An interesting way to solicit testimonials?

In a business network to which I belong, a member has asked the question, "How do others perceive me?"

He lists a string of adjectives that others have applied to him and adds, "I consider these positive attributes. So why is no one buying from me?"

Over the past two months, the forum has received a stream of comments from other members, both affirming him as a worthy person and indicating what they understand his speciality to be. So he gets three benefits:

1. feedback on his profile
2. people take time to think about what he has to offer
3. they say positive things about him. Testimonials.

This week another member published an apology for having inadvertently upset other members, reminding people of his well-known good intentions and efforts to help others. The response was, predictably, a stream of positive comments (affirmations) as well as puzzled requests for details of the offence he claims to have caused.

The net result was the same as for the first member:

1. feedback on his profile
2. people take time to think about what he has to offer
3. they say positive things about him. Testimonials.

Both in their different ways were expanding their "Open" boxes in their respective Johari Windows. As you know, box no.1 is the "Open" or "Public" area -- what is known to oneself and also to everyone else. Box no.2 is the "Blind" area: stuff that is known to others but unknown to oneself (3 is Hidden and 4 is Unknown).

We can, and should, expand the Open box by soliciting feedback, and so reduce the Blind box. Member number one achieved that by asking directly for feedback. Member number two achieved the same result by apologising for some unspecified slight. You may consider that clever marketing.

What do you think?