When evaluating a new supplier, what is your favorite resource available for assessing whether or not to use them?

Our reader poll today asks: When evaluating a new supplier, what is your favorite resource available for assessing whether or not to use them?

• Text-based website 14.44%
• Video explanations of their offerings 6.96%
• Hardcopy catalogs and marketing materials 6.95%
• Third-party review sites 40.64%
• Something else 31.01%

Pay attention to reviews. A hefty 41% of respondents said they assess new suppliers by looking at third-party reviews (and I’m betting the “something else” is reference checks or referrals). No matter how great you tell people you are, they’re more interested in hearing it from other people and not having it come from you. Be proactive about asking for reviews. Ask for testimonials on third-party sites. If someone is a big fan of your work, ask them to serve as a reference whenever you need one. Even offer to draft key bullet points you’d like them to emphasize. Have those points correspond to the points of differentiation you share when you’re selling. Sitting back and hoping people leave you reviews will leave you with no reviews (or only bad ones as people are motivated to share their anger publicly but rarely think about sharing their great experiences). Actively manage your external reputation where it matters.

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 240,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.