Guest Author: Jenny Meadows – Jenny’s website is MyCopyEditor.com
“Give me 10 minutes and I’ll teach you how to write a killer testimonial”
When someone asks you to write a testimonial for them, do you say, “Sure! Glad to! You really helped me a lot!” Then you turn away, thinking, “What can *I* say that anyone would want to read? Where do I start? Aargh!”
Well, here’s a formula that will have you replying, “Of course I will write a testimonial for you … I’ll have it for you in less than 10 minutes.”
Step 1
First, think about where you were (i.e., what situation you were in) before you bought this person’s book or used their services or whatever. Examples: “I was down to my last $100.” Or “I didn’t know anything about opt-in lists” or “I had a great idea for a book, but no knowledge of what my next steps should be.”
Step 2
Second, tell what you did next: “I worked with So-and-so,” or “I got help from Joe Blow,” or “I listened to Suzy Q’s audio book for authors.”
Step 3
Third, what happened then? “As a result, I made $2,000 my first week in business.” Or “After putting his tools to work, I added 10,000 people to my mailing list in just 30 days.” Or, “In a fortnight, I not only found a copyeditor, I found a publisher willing to pay an advance.”
Step 4
Finally, state where you are now: “I expect to gross $1.3 million this year, and $10 million a year by 2006.” Or, “As a result, I have sold 4,000% more product in this quarter than in the previous four quarters combined.” Or, “I’m looking forward to launching my first book next month.”
Now you weave these segments together in a way that’s readable. Here’s what the finished products look like:
Sample Testimonial 1
“I was down to my last $100. Then I worked with So-and-so, and as a result I made $2,000 my first week in business. This year, I expect to gross $1.3 million, and the forecast is for $10 million a year by 2006.”
Sample Testimonial 2
“I didn’t know anything about opt-in lists. Then I got help from Joe Blow. After putting his tools to work, I added 10,000 people to my mailing list in just 30 days. As a result, I have sold 4000% more product in this quarter than in the previous four quarters combined!”
Sample Testimonial 3
“I had a great idea for a book, but no knowledge of what my next steps should be. Then I listened to Suzy Q’s audio book for authors, and in a fortnight I not only found a copyeditor, I found a publisher willing to pay me an advance. I’m looking forward to launching my first book next month.”
10 Minute Testimonial Template
Need a template? Fill in these blanks:
I was ___________________________ (“there”/ in this situation)
I worked with/got help from ____________________________ (name of person you’re giving the testimonial for)
As a result, I _________________________________________ (tell what happened, what changed)
And now I’m __________________________________ (where you are now)
Simple, huh?
Well, don’t thank me. Thank David Garfinkel, who gave the info to Tom Parish, who passed it along to me, a woman who previously had a phobia of testimonials.
I’m off to write some long-overdue tributes!
Jenny Meadows
www.mycopyeditor.com
View some of the testimonials that Jenny Meadows has received. She has posted a few on her testimonials page on her website.
