**Inspector Success Tip #10. ** Video Testimonials.
(If you don’t have time to read the following, then watch this video. http://www.nachi.tv/episode67
No time to watch the video? Just email me, ben@nachi.tv, for the “10 Top Success Tips” and write “Success Tips” in the subject line.)
Testimonials are the highest form of selling your service. Testimonials are also being overlooked by most inspectors trying to sell their services. When you say good stuff about yourself - it could sound like bragging. When other people say good stuff about you and your services, then it’s PROOF. Testimonials are proof. But what type of testimonials are you using? There are essentially two types of testimonials - letter and video.
Video testimonials are what’s new. Letter testimonials are old and over. Do you have letter testimonials on your marketing, brochure, on your website? I know you do. And that’s pretty okay. It’s not the best though. Letter testimonials are old; they simply do not work anymore - particularly when you don’t actually list the entire name of the person who apparently spoke highly of you. “….Gromicko Inspections did a great job. I highly recommend Gromicko Inspections to anyone… signed B.G.” Uh! That’s stuff is over. Forget it. It’s old.
Here’s what’s new - what’s best - what’s NOT being used by your competition. Video testimonials. Video. Don’t do letter testimonials. No one reads! Studies actually show that 1 out of every 4 words on your website are actually read. You need video. Video on your website - right on the front page! Here’s how you do it. Look at your digital camera. Every camera has a setting that takes pictures and video. It’s easy. So that’s how you actually take the video.
Here’s how you get your client to give you the testimonial. Before the inspection begins… Say to your client something like… “When we finish the inspection, I’m going to ask you for something - a video testimonial. I’d like to take it with my camera here - just a few seconds about your home inspection. So - what I’m going to do right now is my best inspection - I’m going to do the best home inspection that I can do - My goal is to earn that testimonial. Okay?”
If you feel awkward about asking for video testimonial from your clients, then I suggest that it’s because your relationships with your clients are weak. If you feel that asking for a video testimonial at the end of the inspection is too soon or puts too much pressure on your client, then simply wait.
Wait until your client moves into their home - say 100 days after the inspection. Then call them up, pay them a visit, and ask, “How’s everything? How did I do?” If they like you, they’ll provide a testimonial. If they don’t like you, then that gives you the one-on-one opportunity (the upper-hand) to work to resolve the situation before it goes any further.
My suggestion is to get the testimonial whenever it is convenient for you and your client. At the end of the inspection… turn on your camera… Don’t worry about the audio or video quality. It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, it SHOULD look and sound rough. Because it’ll be more authentic looking on your website.
Video testimonials. No one is doing them. On your web page - put 10 videos, and when you’re talking with a potential client - say “Go to my website, and see for yourself. I’ve got a hundred testimonials, but I just put up a few…”
Having someone else speak highly of you - it’s the absolute **highest form of marketing that exists on the planet **- someone else speaking well about you and your service. When other people are speaking great stuff about your services, then you don’t have to work as hard selling yourself - because other people (your past clients) are doing it for you.
If you don’t have video testimonials on your website - you’re going to lose to someone who does.
http://www.nachi.tv/episode67
](http://www.nachi.tv/episode67)