be would you ever consider that just as good as giving the company money where you would expect some compensation for it?
It made me think as earlier this year I was looking for a particular service where a lot of people actually offered me the service at a discount. In return, they wanted me to specifically mention their company on some of my platforms as a way to get exposure. That’s pretty much the same thing as what a testimonial offers where when people see other real people making comments about a service people tend to trust it more. So like there with the value of it would you say they have to give you it for free in exchange to use your testimonial for commercial purposes as well? This is assuming they solicited for it too.
I would say usually I do it because I love the service or product so much where I want the organization to grow. But many times you have to wonder where if a business just gave you the service as is where it was simply the cheapest and most convenient for what you need would you just flat out treat it as a straight transaction too where giving out things like a testimonial should cost the company extra? Of course there will be all kinds of legalities and such too where technically it would be considered as a paid testimony and all. But one is giving a company a lot of money I guess you can say.
An interesting thought about my example too of people approaching me, I actually went with the person who seemed to genuinely just want to help. And funny enough it made me want to tell everyone about him without him even asking for it.