Creating a Customers list?

[Carlyle]

Hi

We sell our software to international clients.

I'm thinking of posting my customers list on the website. I understand I need to get approval from each customer if they can be included.

I need some advice on how to approach them, so they can't say no

I would like to give them some sort of reason why we would like to put them on, but I don't know what.

Well, obviously I believe a list of clients, some of them are well known international companies, might boost the sales.

Does anybody have any suggestions, experience in this matter?


Thank you

C

[lin robinson]

I've done somewhat similar things long, long ago.

One consideration: somebody being your client is a fact. Unless there is legal language in place somewhere preventing it there is no reason you can't mention the fact that you sell to them. (I know only USA law, not UK)

Of course legality doesn't matter if you piss off a client and lose them, so naturally you should get their blessing. I have a hard time seeing why they wouldn't want that, though.

Especially if your listing is a link to their site. You'd be approaching them not as "hey can I use your name to pimp myself" but more like, "I'd like to list some of my more valued and impressive clients' businesses and give you a free backlink."

[lin robinson]

BTW, an insane crook I once worked for did this thing where he got hold of some people from the local phone book and offered them honorary positions on his board of directors. Threw in a gift certificate or something in a few cases.

The people all had names identical to some of the most respected people in the industry. (An equivalent would be going through the directory and turning up somebody named Bill Gates)

So he had this impressive-looking, totally phony board listed on his letterhead.

[Carlyle]

I hope they won't mind... we are a micro company and some of our clients are a couple thousand employees companies, so the backlink is not a good argument for them.

I would like to write something different than just:
'... we would like to put your logo and name on our Customers list. Can we do it?...'

I don't want to sound to eager to have their name on my website, more like this is a 'general good thing to do'.

[lin robinson]

And of course, an honor for them.

If they don't have websites, even having your name out there is a good thing, I'd say.

I would word it along the lines of: in order to show that our customers include the cream of the crop we are posting a list of the best, coolest companies we deal with and your name was at the top of the list.

[Carlyle]

Great, thanx.

Strange how little things like this can postpone or even cancel putting up a customers list... which can perhaps lead to more sales. Simple and efficient.

Well, perhaps it's just me... more worried about getting a negative response than just asking...

Thanx

[Cashcorp]

Hmmm, try a few market research companies. They may have opt-in mailing lists available for your market-then you just pop out an email, with some good salescopy burned into it.