Creating Credibility Through Customer Testimonials

The sharing of positive customer feedback shows potential customers that they can trust you, and that you have a history of providing what you promise in your marketing materials, sales copy, and conversations. Its been proven that customer testimonials are an effective and trusted form of information about your brand, product or service. And in today’s socially plugged-in business environment a little positive word-of-mouth can go a long way!

So, how do you ask your happy customers and clients for a testimonial? How do you provide that little nudge for their endorsement? Consider the following approach and list of questions to choose from when asking for a testimonial.

1. Decide What You Are Asking For 

Prior to speaking to your clients decide what you’re asking for. Choose three options from the list below to assist your clients with providing their feedback.

• Are you satisfied with the result of hiring our service?
• How does our strategy and advice benefit your business?
• How did you benefit from working with the COMPANY NAME team?
• I really like COMPANY NAME because . . .” 
• What do you think of the work we do for you?
• What about the strategy and advice we share?
• What value do you get from us, and value added?
• Why did you chose to work with us and the results?
• Why our work is great?
• What specific key aspects or support you like the most in the duration of having our service?
• Would you recommend our services? If so, why?
• Describe why you feel that working with COMPANY NAME was successful.
• If a potential client was on the fence about whether to work with COMPANY NAME, what would you say to them?
• What do you love about working with us?
• If you were to recommend us to your colleagues, what would you say?
• After you started working my COMPANY NAME, did anything surprise you? What has pleased you the most about working with us?

2. Decide on the Channel(s) You Want Testimonials Published On

Once you’ve decided on the questions to guide testimonials decide where/how you would like them published.  Do want testimonials on your social media channels (example: LinkedIn), on your Search Return pages (example: Google My Business) or on your website. In some cases you may ask your clients to post on more than one social channel and you may have to provide directions on how to do so.

3. First Contact and Follow Up - The METHOD for Getting a Testimonial 

Start by asking your valued client by phone call, or in person. Follow up with an email request to “get the ball rolling!” A sample email request, to follow up your initial conversation, could look like this:

Dear Valued Client, 

Working with clients like you makes my business a great joy. Thank you for agreeing to provide a testimonial for our web and social sites. To help you get started, I’ve included a few questions, but please feel free to write whatever you like. [Include two to four questions, using the above list as a guide.] Thank you for your time and kind support. We value your business. Please let me know if there is anything further I can do for you. 

With best regards,

4. The Thank You

When your valued client shares a testimonial with you, be sure to send them a hand written thank you. It may seem old fashioned, but a note of appreciation to your clients is a sincere personal touch that means a lot!

Bottom Line: We do rely on the opinion and positive experiences of others when making purchases decisions. Testimonials on your web and social media channels about your business are one of the best tools to enhance your online reputation, give your business a welcome sheen of success and achieve positive results.