How to Ask for a Testimonial Effectively

With customers becoming increasingly aware and discerning about the products and services they purchase, gathering legitimate testimonials from satisfied customers has become one of the most effective tools for building trust and credibility in any business. Asking for a testimonial can be a tricky process – you don’t want to appear too “pushy” or “salesy,” but you also don’t want to miss out on valuable feedback from customers.

To ensure that you are asking for testimonials effectively, it is important to understand the best ways to approach customers and use each available communication channel for maximum impact. Email, SMS, social media, and even in-person interactions are all powerful ways to gather testimonials – as long as you are mindful of best practices.

How to ask for a testimonial? In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss who to ask for a testimonial, how to craft the perfect request, and the most effective ways to showcase the testimonials once you have them.

The importance of testimonials

The power of client testimonials is indisputable. Studies have shown that potential customers are more likely to purchase a product or service if they can observe the experiences of other purchasers. This phenomenon is known as “social proof” — meaning that people want to see evidence that other customers are happy with the products and services they are considering.

In addition to helping build credibility and trust among potential customers, testimonials can also play a major role in increasing conversion rates and improving SEO. By featuring customer experiences on your website and social media channels, you can increase engagement and trust among website visitors and search engine users. When done correctly, this has been shown to result in higher conversion rates as well as improved ranking on SERPs.

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When to ask for a testimonial

Reaching customers when they are most satisfied with your products and services is essential for obtaining useful and positive customer references. Consider asking customers for testimonials when:

• They have completed their purchase or received a service
• They have had time to experience the product or service
• They are talking about your brand on social media
• They cite their positive experience in an email, social media comment, or survey
• They have left a positive online review on a third-party review site
• You are sending out follow-up emails after a transaction

You should be consistent in asking customers for testimonials. Make it part of your customer service process, and use every opportunity to capture feedback from customers – turning success stories and positive feedback into testimonials.

Who to ask for a testimonial

As mentioned, you should target customers who have had outstandingly positive experiences with your products or services. Examples of such customers can be those who have been your loyal clients for a long time, those whose businesses enjoy a strong reputation in the industry, and those who have achieved remarkable success with the help of your products or services.

To expand your appeal and showcase the usefulness of your products/services to a larger group, gather feedback from customers who come from different backgrounds. This means reaching out to people across various industries, age groups, countries and other demographic groups. You’ll also want to highlight customers with different use cases, if applicable to your product or service. This will help you reach a broader audience by featuring a diverse mix of customers in your testimonials. Gathering feedback from both new and long-time customers will also give you a more complete understanding of the customer experience.

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Crafting the perfect request

Besides an outstandingly positive customer experience, the success of your testimonial request largely depends on how you write it. It should be polite, concise, and appealing enough to invite the recipient to write the testimonial. Personalization is essential: sending out generic, overly formal requests will likely result in fewer responses and lower-quality testimonials. Here are a few tips for crafting the perfect request:

1. Personalize the message: Taking some time to personalize your request can go a long way in getting favorable responses from customers. For instance, you can mention the customer by name, mention something specific about their business or their use of your product/service, or thank them for their loyalty.
2. Make it easy: Don’t make the customer think too much about what they need to write in their testimonial. Provide them with a few prompts (open-ended questions) or even a testimonial template that they can use as a starting point for their feedback. You can also include a sample testimonial from another customer to give them an idea of what you’re looking for.
3. Keep the tone professional yet friendly: Make sure your request is written in an amicable and professional manner. You don’t want to sound too robotic. Avoid using overly informal language that might make the customer feel uncomfortable while maintaining a professional demeanor.
4. Ask the right questions: Asking specific, strategic testimonial questions (like the ones directly below) will help you collect the most powerful testimonials.

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Convincing the client to give a testimonial

Showing how testimonials are beneficial for both parties can increase the likelihood of a customer giving one. Consider offering incentives, such as backlinks, promotional material to their business, gift cards, or even money off their next purchase in exchange for the testimonial. 

Demonstrating high levels of sincerity also goes a long way in creating a positive impression, So does offering the customer choice in how their testimonial is collected (e.g., text, audio or video testimonial). Even providing the option of a Twitter-length testimonial for those who may not have time to give a longer one can help get the customer on board.

How to ask for a testimonial via different channels

Similar to advertising, asking for testimonials should be done across a variety of communication channels. Each channel offers unique advantages and different approaches should be taken to ensure success in each respective medium.

Testimonial request email templates

Email is one of the most commonly used methods for asking for testimonials due to its affordability, accessibility, and convenience. As previously mentioned, your email should be concise and to the point while also being professional and friendly.

