1. BNI INSOMNIACS
Anishkaa S. Gehani presents
The Triumph of
Testimonials
Hi, Will…
Remember the 5
secrets? With the one
on being thankful?
Which one was that?
Remind me again, Jilly.
Well… It all started
when I wanted to
become a master
networker…
4. I’vedoneall that and more, but Istill feel
likeI haven’t reachedmynetworking
best. What am I missing?
Whatyou’remissing is the
king ofall thankyou
notes…
6. Here’s a testimonial I’ve
written, tell me what you
think!
To whomsoever it may concern
I am writing this letter as a persona reference for Mr. Will
Valo . I have known Will Valo for over ___ years and have
found him to be honest, reliable, hard working,
conscientious and courteous .
He’s a cool guy and has helped me a lot with support
through the yrs. He is a gem of a guy, and I would totally
recommend him to anybody looking for a friend in a
business partner .
I trust that the information provided will be of assistance
and will be happy to provide further information, if
required .
Best,
Jill Goodmile
7. Um, that’s a great template, Jilly. But it’s got
a couple of discrepencies…
To whomsoever it may concern
I am writing this letter as a persona reference for Mr. Will
Valo . I have known Will Valo for over ___ years and have
found him to be honest, reliable, hard working,
conscientious and courteous .
He’s a cool guy and has helped me a lot with support
through the yrs. He is a gem of a guy, and I would totally
recommend him to anybody looking for a friend in a
business partner .
I trust that the information provided will be of assistance
and will be happy to provide further information, if
required .
Best,
Jill Goodmile
8. Allow me to deploy the 5 Ss
Specific
• Your testimonial needs to have a good mix of what the
role of your service provider has been in the past years,
and in a more recent project you have worked on
together
Short
• Concise is beautiful. Keep it short, and to the point
Sizzling
• There needs to be some really compelling details about
the newest venture we have taken on together. It’s nice
to read good things about yourself from an employer!
Stamped
• A company seal makes the entire testimonial look
elegant and professional
Signed
• Finally, add your signature to the mix!
Will Valo,
Corporate Communications Manager and BNI Superstar,
P.L.L. Public Relations and Communications.
Will Valo began his journey as our Public Relations genius and
Corporate Trainer two years ago, and turned Oscorpe into a
wild success with his hard work and innovative ideas.
Oscorpe’s latest project, the Green Lantern Design for
autonomous flight needed funding, and Will worked as part of
our team to create a branding, production, and public relations
framework earning us governmental and non-governmental
funding on a tight schedule.
Will has also provided his continued expertise in
communications and networking to the team, and helped us
grow our interpersonal skills.
I would provide a glowing recommendation for Will Valo to one
and all, as his work is truly outstanding in every aspect.
Best,
Jill G
Jill Goodmile
OSCORPETechnological Solutions
9. Perfect! So, to keep up the
5 Ss of Testimonial writing,
one must eliminate the 5 Ls.
Long
• A lengthy testimonial with no true substance is not advisable.
• An ideal testimonial shouldn’t go over a single A4 sheet.
“Lame”
• A testimonial should be free of two things: clichés and
colloquialism!
Lazily Written
• Facts must always be right.
• Don’t use a template.
• It’s not a chore, so don’t treat it like one.
Lacking a Point
• If your testimonial doesn’t get a well-thought-out message
across, it’s failed!
• Make it personal, with real-life examples
Laconic
• While testimonials aren’t meant to be long, don’t shorten them
so much that they seem impersonal and unplanned.
But, now that you have a
testimonial, what do you do
with it?
10. Good question, Jilly! When I receive a
testimonial…
Company’s
Website
Company’s
Social Media
Corporate
brochure
Publicity
Campaign
Newsletter:
Internal and
Global
Wall of Fame
and Personal
Social Media
I Share it on my..
12. Gosh, Jilly! Testimonial writing is like saying
the magic words your ma taught you!
A testimonial is the greatest compliment and the
perfect note of thanks you can send to your
network.
An average of 2 testimonials a month will
give you a huge push in the right direction
And if you’re looking to up your points – the
testimonial writing is perfect!
16. It is not happy people who are
THANKFUL, it is THANKFUL people
who are happy!
A parting thought…
Notas do Editor
So why should we write testimonials? Writing a testimonial is a way of showing gratitude to the other member for the product/ service he has offered, while building your build image and bringing credibility.
Let me show you an example of a testimonial you would think is well written.
Sorry to burst your bubble but…
Here in the script it’s important to mention these:
A testimonial is different from a reference letter, as it is a guild of recognition for the company whose hardwork you have utilized
It’s important to refrain from template-writing, as it is impersonal and leaves larger room for mistakes
Formatting is key – full-stops should never have space before them, and commas should be used judiciously
It’s best to keep your testimonial very professional – I might be a cool guy, but for my testimonial, I’d rather be called “an expert professional” or “great communicator”, instead
Finally, your testimonial is worth its weight in gold if you ensure to add details of a project you recently worked together on, and give a little more details into my role in this
So, how do you correct it? Allow me to display the 5 L’s.. Specific.. Short.. Sizzling..Stamped..Signed
Here is a well written testimonial by Jill!
Make sure you incorporate these 5 S’s in your testimonials and avoid these 5 L’s.. Long.. Lame..Lazily Written..Lacking a point..Laconic!
But, what does Will do once he receives a testimonial? Will makes sure he shares it on his
Company’s Website
Company’s Social Media – Facebook, Linked In, Twitter
Corporate Brochure
Publicity Campaign
Newsletters – Internal & Global
Personal Social Media – Facebook, Twitter and Linked In
He also, frames it and put it on his wall of fame along with the other testimonials
Why should we write a testimonial? The question is why shouldn’t we? As a child we are always taught to say the magic word “Thank you” when someone gives us a present, or when someone does something that we appreciate. It’s the greatest way you could say these magic words to your network. An average of writing two testimonials not only makes you feel good but also, gives you a push in the right direction. Its also a way of going green. ;)
Here’s where you can talk about how easy it is to complete a project on a good note and then simply ask your contact for a recommendation/testimonial
Ever find yourself feeling resentful, overwhelmed, under appreciated, frustrated, and wishing people would stop doing something you don’t like, or start doing something you do? Ever feel like people aren’t valuing you, your time, your contribution, or your opinion highly enough?
Of course you do. Who doesn’t?!
Don’t assume the member is a mind reader, just be bold and ask for the testimonial you deserve, because its only going to give you more happiness.