Categories
Business motivation Strategy

5 Exceptional Ways To Collect Testimonials From Customers

Summary: Testimonials are the best way to build trust among customers. But many entrepreneurs shy away from asking their customers to give feedback. Discover five ultimate ways to collect testimonials.

Everyone loves compliments. It is a gift that nobody in this entire world gets tired to receive. Not only they are free, but they are also valuable. It keeps on giving emotionally, mentally, and professionally too! Yes, you heard that right.

Quote someone as saying that your service or product was incomparable to the line of choices available in the market, or you helped them double their income and scale their business and your chances of getting more customers for your business increase.

In fact, according to a survey conducted by Bright Local, “92% of customers say that they read online reviews before purchasing a particular product.”

Many entrepreneurs often ask the best business coaches about the right way of asking their customers for testimonials because they feel so nervous that they avoid it altogether. Most often a great testimonial can help you get a lead or convert a potential customer into a loyal one.

So, if you are looking for not-so-expensive ways to promote your brand and increase its credibility, here are five ways in which you can collect a reservoir of testimonials starting today:

1. Check Your Facebook Reviews

If you are a startup, it means you must be having a business page on Facebook too! And Facebook is the first place where you should look for the reviews that your customers have given you. Facebook testimonials can be quite detailed and can highlight what your business does in an ideal way.  So, if the comment section is vacant, it is time to ask your customers for their testimonials.

Talk about what you do everywhere. Get into conversations with people and offer them solutions for their problems. You might have to step out of your comfort zone to ask for a testimonial after offering your product or stellar advice.

2. Ask the Right Questions

Would you recommend us to your friends and family? Did our products satisfy you?

If you want great testimonials then you have to ask creative questions. Questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no must be avoided at any cost. Instead, ask questions that require a bit of engaging explanation. For instance, you can ask your customers what are some reasons you would like to recommend us to your friends and family? Or How our products have changed your life?

The best business coach in India Dr. Vivek Bindra suggests that a customer wants a product that has a relative story attached to it. And while asking for a testimonial you should encourage them to share their journey.

3. Stay in Touch Throughout the Process

Most often startups send a feedback form to their clients at the end of their journey and try to pull testimonials out of them. But Dr. Vivek Bindra recommends staying in touch with your customers through their journey with you. Keep asking them what is working for them and what is not.

When you stay connected with them, you can have testimonials that show their experience at each stage of the process.  If you will wait until after you have finished serving them, they may not be able to remember the details accurately. So, it is important to capture the correct information at every stage.

4. Pull from Various Formats

Gone are the days, when the only way to get testimonials from your client was by sending them a feedback form. Today, thanks to so many platforms you can get creative while asking and showcasing your testimonials.

If a customer sends you a message on Instagram, take a screenshot and share it. Got an email from a client gushing about how his or her sales grew into a double? Save it. Just be clear with your clients that how important it is for you to know their experience and always tell them that you would like to share it. Always give them the option of excluding their name.

5. Never Stop at Just Three or Four

Would you love to see hundreds of testimonials from happy customers or would you rather see just a handful? Numbers are important. It shows that the products have been used by various customers and not just a few. This helps to build credibility, even if you don’t have long and elaborated testimonials.

Testimonials are pure love from your customers that also stand witness to the goodness that you offer through your products and services. The more the merrier. So, use the above ways that will help you to get testimonials from your clients.

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Categories
Finance

5 Key Things Entrepreneur Should Know Before Applying For A Small Business Loan!

In a report published by Economic Times, “the Indian economy is expected to be a $5 trillion economy by 2025 and the MSME sector is expected to play a very crucial role in this growth story.” The MSME sector in our country has been the backbone of the economy. It contributes around 30 percent to the GDP and employment generation.

With the government`s ‘Make in India’ initiative, this sector is set to play an important role in supporting domestic companies and foreign multinationals to set up manufacturing units in India. Till now, 83 startups have entered the elite Unicorn club which has made India the third largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China.

But not every startup joins the Unicorn club. Some struggle to sustain themselves due to the lack of funds. And for an entrepreneur, the constant lookout for sources of working capital is like a nightmare, especially for those who run a small and medium-sized enterprise (MSMEs) with limited assets or collateral, finding different ways for fundraising.

So, if you are an entrepreneur and want to take a loan from a bank or a non-banking financial company, here are 5 things to improve your chances of getting a business loan from a bank or a non-banking financial company:

1. Maintain a Healthy Credit Score

A credit score symbolizes the creditworthiness of a person or business. It is assessed based on the payment history of the individual or business. So, the personal credit score of a person or a business is collected from the multiple institutions that maintain the records of the payments. These records can significantly affect the business’s eligibility for a loan.

If you pay your EMIs regularly and on time then you will have a healthy credit score which indicates that you are financially disciplined and are unlikely to default on repayment. Although the credit score that is required to take a loan varies and depends on the lender, a credit score above 700 will enhance your credibility.

2. Maintain Adequate Cash Flow in the Business

When you apply for a small business loan, the financial lender will investigate your business cash flow (past and future projections). An adequate cash flow will determine if the size of the loan that you are seeking is appropriate. Your previous loan history and existing debts will also be analyzed to determine whether you will be able to pay the loan`s monthly installments without defaulting. To ensure your loan approval, maintain the adequate cash flow in the business.

3. Keep all the Documents Required for Loan Application

One of the most important steps is you keep all the necessary documents ready when applying for a business loan. Keeping all the documents ready and in place will streamline the process and will make things smooth for you as well as the lender.

The following is the list of documents for verification:

  • Identity proof
  • PAN card
  • Address proof
  • Proof of business
  • Business and personal bank statements (last six months)
  • Business and personal tax return records
  • Business’s financial statements
  • Business’s legal documents such as commercial lease, and franchise agreement.

4. Be Insured

Being an entrepreneur involves a lot of risks. Hence, personal or business insurance is a must so that the loan can be paid off in case of any unfortunate event. Your probability of getting your loan approved is directly related to the risks associated with you and your business. The less risky your business is, the higher the chances of your loan getting approved.

5. Know the Best Time to Apply for a Loan

Many entrepreneurs often waste their time contemplating the ideal time to apply for a loan. However, there is no best time to apply for a loan, as the time of applying has minimal effect on the chances of your loan getting approved. Many business owners believe that the best time to apply for a loan is when your company is in the need of finances.

Many startups have to close their operations due to a lack of funds. But with a business loan, you can ensure that your business sustains in the market. There are many government schemes as well that offer business loans at nominal interest charges. So keep the above-mentioned points into consideration when applying for a small business loan.

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