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Should i give up?

by cjsparacino123
24 replies
So i started my new business, my market size is about 38,000 ive pitched about 30-40 people, i'm getting awfully close to closing a deal, i just need to provide testimonials, but should i throw in the towel? or should i give away my service for free for the first few customers to generate testimonials?

I also understand this is a commitment thing....
#give
  • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
    Originally Posted by cjsparacino123 View Post

    So i started my new business, my market size is about 38,000 ive pitched about 30-40 people, i'm getting awfully close to closing a deal, i just need to provide testimonials, but should i throw in the towel? or should i give away my service for free for the first few customers to generate testimonials?

    I also understand this is a commitment thing....
    If it's an either or thing I choose give away service for free to generate testimonials. Make sure you give fanatical customer service and over deliver. It would be extra powerful be able to tell a potential buyer an engaging client story or have the client tell it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dasilva Marketing
    You always want testimonials. People purchase from other people they feel close too.

    Think of it like this. You hear about a BRAND new EXOTIC car brand that you can afford. However, you havent heard a SINGLE review on it. Are you going to purchase? Chances are you are going to wait for reviews. People like to purchase what other people have tried and used before.

    Thats why in marketing campaigns (for practically anything) there is always someone portrayed as using the product or HAVE used the product.

    Its basic phycology. Also known as Social proof in our industry. Basically it works so well that one affiliate promo I was able to do generated over $40,000 in 48 hours because of the social proof on the sales page.

    You NEED social proof to sell (I'm talking big numbers here) any product you want to sell.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicheblogger75
    Originally Posted by cjsparacino123 View Post

    So i started my new business, my market size is about 38,000 ive pitched about 30-40 people, i'm getting awfully close to closing a deal, i just need to provide testimonials, but should i throw in the towel? or should i give away my service for free for the first few customers to generate testimonials?

    I also understand this is a commitment thing....
    I don't think you have to give away your service to generate testimonials. If you want to offer a discounted rate to the first few customers that would be a good idea, but giving the service away in exchange for testimonials could bias the person who is writing the testimonial.

    I know that if someone gave me a free product or service, I might be more inclined to leave a good testimonial even if the service was lacking. Generally, people will feel bad about leaving a bad review for something that they got for free. They will take the kindness of the vendor into consideration when writing their testimonial, and this will take away from their focus on the product.

    It is a good strategy if you just want to generate some positive testimonials, but you should want people to be as painfully honest as possible, especially in the beginning. This is how you will be able to improve upon your business.

    IMO, a true testimonial is one given by someone who has paid full price for the product because they have nothing else to take into consideration except the quality of the product.
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by nicheblogger75 View Post

      I don't think you have to give away your service to generate testimonials. If you want to offer a discounted rate to the first few customers that would be a good idea, but giving the service away in exchange for testimonials could bias the person who is writing the testimonial.

      I know that if someone gave me a free product or service, I might be more inclined to leave a good testimonial even if the service was lacking. Generally, people will feel bad about leaving a bad review for something that they got for free. They will take the kindness of the vendor into consideration when writing their testimonial, and this will take away from their focus on the product.

      It is a good strategy if you just want to generate some positive testimonials, but you should want people to be as painfully honest as possible, especially in the beginning. This is how you will be able to improve upon your business.

      IMO, a true testimonial is one given by someone who has paid full price for the product because they have nothing else to take into consideration except the quality of the product.
      The above is excellent advice in an ideal situation. If you can get paying customers to give good testimonials ... go for it. But most people have to start on a lower rung of the ladder. Even many fortune 500 companies introduce new products be giving free samples (ever been to Cosco). So, don't feel bad if you have to extend a few "freebies" to prime the pump, then you can work your way up to paying customers. If you give fanatical customer service and over deliver, it won't be lone before you get full price customer testimonials.
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      • Profile picture of the author The Cypher
        Originally Posted by The Niche Man View Post

        Even many fortune 500 companies introduce new products be giving free samples (ever been to Cosco).
        Except these companies have full Funnels set up after they give their samples, and have the resources to spend $X on getting new customers. They aren't giving out free samples in lieu of selling. You can't go to Costco or Sam's and get a sample and say, "You know, they aren't many reviews, so can I just take a box home to try it more?"

        Services and physical products, including food, are dealt with so differently. Offer to do a portion of the service for free if you have to... Give a discount. Just get paid for doing the whole thing.

        What about testimonials? Screw 'em. You need to hustle. Example...

        Customer: can I see some website designs you've done and some referrals?

        You: Listen, I can give you some website mockups and designs I've done, but what if the ones I pull out for you you don't like the layout, or maybe you just don't like the logo I didn't create. Or maybe I used your least favorite color... The thing is I want to make sure you're getting exactly what you want, so why don't you give me two days and I can get a mock up of your site done that's tailored to what you would want, fair enough?

        Customer: yes/no

        The point is, it doesn't matter what you're offering the point of getting people to pull out their wallets is to build a business and QUALIFY them. If you do 10 hours of work for people who didn't pay you a dime, what has that done for you?

        I've sold thousand dollar deals on the phone and I didn't have a website. I didn't have a brand. I didnt share case studies. I didnt have testimonials. I didn't have anything except for a solution to their problems and the positioning needed to sell.
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Do whatever is necessary to get your business going. Don't give up.

    Understand that new businesses often need some time to get traction and make their first sale or two.

    Steve


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  • Profile picture of the author Mrnace
    Yeah, give up.

    Because giving up creates massive success.

    Do what they said in the previous posts.

    Give a select for free services in return for a really good testimonial.

    Its the only way.
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  • Profile picture of the author cjsparacino123
    GREAT answers! Have to stay focused on my next step, which is getting the Social Proof, i think if i can show that i can deliver what im saying then i will be golden....

