Out Of Office

Do you give referrals and/ or testimonials? Do you have referrals and/ or testimonials?

I have some; I worked hard and as far as I’m concerned I earned the kind words that people have written, that I worked for/ with. They gave them because they felt they were deserved, isn’t that what getting or giving a referral or testimonial is all about?

Yes certainly, if you have completed a contract or piece of work for a client/ customer and the work was well received, ask if they would consider giving you a testimonial.

Referrals are a little different in that the people you worked for/ with will often give a referral to a colleague or friend, family member etc because they were so impressed with your product or service, speed of delivery etc. That they want to recommend you, it also makes them feel good, they have done a service for their friend/ family member etc by passing on such excellence, as well as being a beneficiary themselves.

But again that referral comes from a heartfelt belief that the person you are referring did you a really good turn, their level of customer service was second to none…You get the picture?!

So why would you ask for that recommendation, and then be cross because it was not volunteered, wasn’t forthcoming? It only has meaning surely when it is volunteered or perhaps willingly given might be a better way of expressing that.

Personally, if I asked for a referral/ testimonial and the party I asked was not eager to pass on that recommendation, I would be asking for genuine feed-back (which incidentally, should have been asked for at the end of the term of service).

I know that if my client/ customer was not eager to pass on a recommendation that I had some real work to do to correct whatever it was that they were not happy about, wouldn’t you?

The old adage about treating others as you would yourself like to be treated or expect to be treated stands good here – remember your client/ customer is your bread and butter – do to them as you would have done to yourself – there’s another one!

I could keep on coming up with relevant sayings; but it is important for small business to receive referrals and testimonials, if you are not getting them ask why!