Testimonials on YOUR website?

Thanks for turning in again to <Geek Speak>. I appreciate all the questions and feedback from my “Interview with an iPhone” from last month. This month we are going to dive into the world of “Website Testimonials”. Word of mouth is one of the oldest and most effective forms of marketing. In the past it was limited to person-to-person communication. Today we live in an exciting and different world. The internet allows conversations to be shared and re-shared though your community and across the globe.
Offline Testimonials
When a client/customer shares with you how happy they are with your product or service and goes as far to write you a letter (or collection of letters and paragraphs) of thanks, it feels great! You might have a special file for those or even share them on a special wall at your business.
Why Should I put Testimonials on my Website?
The biggest reason is that it helps build the confidence of potential clients. Feeling comfortable with your company is a big part of why people will, or will not do business with your organization. A business can say a lot about their experience or qualifications, but a single (powerful) testimonial caries so much more weight. People believe other people more than they do businesses.
How do I get Testimonials from my clients?
Chances are, you already have some laying around the office. If you do, I recommend calling the client and thanking them again for their kind words and then ask them if it would be OK for you to post it on your web site. I strongly recommend that you contact the writer and ask for their permission to post it on your site. This gives you another chance to thank them for their kind words and receive permission to share.
How to get some more testimonials? The answer is easy. You ask.
While some of us feel uncomfortable asking people to endorse us, it is a widely accepted practice in the business world. When I was encouraged to begin doing this years ago by my brilliant wife, I was reluctant. Get over it. I did and I’ve had great results ~:-)
Ask for Testimonials on your site
Another way is to offer a feedback form on your web site. You can ask direct questions on your site and take the pieces for testimonials. For ideas you can go to our web site omOriginals.com and go to the contact section and look for our Feedback Form. And if you feel up to it you can leave us some feedback, we’d really appreciate it. As a bonus, we link to the web sites of clients in their testimonials.
How should I put Testimonials on my site?
After you have 4+ testimonials in hand it is time to get to work. It is good to have a page dedicated to testimonials, but over the years I’ve learned (from viewing lots of web stats) this page is often overlooked.
Tip: Place a single testimonial on your most popular pages. For some extra geek points you can have your web site randomly display different testimonials throughout your site. I’ve found that a single testimonial will more often get read and THEN people will click through to the testimonials page to read more. I’ve had numerous clients say, “I read your testimonials”. When I ask which one, they often say, “all of them! “
Do people trust online Testimonials?
According to the latest Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey of over 25,000 Internet consumers. Ninety percent or consumers surveyed noted that they trust recommendations from people they know (offline), while 70 percent trusted consumer opinions of strangers posted online.

We are all in this game together. I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences with testimonials on our web site.
omOriginals Marketing in Longview, WA. handles hundreds of local and national accounts, we are ready to help with any questions relating to anything marketing: web, design and planning. We are available at (360)575-9839 or online www.omOriginals.com

Vector Graphics International

Vector Graphics International is now open for business.
This site was created with a Screen Printing business in the US.  Over the years they’ve created tons of hi quality graphics.  These graphics are now available for individual purchase.  The library includes images in .JPG & EPS formats.   The .JPG will work great for word processing and the EPS files are design for and by professionals.  If you are looking for graphics for a project you should really check out this site.  This web site is powered by an eCommerce Shopping cart. Visitors can purchase graphics securely over SSL. :-)

http://VectorGraphicsInternational.com

Services Provided: eCommerce shopping cart, Web site, image downloads & Authorize.net integration.

Thank you to our Clients!

Thank you for working with us!

If I stop and count my blessings I have to add our wonderful clients to my long list. You keep me busy, you keep me learning and as we support each other good things are happening for us all.

Saying Thank You is so easy, yet sometimes we forget in all the everyday tasks we undertake to realize that without our clients we have no reason to walk in the door.

So let me say it again! THANK YOU! As you allow us to market toward your success, you are making omOriginals Marketing! a success as well. We couldn’t do it without you.

That being said I would like to ask you 3 questions:

• What can I do to help you succeed that we are not already doing?
• Do you need eClub cards or return envelopes? (We need a couple weeks notice to get them to you so the sooner you tell me the sooner we can produce)
• Depending on the services we provide to you:
  • eMail Marketing - Have you prepared your Coupons/Offers or eMail Marketing Messages? Did you have a special idea in mind for the holidays?
  • Web Site Maintenance - Do you have any web updates we need to get on my work calendar?