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Aside from introducing yourself and providing background information, your email should also include a brief explanation as to why you are asking for the testimonial, what it would mean for your business, any possible benefits the customer may receive for providing the testimonial, and a touch of personalization to make the customer feel appreciated. If you do not receive a response after the first contact, consider sending a follow-up email within the next few weeks to inquire again.

Here are some examples of testimonial request letters that you could email:

Asking for testimonials via SMS

Another popular channel for requesting testimonials is SMS (text messages). While it can be a fast and convenient way to reach customers, there are some challenges associated with this method. For one, SMS messages have to be brief and concise since customers only have so much time to read them. As such, you should make sure your message is clear and to the point. Additionally, customers may have privacy concerns when it comes to providing testimonials via SMS, so you should make sure to get their consent first before sending any messages. And since it’s tough to type out a detailed testimonial via text message, be sure to link to a testimonial form or leave your email.

Although it may be acceptable to send a follow-up message if you haven’t received a response after the initial request, be mindful of the frequency you are sending messages and ensure that your customers are not being spammed with requests.

Asking for testimonials via social media

Social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook offer unique opportunities for businesses to request testimonials from customers. When asking for a testimonial through social media, it is important to keep in mind the character limits and etiquette that come with each platform.

Twitter, for instance, could be better for a brief and straightforward direct message asking for a testimonial, while Instagram or Facebook may be better suited to commenting on a customer’s post about your product or service. You can also ask customers for permission to repurpose any positive comments or posts they make about your business on your website or other marketing materials and turn them into testimonials.

While social media can be a powerful platform for acquiring customer testimonials, it is also a space that allows you to directly address negative feedback. By quickly responding to negative comments with a sincere apology and an offer of help, you can show your customers that their feedback is valued and demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction.

Asking for testimonials in person

An in-person request(or video call request) is the most traditional way to ask for a testimonial. In some ways, this can be the most effective because it allows you to bring up the topic naturally during a conversation and the customer can provide real-time feedback with immediate clarification of any issues or concerns.

When asking for a testimonial in person, it is important to be mindful of the customer’s time and focus on the points that are most relevant to them and their experience. Also, it is helpful to note key points or even record the conversation (with permission) to ensure accuracy when writing up the testimonial.

Following up on testimonial requests

A large number of customers will forget to provide a testimonial once they’re asked for it, so follow-up is essential. Follow-up should be done respectfully and in a timely manner, taking care to avoid being too pushy. The most common methods of follow-up are email, phone calls, or in-person meetings.

When a customer agrees to provide a testimonial, be sure to express gratitude and provide any relevant information they may need (such as a link to your website or product page). Supplying them with some guidance and structure will help ensure that their testimonial is in line with your expectations. Many customers will ignore or decline the request, and in these cases, it is important to maintain a positive relationship with the customer. Do not take it personally and thank them for their time regardless.

Showcasing the testimonials

Figuring out the best way to display customer testimonials will help maximize their impact and ensure that potential customers are more likely to read them. Testimonials should be placed in high-traffic areas of the website, such as the homepage, landing pages, or product pages. Additionally, they can be used in marketing materials like brochures or flyers and on social media platforms to further amplify reach.

When it comes to format, testimonials can be presented in a variety of ways – from text and images to short video or audio clips. Text-based testimonials are often formatted as quotes, short stories, or reviews and these can be accompanied by customer photos for added credibility. Videos and audio clips are great ways to provide a more personal touch and give customers the freedom to share their experiences in their own words.

The process of collecting customer testimonials should be ongoing, allowing you to continually update and refresh your testimonials page. This will ensure that visitors are not met with the same set of testimonials every time they visit and will provide potential customers with a more diverse set of opinions and experiences.

Asking for referrals and asking for testimonials: How they’re related

You can, and should, ask for referrals and testimonials in similar situations. People who refer your brand to friends regularly are also great testimonial candidates, because they’re willing to share how great your brand is with others. And if someone gave a testimonial, it’s probably a given that they would recommend you to others directly, via a referral program. Both referrals and testimonials are powerful forms of word of mouth!

You should ask for testimonials and referrals from happy customers, who you’ve built strong customer relationships with This may include those customers who have left positive customer reviews or comments, those who have expressed how satisfied they are, those who have recently purchased, those who you’ve just accomplished a goal for, and those who have been your loyal customers the longest. 

Conclusion

In recent times, authentic customer testimonials have become one of the most powerful marketing tools for businesses. Asking for customer testimonials may seem like a daunting task, but with some careful planning and thoughtfulness, it can be done in a way that is both respectful and effective.

By providing customers with professional and personalized requests, reaching out in a variety of ways, and following up on requests in a timely manner, you’ll be well on your way to building a strong collection of customer testimonials for your business.