When you need to get more clients for your high value services, you can easily use some proven methods.  

The most valuable method with the lowest associated cost is referral development. Referrals are trust-building statements which come from former clients or associates. Those people tell a positive story about their experiences or knowledge of you. 

Top 10 Words Used in Testimonials

• Efficient  
• Experienced  
• Friendly  
• Honest  
• Knowledgeable  
• Professional  
• Reliable  
• Resourceful  
• Strong Communicator  
• Well Connected

Approximately 430 testimonials about people and business which provide high-value services were analyzed to create this list.  

Testimonials open the doors for new income from new sources. Most of us believe in testimonials enough to begin forming trust. 

Each of these words is focused on the qualities or skills of the person, in addition to comments in the client’s story. None are about fees.

How To Use Testimonials

In addition to clients, your website can include comments spoken by associates and people who provide services to you. They work with others like you and have already compared you. Testimonials talk about your qualities, not the technical details of your special services. 

It’s about more than just a bunch of thumbs-up icons or stars. Your marketing takes time and repeated communications because your services are chosen carefully.

Presentations and proposals 

Grow your contact list with people who want to learn from your experiences. Illustrate those experiences through the involvement others have had with you and your team.

Training Opportunities 

Each of these provide technical information and the beginnings of a business relationship. 

• Accountants do it before tax season
• Home inspectors educate realtors in a group at a brokerages or one-to-one 
• Home builders help potential clients understand choices in design, construction, energy savings and more  
• Mediators can educate lawyers 

And many more…  

Bring those teaching moments to life by using good stories and comments told about you. The phrases used to describe you make those statements much more real. 

You have knowledge that people want to know. Use both facts and anecdotes to become memorable. 

Stories Travel Well

Some friends of ours were moving from Toronto to Vancouver and needed a realtor. 

We were driving down the street and saw that there was an open house, and saw this as a chance for us to meet some realtors. We wanted to find out who we might be able to trust.  

I talked to one realtor and mentioned that we had friends moving from Toronto. Adding that they had a very smart son, I asked if the realtor knew of any schools which were really good for gifted children. 

The realtor thought for a minute, and he said, “I’ll have to get my assistant to answer you.” We did not take his business card.  

I saw another realtor a bit later. I asked the same question, and the realtor paused and said: “Yes, I do. There’s one school over here and it’s got a pretty good reputation in the area. Then there’s this school over there, it’s really good, but it’s quite expensive. And there’s a third one, but I don’t know much about it.” 

We did take that realtor’s business card to pass along to our friends. 

That little story is easy to remember because it’s very understandable. It describes the realtor who knows their community and cares about people, 

There are stories about you that others can learn from; use those stories instead of technical explanations. 

You Will be Surprised By What People Say About You

To widen your influence, use this Gap Management specialty service: collecting stories and long testimonials. This is an important part of what our clients receive. 

Everyone who needs more clients should have a small library of stories, photos, pre-written emails and presentations ready to use. Those will illustrate their top ten words. 

We also provide ways for you to pass along those stories to people you want to influence. These anecdotes will be edited and prepared, ready to use: ranging from your website and social media, to networking conversations and presentations. 

If you want to find out how you can benefit from testimonials and stories, let’s have a 15-minute chat.

You will love to hear what people are saying about you. And others who need your expertise will benefit from hearing about you.