Episode 17: Referrals and Testimonials, with Michelle Blakely

Tom and Curtis welcome a bona fide expert to the podcast to discuss the importance of referrals and testimonials in growing a business — and how to do it well! Michelle Blakely, a small business coach and expert in referral marketing, shares her insights on the secrets to asking for referrals and testimonials, including making it easy for customers. Among the “secrets” she generously reveals is the importance of (and best practices for) expressing gratitude. It’s all about working the middle of the funnel...then flipping the funnel! The episode concludes with a discussion on the culture of testimonials and the importance of celebrating success. Learn more about Michelle and here training business at seejakeandjanetrain.com.Among the classes offered: Testimonials Acquired: https://seejakeandjanetrain.com/courses/testimonials-acquired/ Referral Marketing: https://seejakeandjanetrain.com/courses/referral-marketing/ Complimentary 20-Minute Call with Michelle: https://meetings.hubspot.com/info2033 Takeaways: Referrals and testimonials are the lifeblood of many businesses and should not be overlooked as a marketing strategy. Asking for referrals and testimonials should be made easy for customers, with clear instructions and links provided. Quality content, such as newsletters, can help keep businesses top of mind for customers and increase the likelihood of referrals. Don’t forget online reviews! (They help SEO, did you know?) Celebrating success and expressing gratitude to customers who provide referrals and testimonials can strengthen relationships and foster a culture of referrals in the overall business.