Charge higher prices easily thanks to positive reviews

René Höfinghoff shows self-employed people and entrepreneurs how to generate more inquiries and leads with the right content. He also helps them to be more convincing in sales talks and stand out from the competition. At a time when the market is flooded with offers, this is a valuable skill.

When and why did you start taking care of reviews?

Right at the beginning of my self-employment, I quickly realized that it wasn't enough to just perform well. Potential customers also want to see external endorsements. If it's just me talking about my work, there's no credibility. Reviews are the objective third party that creates trust - and without much effort. They are the objective voices that confirm my work.

How did you come across ProvenExpert?

I became aware of ProvenExpert via the KlickTip community, where it was always present. I was convinced that I could curate reviews like on my own landing page - structured, professional and with high visibility. Compared to Google or Trustpilot, ProvenExpert offers more control over the overall picture. The decision was therefore easy for me.

How do you generate reviews?

I ask for reviews after successful projects, but also in business networks. Even business friends who haven't hired me directly leave reviews when they refer clients to me and receive positive feedback. I also invite participants of webinars and workshops to leave reviews, even if they didn't become my clients directly.

The trick: I ask for specific, measurable feedback, not empty phrases. Instead of "Great collaboration", I ask: "What was your challenge? What did we achieve together?". I invite the evaluators to describe specifically what they do, what their expectations were and what they took away from the webinar or collaboration with me. This makes it clear that the content was valuable. I also create specific surveys for webinars or workshops. For clients who have worked directly with me, I simply invite them to leave their reviews.

What specific advantages do you see with ProvenExpert?

It's difficult to put into figures, but with 125 reviews on ProvenExpert and the highest award, I notice that I gain trust more quickly. Sales talks have become easier and shorter as a result. I can now also push through higher prices more easily. Higher expert status increases the desirability of prospective customers - that means more trust, more certainty of purchase. As a result, customers are more willing to pay higher prices so that I, as a provider, don't have to bargain too much with customers. This is an absolute advantage that collecting reviews gives me. Many people don't even see the potential behind positive reviews.

In general, I would see the following as my measurable successes:

Building trust before the first contact: Customers come into the conversation already convinced .

Higher prices thanks to expert status: Customers pay higher prices without discussion because reviews create trust and accelerate purchasing decisions .

Lead generation via email signature & co.: My ProvenExpert seal is present on all channels - from my LinkedIn page to the website .

Where exactly do you use your awards?

I use the seal in my email signature, on LinkedIn post photos and in event banners. It is also prominently displayed on my website. My aim is to receive the top award every year, because it signals consistency and quality.

What advice would you give to a company considering using ProvenExpert?

Think of the profile as a stand-alone website. It should communicate five points in five seconds: Who you are, who your offer is aimed at, what you offer, what sets you apart from others and what emotional problems or desires you solve with your product or service.

What would you say to someone who doesn't recognize the need for reviews?

Many people underestimate how purchasing decisions are made. They are emotional and rational. We make purchasing decisions on an emotional level and then we have to justify them on a rational level. This means that as a company, you first have to sell the benefits of your own product or service (emotional level). Subsequently, on the rational level, it must become clear that what you offer is a good thing for the customer. Reviews are the "proof of concept" that creates trust on both levels. In addition, reviews should be credible and numerous enough not to be dismissed as a courtesy review.

With his tips, René Höfinghoff offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs who want to strengthen their online presence through reviews. His approach of seeing reviews as an integral part of building a business shows how important it is to make customer testimonials visible and authentic. His advice to all companies: "Use ProvenExpert not just as a collection of reviews, but as a marketing tool. Every seal, every review is a salesperson working for you 24/7."