Without a doubt, one of my most important assets as a professional and businessman is my benchmark letters and my testimonies for my services; They do a better job to sell me than me.
Seriously, I challenge you to tell me you I don't want to get involved After taking a quick look at my third -party credibility Here on the unlimited state of mindFor my marketing company and my recommendations on LinkedIn (Update: I had to create a new LinkedIn profile after prohibiting me for a very stupid reason – Do you want to leave me a recommendation?)
Build an impressive third -party credibility body takes five things …
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Daring To ask your colleagues, your boss, friends or customers who have paid you money to write references. Honestly, it's annoying, and you need courage to ask for a reference, but it is really worth it. No own and do it!
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A good model; Most people do not know how to write a good reference letter. Easily go by sending an overview of the content you want their testimony to cover. Do not hesitate to steal the model I have below.
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Persistence is super important. Quite almost 100% of those you ask for a reference will say “yes”; However, very little will be really followed and writing and will send it to you quickly. On average, you will have to remind people three times to write a reference letter. One of my best reference letters came from a client that I had to recall nine times over several months.
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Photos – In the digital age, it is easier than ever to simulate testimonies, so that the authenticity indicators are important. The most effective is a miniature image of 200×200 pixels by the author of the testimony. If necessary, I will include their full name, title and link to their business.
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Reciprocity – Make it a win-win for the other part. Write them a testimony or a reference letter in return. If they drag their feet on your reference, write it first and send it to them.
Note that I have not included “hard work” as an essential ingredient in the construction of a third -party credibility body. The credibility of third parties is the hacking of life par excellence, and it is, by nature, a high lever effect. Drying work is not always necessary.
Request a reference letter occurs in two steps …
1. Reference request
Above all, this is a brief message where your goal is to make them accept to write a reference letter for you.
Hey ____,,
I thought I drop you a line and ask me if you could write me a reference letter for the ________ project
If you are open to this, I can provide a simple model / outline that will make it a breeze (I'm sure you can write excellent reference letters without model, but I find that my customers do them much faster with the model.)
Let me know and I will not fail to return the same.
They will respond in positive follow -up, following …
2. Details of the reference letter
In my reference letter, please strike as much of these chips as possible …:
- About you – Your professional experience.
- How did you find me.
- Any positive personal or professional result of our relationship – in particular unexpected positive results.
- My style of communication, my understanding of your goals, my solutions and the ease of taking care of me.
- The quality of my manufacture and my ability to work quickly to achieve your goals.
- Any positive result you have had in your business accordingly.
- If possible, mention specific figures (for example, an increase in revenues three times, brought a customer of $ 5,000, moved us in place No. 1 of Google, etc.) when describing the results.
- Specific Problems or pain points that I resolved.
- My rapid professionalism, advancing things quickly and precisely.
- Mention my range of expertise and knowledge in the areas that are useful to you.
- Any doubt or uncertainty that you had before you start working with me.
- How long we have worked together.
- Everything you want to mention.
This reference letter or testimony can be as short or as long as you wish.
If you have a LinkedIn account, please add a recommendation to my LinkedIn profile (I will not fail to return the favor); Otherwise, you can send it to me by e-mail.
Finally, I need your authorization to use your full name (if not, I will use your first name and the first initial of your last name) and a photo of you in the testimonies of my website. Can you provide a photo, or should I find one of you?
Let me know what success you have by refining this model of testimony request …
