hehehe ---NOT ME
this has been happening alot lately. DJs do a "Google search" with key phrases from their customer letters in "quotes", only to find 2 or 3 sites using these same letters in their own web pages.
This is EXACTLY why I don't trust "online testimonial pages" when they are sited on the same domain as the vendor (too easily faked).
For this reason, I resisted putting up customer letters (by scanning or otherwise) since if I think people are faking them, my potential customers might think the same way.
Enter CITY SEARCH (
www.citysearch.com)
currently the 3rd largest directory of its kind on the Internet (owned by Ticketmaster, Inc--not AOL as I originally thought)
I got myself a 'free listing' at CitySearch.com
It took about 3-4 months before they got around to calling me to verify my business info.
After the phone call, my listing went up in about 7 days.
I then proceeded to e-mail all of my most recent clients, asking them to post their comments 'verbatim' online. 8 of 12 have complied with my request, giving me an average Customer Service Score of 9.7
One of the 'accolades' was deleted on my request (a '10' from a fellow Wedding Vendor), as it was inappropriate to have a Vendor that I am doing business with to be making positive reviews--I think its called Conflict Of Interest. Leaving me with 7 excellent reviews, for parties done in the months of October, November, and December 2002.
When your score exceeds 7.9 or higher, CitySearch gives your business a "Best Of" designation, with a big Icon that distinguishes your business from the rest of the pack.
All of my potential customers are given a link to my "References Page at CitySearch.com":
http://sacramento.citysearch.com/profile/35697896/
since this program was initiated (about 8 weeks ago) my requests from customers to "audition" me have dropped to almost nil.....Its become alot easier to sell w/o a pre-sale meeting, because all potential clients see this "Consumer Report" on DJMC.
PS: alot of the "10" ratings were attained by throwing in some free "spin and pukes" at some November/December holiday parties. Some were attained because of my very talented offspring!
[ January 14, 2003, 12:29 PM: Message edited by: djmaine ]