How to Get Testimonials from the Rich and Famous

Your target audience of web visitors or book buyers need a good reason to buy. More than any other copy, testimonials sell books. Reading testimonials from peers and famous people they recognize and trust, they accept your book. On your web site your benefit loaded testimonials make your "lookie-loos" become buyers!

Testimonials work harder than other promotional words, so be sure to start collecting them early.

Your Book's Back Cover Testimonials

Here, you need three kinds of testimonials: one or two from a celebrity or leader in your field, and the others from the man or woman on the street who needs what you have--your target audience thrilled readers. These testimonials are the most important thing to include on your book's back cover; better than benefits, better than your bio, because your prospective buyers trust your book more when others recommend it.

How to Approach your Book Reviewers

1. Start collecting testimonials before you finish your book.The turnaround time can be weeks.

2. Know your audience won't read the whole book because they are busy. Make it easy for your chosen reviewers to respond. In your first email request send only your tell and sell and a chapter and ask for feedback.

3. Follow up with an email asking for the testimonial and include a list of your top benefits so they don't have to dream up copy.

4. Always state the date you need the testimonial giving them a week or so to do that.

5. Include only testimonials on your second book's back cover and know these sell better than even a list of benefits.

Collect many more testimonials each time you email or meet someone interested in your topic. Put these in your front pages of your book.

How to Get Web Copy Testimonials

Without good sales copy on your Web site for each product or service, you won't sell much. Email your savvy web potential reviewers a list of benefits and statements to help them create a powerful testimonial. Not all testimonials are equal. Ask your audience to keep them short with the reasons they love your service or product.

Preparing for your Testimonial Request

Write a list of seven benefits and seven features. Include these in your email note for your review. Benefits are outcomes your book buyer gets after using your service or reading your book. They include more money, better relationships, better health and better life's work. Features explain what's in the book, such as pictures, stories, or how-to's.

Create a Testimonial folder in Word. Entitle, date, and save testimonials here. Keep them for you web site to always have fresh kind words from your audience. Create files for book testimonials, workshop testimonials, web site testimonials and service ones. Organizing your files and folders makes it much faster to retrieve these gems when you need them to build business and book sales.

Tip: Once you get the testimonial, edit it so it serves you better. Then ask permission for the revision.

One professional speaker and author I coached wrote a book on compassionate communication. Her testimonials included one from a convict! Not exactly the man on the street, but certainly a captive reader.

Contact www.elderrage.com to find out more about Jacqueline Marcell, author of Elder Rage, who took eight months to get forty testimonials from celebrities like Regis Philbin. It was worth the effort, because she made the cover of the www.aarp.org newsletter that goes out to over 35 million readers. And in www.thirdage.com, it notes in the blog that her book made "Book of the Month" club.

Praise from others, especially recognized names, tells the reader that your book is worthy of their investment. Include testimonials in every marketing piece you do: back cover, flyers, press releases, web pages, and your ezine. So, you're not famous! Ask for the testimonials anyway. People in higher places want to help you become successful.

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