This video must be viewed before Midnight Friday February 29, 2008. It can change your life – really!

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I’m often amused when I here a person comment that they have no testimonials for the endorsement of their business. The bottom line fact of why I find it amusing is that they are so darn easy to get, if you deliver a quality product or service to your clients and customers.

For many, many years the standard of practice was to ask for a written or typed formal letter, on letterhead, from the person. At one time this was effective and if providing the quality of product and service desired they were obtainable when requested. However, in todays world these types of testimonials are harder and harder to get… why? Well the reasons are many.

Especially in the corporate world more and more companies are reluctant to endorse anyone for anything. They have many fears about abuse of the endorsement, ligation from misuse and yes even liability from someone else using that endorsement and you not providing the same quality of service they received.

Time is another factor, people just don’t take the time to set down and write to other people much anymore, Oh sure you may talk them into sending you a few kind words in an email, if they don’t forget. I don’t know how many times I have had someone say, “Oh, I just never got around to doing that.”

Thus it would appear that getting endorsements from others is a thing of the past. Reality is nothing could be further from the truth. In fact it is easier and quicker to get testimonials from happy clients then ever before.

A while back I stumbled across having people call my voice mail and leave their comments about my service. This worked well and was received far better then waiting for them to give me something in writing. I even would hand them my cell phone right on the spot and have them leave the message.

Then I tried video taping the testimonials after a program. This worked, but not as well, I did obtain several very good ones. The biggest problem was people would get camera shy, didn’t think they looked right or could speak well enough.

Today with the advent of small hand held digital photo cameras, and cell phones it has become a breeze to get all the testimonials you could want, on the spot.

Joel Bauer, author of “How to persuade people, who don’t want to be persuaded” has refined this to an art. I suggest anyone serious about their businesses get all and anything Joel offers.

It is so easy and non intimidating to ask someone to say what they think, hold the camera up, hit the movie mode and capture the testimonial. I’ve included a sample one to show how easy it is.

These can be transcribed and used in written form, audio only or the most convincing as they are a live action, unrehearsed video.

There is no reason why after a program or you provide your business service you can’t capture what people think of you and your product.

A couple weeks ago I was with my friend Bob Rees and his wife at a seminar we were attending. A person came up to Bob and started raving about his, “Creating Customers for Life” book. Bob, interrupted the fan and said “can I capture that?” The gentleman gave Bob a terrific, from the heart testimonial on how helpful the book was to him and how it had increased his income. All because Bob was prepared, by having his camera ready on a moments notice and now he has a video testimonial showing not only the benefit of the book but the excitement expressed by the raving fan.

Nothing is more sincere and convincing as to have a real person, giving their real thoughts… you just can’t fake that, now can you?

There is no reason you can’t be doing this, day in and day out, all you have to do is take the action and go out and do it.

Some may say, but Rick, I’m just a car salesperson, I just paint houses, or run a hardware store, restaurant or any other routine business. I just don’t see that it would work for me.

Fact is, it will work not only for any business, but can be very beneficial to your bottom line. No matter what you do, others are always interested in what other people think of you and your business. The more you prove you offer quality services and products the more convinced a person will become that you are the one they should do business with and spend their money with, and that my friend is the point, it will affect your bottom line in positive profits.

So grab that digital camera take some action and get those video testimonials. Who knows one video could be worth more to you then an Oscar. – Rick

New Video Blog entry from Rick Allen, CH, CI, CSMC for Feb 15, 2008New Video blog entry for Feb 15, 2008