    Awesome guys i really appreciate the posititivty!

    But you really hit the nail on the head with the car example!!

    And since giving up wasn't mentioned, ill consider it not an option lol
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    • Profile picture of the author Dasilva Marketing
      Originally Posted by cjsparacino123 View Post

      GREAT answers! Have to stay focused on my next step, which is getting the Social Proof, i think if i can show that i can deliver what im saying then i will be golden....

      Awesome guys i really appreciate the posititivty!

      But you really hit the nail on the head with the car example!!

      And since giving up wasn't mentioned, ill consider it not an option lol
      Anytime my man.
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by cjsparacino123 View Post

      i think if i can show that i can deliver what im saying then i will be golden....
      Ah, actually you won't be "golden" until you ... over-deliver!

      When you merely deliver you're just being average or doing what's reasonably expected. (ho-hum).

      You won't find many people motivated to give good testimonials when you just deliver average.
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  • Profile picture of the author EPoltrack77
    you would be foolish to through in the towel!

    It's all about testing.

    Sure giving away a couple of copies in exchange for an honest testimonial is a sure thing to increase conversions.
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  • Profile picture of the author kakah
    Don't give up my friend

    Never, ever give up

    Keep trying trying and keep pushing

    You may need to give out your service or product for free for the first 5-10 people in order to get that all important testimonials.

    its critical to your long term success
    Good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author Bigpanda
      If you feel you're close to closing your first deal, then why even consider tossing in the towel in the first place? This kind of mindset will hold you back from success.

      My advice to you don't entertain negative thoughts and keep a positive outlook. Honestly who cares if it takes 100 rejections to get your first job, only you personally know the numbers, its not a contest.

      Once you land your first client just be sure to do your best work, offer additional bonuses that they did not expect and testimonials will come naturally and also referrals.

      After your first few jobs, don't be afraid to send a casual email asking the client if they were satisfied and if they would mind giving you a testimonial. I do this all of the time with great results.

      -BigPanda
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  • Profile picture of the author carlo_sim
    Never Ever Give Up!

    Keep on learning, even if you make mistakes.. get back up!

    Nobody won any fight by quitting!

    Surround yourself with positive people all the time!

    If you can't find any...

    Read Autobiographies!

    Keep on going, be patient.. love what you're doing...

    You can do it my friend!
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  • Profile picture of the author Miguelito203
    Originally Posted by cjsparacino123 View Post

    So i started my new business, my market size is about 38,000 ive pitched about 30-40 people, i'm getting awfully close to closing a deal, i just need to provide testimonials, but should i throw in the towel? or should i give away my service for free for the first few customers to generate testimonials?

    I also understand this is a commitment thing....
    You need to provide your service for free in order to generate some testimonials. You should also ask for honest feedback, so you can know what to improve upon before you start getting paying clients.

    Joey
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Don't throw in the towel. If someone is looking to hire you, do the job. And the truth is, you shouldn't have to offer your services for free - not even for a testimonial. Market and learn how to sell YOURSELF to people. Providing a service for free is like a marketing consultant meeting up to lunch with a potential client, and the client just *picking his brain* all day for knowledge.
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  • Profile picture of the author Minds Eye
    If you are considering offering your service for free, be very careful who you choose. Try to find someone who would be a circle of influence in your market. If it's only 38,000 people and you can get a well connected, trusted member of that circle to give you a testimonial, you may not have to hunt for clients ever again.
    In a small market like that it doesn't take much to make or break your reputation so choose wisely young Jedi.
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  • Profile picture of the author MarkDias27
    No. Don't give up And don't give the service for free either. Just do the right marketing. I was going through the same issue. But right marketing will get you to the correct path.

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  • Profile picture of the author Kabbas
    Giving up is NEVER the answer. I would definitely recommend giving out the service for free to 2-10 people. You should also heavily assist the people you give the service to, so that you would have a number of success stories, and that would make your propects more willing to buy your service, since your propects would think: "If John Doe can do it, i can too".

    I am actually surprised that you have not tried to create testimonials, since if you look at the successful internet bussiness companies, one of their big sticking points are their testimonials.

    - Kabbas
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  • Profile picture of the author richrowley
    Dont give up. Period. But I'd certainly give away a select part of your business so you can get a testimonial. However can you give away just a portion, like a trial? This way you can ask for a review/testimonial when that trial is over and then say that because they gave you a testimonial they can have a reduction on the full package?

    Win win for you perhaps?
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  • Profile picture of the author salegurus
    I love these "Don't Give Up" threads... Like any of the posters above actually gives a hoot whether you give up or not.
    They're all just being PC or blowing smoke, the reality is just by starting this thread you've already given up.....
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  • Profile picture of the author oppyeaunome
    Originally Posted by cjsparacino123 View Post

    So i started my new business, my market size is about 38,000 ive pitched about 30-40 people, i'm getting awfully close to closing a deal, i just need to provide testimonials, but should i throw in the towel? or should i give away my service for free for the first few customers to generate testimonials?

    I also understand this is a commitment thing....
    Internet marketing success is not something that will come easy and this is something that you have to understand. Listen make a plan with yourself that you will not quit until you make a sale. Write down this commitment to yourself.

    The problem I see a lot is too many people quit long before they even see success and if they had continued they would have seen success sooner rather than later.

    My advice stick with it you will make it.

    Peace

    Tre
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  • Profile picture of the author safrasolutions
    If you're close to sealing the deal with someone, that's proof alone your concept can work. Of course, now you just need to actually do so. Be active on social media. Try to contribute to your target customer with no expectations. Provide value and you'll see results.
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