There’s no shortage of advice on how to get more customers, more leads, and higher conversion rates.  But what about getting testimonials?  How can you do that without annoying your customers and making them feel like they’re being used as unpaid QA testers?

The answer is simple: You can’t unless you know the right way.  And that’s where this blog post comes in.  We’re going to show you the proven method that gets results, so you can start asking for customer testimonials the right way.

What You Need to Know Before You Ask for Testimonials

Before you begin asking your customers for testimonials, you need to know what you’re asking for.  You need to know precisely what you need, and you can’t just ask for whatever you want.

Customers don’t like it when you ask for testimonials.  They feel like it’s an unasked-for-service.  And it can come across as pushy or even intimidating.  Customers are busy.  They don’t want to think about why you need to get their opinion on your company.  You need to be able to ask for their opinion and do it in the right way.

The Right Way to Ask for Testimonials

The first step to asking for testimonials is to do a little research.  You can’t just ask and hope to get a testimonial.  You need to know what you’re asking for and be able to frame your request in such a way that it feels natural.

If you don’t know what you want, you’ll get what you don’t want.  What you want are customers who love your company.  People who love your company are the ones who’re going to give you a testimonial.

So, first, figure out who your customers are. – What products or services do they buy from you? – Where do they buy those products or services from? – What are their interests? – What are their problems?

Many customers need persuading to leave feedback. It takes time to write a review.

Why Is This the Right Time to Ask for Testimonials?

There’s a perfect time to ask for testimonials from your existing customers, and it’s now.  Now isn’t just the right time to ask for customer testimonials.  It’s a perfect time.  Why?  Because if you don’t ask for feedback now, you can spend too long worrying about when the right time is and lose the opportunity entirely.

For new customers, it’s wise for new customers to put a space in the customer journey when you ask for feedback.  The product or service is delivered, you check that there are no problems and then follow up by requesting a testimonial.

A little something to think about…

Every other week, I share a personal observation about business, marketing and the online world – and where it might lead.

If that sounds like your sort of thing, subscribe to Emma’s Insights.

It’s a good time to solve any problems that may have arisen during the sale.  Turning a bad experience into a good one is a great way to make a customer happy, and happy customers leave good feedback.

What You Should Include When Asking for Testimonials

Now that you know what you want and when to ask for it, it’s time to show your customers how much you want their feedback.  We’ll start with the most straightforward step: Don’t just ask.

When you ask your customers for testimonials, you tell them that you need their opinion.  But, of course, your customers don’t have to give you their opinion, so if you can find a way to reward them for their time, then you should.  A discount voucher or free giveaway is just a nice touch for pleasant feedback.

The Wrong Way to Ask for Testimonials

Don’t ask for testimonials in an email.  Instead, if you can, do it in person.  Then try to make it easy.  Create a feedback form on your website.  On the same page, have a few of your favourite testimonials you have already collected for your new customer to use as inspiration.

An even better approach is to persuade your customer to give you a review on video.  However glowing a written review is, some people may doubt its authenticity.  Video is a lot more difficult to argue with and provides convincing social proof.

A video testimonial from a happy customer is more powerful than a written review

Many people aren’t great writers, so a few suggestions can be helpful.

Conclusion

Customers love to give feedback, but they would much rather give a quick, easy-to-grasp, and helpful testimonial than a long and complicated one.

For customers, the best way to get testimonials is to offer to reward them for their feedback.

Keep this in mind next time you’re thinking about how to ask for testimonials, and you’re going to be just fine.

Further Reading

Testimonials

How To Use Your Phone To Make Online Video