Thar’s Gold in Them Thar Testimonials!

September 6, 2011

Are you making it a practice to collect testimonials?

“Say what???”  Testimonials?  What are testimonials?

Testimonials are snippets of conversations that you’re probably having on a daily basis.  They’re pure gold and chances are you’re letting them slip though your fingers!

  • When a guest at your recent event raves about the work your organization is doing.
  • When, in the course of your phone call to a donor, thanking them for their gift, the donor relates a story about how your organization helped her mother.
  • When a mother calls your offices to tell you that her son’s English grade has gone from a D to a B+, thanks to the work your organization has been doing with him.
  • When a foundation funder sends a special note along with their grant check.

Testimonials attesting to your good works can come from a variety of sources, from donors, to clients served, to board members to staff members to volunteers to Facebook fans.

And a pithy, well-crafted testimonial can give life to all of your nonprofit marketing copy – from your website, to your appeal letters, to your monthly giving campaign, to your grant proposals, to your email communications, to your social media.

When you make it a habit to listen, you’ll find collecting testimonials coming second nature to you.

  • Make a practice of making regular thank you calls.  Spend just 30 minutes a day on the phone connecting with your donors.
  • Spend time “in the field.”  Whether you’re raising money for a human service agency or a museum, spend some time on a tour, listening to the questions.  Take a seat at the one of the tables at your soup kitchen
  • What are your Facebook supporters saying about you?
  • Could you conduct a contest to gather reviews on a site like Great Nonprofits?  Check out the phenomenal testimonials The Telling Room has gathered.

Use your imagination.  Compile a drawerful of testimonials for copywriting magic!

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