Please have your updates and changes to us by Monday November 22, 2010. If you have any questions please Contact Us today!

Promoting Your Web Site

Welcome to another edition of Geek Speak. Last month we helped motivate those without a professional web site with “Ten Reasons Why Your Businesses / Organization needs a web site.” For June let’s assume you just launched a new web site and you’d like to know what to do next to promote your web site.

 First off I congratulate you on your new website
Read more >>

Ten Reasons Why Your Business/Organization Needs a Web Site

Thanks for tuning in for the latest version of geek speak. This month is dedicated to those businesses who have been putting off the improvement or creation of a Web Site. If your business is still sitting on the fence, do I have an article for you!

Ten Reasons Why Your Businesses / Organization needs a web site.

Today, small and medium sized businesses need to proactively promote their business. Any single reason below should be a catalyst for having an effective web site. The following are the The Top 10 Reasons Your Business Needs A Website TODAY! I think you will find that some if not all of these can apply to your company.

1. Relatively Inexpensive.

Opening a second location can increase your exposure to potential customers. For a small fraction of the cost to open a new locale you can setup a custom web site from a professional company.

2. Genuine Resource.

If you invest in your web site by adding useful information you can make your site a valuable resource. For example, “how to articles” or answers to “frequently asked questions” can be a great service to visitors and as a bonus show your to be an expert in your field.

3. Up-to Date.

Those shiny new post cards and brochures look great and can be a powerful tool. But, wait! You’ve made a change in your offering and now it is out of date. With a good CMS (Content Management System) running your web site, you can quickly and easily update your site whenever info about your product/ services changes.

4. Tell A Friend.

What is a the biggest compliment that a customer can give you? Words are nice but telling a friend is by far the biggest way to say well done and thank you. But, chances are they still don’t have your brochure or business card. They can give someone your number to call, but sending them to your web site allows the potential client to learn so much more and in your own words.

5. Consumer Habits have Changed.

I recently read that 70% of consumers pre-qualify businesses online before making contact. The modern sales process has dramatically changed. Consumers are making decisions based on what they see online. Today’s consumers are much more informed before they ever make contact. Is your business giving the right info? Is it giving any at all?

6. Have an Online Presence (Existence).

If you don’t have a web site or have a web site that cannot be found, you essentially don’t exist to your potential customers. Your business may be just down the street from someone looking for your service, but when they do a web search and only see two of your competitors – you don’t exist.

7. Collect Valuable Information.

Visitors can interact with you in a non-confrontational way. When they fill our your feedback form or comment on your blog they can give you crucial business feedback. All of this feedback is documented digitally. Additionally, with the use of web site statistics you can review the viewing habits of your visitors as they come into your site, as they check our your business and where they go when first leave and how often they return to your site. Note: their personal info is not tracked simply by them clicking.

8. The Death of Yellow Pages.

Yellow pages used to be THE primary source to find business info. Now before people can find the book they they can “google” “Longview, WA Company Name” or “Longview, WA Product/Service.” A popular tool for the local area is CowlitzToday.com – with detailed info about each business. With the increasing popularity of smart phones many visitors now have the phone book of the future in their pocket.

9. Now Open 24-7, 365 Days a Year.

Consider the additional cost to staff your business 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Your web site will likely be open 99.9% percent of the time and rarely call in sick. Your web site can have all of the right answers to FAQs (frequently asked questions) and to questions that you’d like for them to ask. Consumers are increasingly becoming busier and busier every day and by providing information and services online you are able to attract the people who are simply just too busy to handle all their needs during their 9-5 workday while working around your 8-6 office hours.

10. Put your best foot forward.

A well-planned web site is a great well to instill confidence in prospective clients. Your web site gives you the opportunity to present the best and most complete image of your company. You are in control to set the tone of your company. Careful preparation of your “first impression” is essential.

Do it TODAY!

Whether you decide to hire a professional web development company like omOriginals to design and build your business or organizations website, or have the time and desire to build your own, your business shouldn’t go any longer without one!

It is time to catch up ensure your success. omOriginals offers free consultations, and can help you outline your web goals and needs efficiently. Call (360)575-9839 today to get started.

~ Oscar not only wrote this article, he also read it. Imagine that! This has inspired him and his company to begin a major 2 phase upgrade to their own web site found at omOriginals.com Stay tuned.