I think a testimonial from a client is one of the most valuable tools to market yourself. When a prospect is on your website checking you out and comparing you to your competitor they will always read the About Me and at the very least skim through your testimonials to get a sense of what you are all about.
- A client testimonial can say things about you that you cannot say about yourself.
- A client testimonial can introduce benefits of working with you.
- A client testimonial can introduce a different area or service you offer.
- A client testimonial can answer the question “Why should I work with ______”
How do you ask for a testimonial?
My advice is to simply ask in person, by phone or email for a referral. If by phone or in person you can record the testimonial and email it back to them for confirmation. Also determine if you can use their full name or if the prefer initials.
When you receive an email from a client praising you for some aspect of your service such as “great job negotiating the final price. You saved us thousands!” Ask if you can use this as part of their testimonial.
Use a testimonial request system
You can set up a Question and Answer using services like Wufo, Mailchimp or Jotform and email your clients a fill in the blank questionnaire.
You can pay for online services using service like Get Five Stars, or if your are a Realtor check out Homethinking.com, AgentScoreboard.com, RealEstateRatingz.com or IncredibleAgents.com
In our case our Freshbooks online invoicing service has an option to request a review when the invoice has been emailed. Our clients like the professional approach and are more likely to provide a testimonial.
In our online world with the proliferation of Social Media your clients have more options than ever. You need to stand out and the best way to do that is to share glowing testimonials on your website, through your social media and on your print media.