Marketing small business using case studies

[mormess]

Here's hoping someone can help! We're in our second year of running a recording studio. We have a varied range of products - post production, music, training, etc. We've been lucky enough to bag a couple of very good clients, and obviously we'd like to shout about them. However, we've realised that we're not strong on marketing. I know that writing up case studies is a good idea, and collecting testimonials is also a good idea, which we have done, but the clients we want to shout about are very busy and hard to extract approval from for press releases, etc. Just wondering if anyone has experience of this. I don't want to write in detail about our relationship with these clients only to have them somehow disapprove of what I've written. Obviously I'm not going to make stuff up or say anything derogatory. Help!

[cascarelli]

Hi mormess

well, obviously I don't know your business, but from what you say I gather you already have testimonials etc that they've sent you? I'm assuming these weren't 'official' quotes but maybe complimentary comments in emails etc? That's certainly the type of thing that we collect as it's so much easier than trying to extract an 'official' reply from a lot of companies. If you've already got these quotes I wouldn't worry too much about using them. If it does concern you then why not send them a proof copy of whatever you're going to release and ask them if they have any comments. We've gone this route before. Some companies don't bother to read them whilst others make suggestions or amendments to the copy. At least you'll have given them the chance to view them before they go out.

As I said at the start, I don't know your business but, personally, I wouldn't write in too much detail about your relationship but maybe just keep it more general.

Not a lot of help I know, but good luck anyway!

[Oneeyedvic]

Personally (and this has worked for me in the past) telephone the person in the company who would normally write a testimonial.

Tell him that you would like a testimonial and ask him a few questions - eg, were you very happy with my work - yes / no. Did we come in at the costs we quoted etc etc

Then write your own testimonial based on the answers to the questions - ie:

I would like to thank x Company Ltd for coming in on time and on budget. We were delighted with their products blah blah blah.

Email it over to them and ask them to put it on their letterhead and send it back to you.

Hey presto, a roaring testimonial.

Also, you may consider using the services of a copywriter.

[mormess]

Thanks for the advice and sorry for the delay in replying! I'm mostly collecting these for our website. We recently had a training event trial and had a diary room where the participants gave feedback. Some great quotes and easy to ask them for permission then.

I just need to be more persistent in chasing people up!

[mohaunix]

Get it solution on website

http://tinyurl.com/36aywh

[Gyvybe]

Hi,
While I can see that you posted this a while ago, I believe the issues might still be there as self-marketing is an ever changing sector.

First of all, I was wondering if you considered starting a blog on your website? Even though you might not be able to publish all the details of the projects that you carried out, at least you will have a platform to showcase your services using things like short post with links to YouTube videos, songs, ads, etc that your studio has worked on.

Blog would also allow you to quote other media that has mentioned your recording studio, with links, screenshots, etc.

You can also try submitting your website to specialised and local business directories, i.e. http://www.bizwiki.co.uk/recording-studios.htm

Wishing you all the success,

G.