How to get more testimonials out of your happy customers

When it comes to customer testimonials, you can't have enough.If you have happy, satisfied customers, you should be leveraging their feedback as much as possible.Why? Because they're an important part of your overall marketing strategy. They help you validate your business and build trust with potential customers.But asking for a testimonial can sometimes be a nerve-wracking experience.You might worry that you're asking too soon, that you've asked too many times, or that your customers won't have anything nice to say.So how do you get more testimonials out of your happy customers? In this blog, we give you our eight best tips. Read on to find out!

The importance of customer testimonials

A customer testimonial is any kind of statement that a customer makes about your company or products. They're different from reviews because they are usually personal statements rather than objective evaluations of a product or service.Customer testimonials are powerful because they are a way to show potential customers that you have real people who have been happy with your business — and if someone trusts you enough to say something good about you, then other customers might trust you too.In fact, customer testimonials reassure 88% of consumers just as much as recommendations from friends or family.Additionally, they can and should be used as a marketing tool because 97% of B2B customers have described customer testimonials as the most reliable type of content.However, even with the clear benefits and importance of customer testimonials, a lot of companies still don't have a solid strategy in place to get as many as possible.

What are the mistakes companies make with getting testimonials?

Getting testimonials is not always easy. Most people are busy, so if you don't ask them the right way, they might say no.Here are some of the most common mistakes companies make when trying to get them:

1. Not asking for testimonials at all

This is a big one because it's easy to think, "Why should I ask my clients for testimonials? They're busy and they don't want to do it!"You might be afraid of looking like you're begging for them, but the truth is, if you don’t ask for reviews at all, you’re missing out on tons of potential positive feedback that could help boost your reputation and influence others to trust and buy from you.If you have a product or service that people are happy with and want to tell others about, then why wouldn't you ask for one? And why wouldn't your customers be happy to give them?

2. Not having a clear call-to-action

Another common mistake we see is when companies use vague language when asking for a testimonial. The fact of the matter is, if you don't tell people what you want them to do, they won't do it!So, if you want customers to provide you with testimonials, then you need to be clear about what you want them to do next (and where).Don't just say "Thank you!" or "Please leave us a comment!" Instead, use something like this: "Would you please take a moment to tell us about your experience in (chosen platform) ? We appreciate your feedback!". You can include this on your website and in any emails that you send out to customers.

3. Not following up with clients

You've got a great client, and they're happy with your product or service, but you're not following up to get their testimonial. This is a huge mistake.Here's what happens when you don't follow up with clients:

• You lose the opportunity to get more testimonials.
• You lose the opportunity to grow your business.

It's really that simple.On the other hand, you might think that once you’ve asked a client for a testimonial, they’re going to be more than happy to give it to you. But sometimes, it takes some follow-up to get a testimonial from them.It’s not uncommon for customers to forget about their promise to give you a testimonial or even just take too long to get back to you. If you don’t follow up with them, the likelihood of getting their feedback drops significantly.

4. Not asking for specific information

A lot of companies make the mistake of simply asking for a rating — on a scale from 1 to 5 stars — and leave it at that. While this might seem to get the job done, it doesn’t give you much to work with if you want to create more personalised messages for your audience.Remember that you want an actual testimonial that will help tell your story in an engaging way. Pick a few things you want to know — like what was their favourite part of the experience or how much they would recommend it to a friend — and ask for those details specifically.

5. Not making it easy for your customers

Whatever you do, don't make your customers jump through hoops to leave some feedback!Simple. If you want to get more testimonials, you need to make it as easy as possible for your happy customers to provide them.Include clear instructions, links, and templates, and let them know that there's no pressure on them.

8 tips for getting more testimonials

Testimonials are one of the most effective ways to grow your business and convert prospects into customers.You can use testimonials to improve your SEO, boost sales, and increase your authority in your industry. But what many small business owners don't realize is that getting more testimonials doesn't have to be difficult — it just takes a little planning.Here are some tips for getting more testimonials from your happy customers:

1. Be proactive about asking for testimonials

We've said this before, and we'll say it again — the best way to get more testimonials is to ask for them. Don’t wait for them to come out of the woodwork on their own.Instead, actively seek out customers who have had positive experiences with your company and ask if they’d be willing to share their experiences with others.Being proactive about asking for testimonials includes following up with customers and providing them with the right tools to leave feedback.Also, if a customer emails or calls with problems, fix them first — then ask for a testimonial! This way, you'll get an honest response and know that they're happy with your service.

2. Encourage positive feedback on social media channels

If you're using social media to market your business, you should make sure that you have a way for people to give positive feedback and reviews directly on your profiles.When you do receive positive feedback, be sure to thank the customer. You can repost their comment, picture or video to your profile to encourage others to do the same!Another way you can encourage positive feedback on social media channels is by collaborating with influencers, but there's only one right way to do this. Remember, it's not an advertisement, but you can give them your product or service for free in exchange for a totally honest testimonial.This way, their message will reach more people — including potential new customers who will see what others are saying about your company and want to check out what makes it so great!

3. Offer customers an incentive to provide a testimonial

It's a good idea to offer customers an incentive for providing a testimonial.This could be anything from a discount on their next purchase or service to extra perks like more frequent deliveries or early access to new products.A great example can be seen on Shein, the online fashion site, which encourages customers to leave reviews on each product by offering them points that can be used to spend on more of their products. This way, the brand gets tons of user-generated content, feedback, and engagement in return.It's important that whatever you offer to be worthwhile and not too expensive for you. Be creative and, most importantly, strategic!

4. Always respond to feedback

You should be responding to any negative feedback as well as positive. In this case, when trying to get more testimonials, it's particularly important to respond and let people know that their comments are appreciated.This can give you an opportunity to fix any issues or clear up any misunderstandings, which you can then turn into a positive by asking for a testimonial after.Additionally, if a customer provided positive feedback, you might not want to respond with a simple "thank you" or "we appreciate your kind comments" message. Instead, look for the opportunity for a more in-depth response.If there's something you particularly enjoyed that they mentioned, ask them more about it and their overall experience!

5. Use your email list wisely

Don't just send an email out to everyone on your list and expect them all to write something nice about you. That's like saying, "Hey, I'm running for president!" and asking everyone on your email list to vote for you. You probably won't get many votes that way.But if you've got a solid relationship with someone — maybe they're a past customer or someone who has recently commented on one of your blog posts — then it's worth sending them an email asking for a testimonial.

6. Get the most out of your feedback forms

Most businesses have a feedback form on their website that customers can fill out, so they can let you know what they like and don't like about your products or services. What business owners sometimes forget is that they are a great, quick and easy way to obtain testimonials.Get the most out of your feedback forms with the following suggestions:

• Ask open-ended questions. Start with questions that allow customers to be descriptive and share their experience with your business. Some examples include "How was our service?" "How did we perform?" and "What can we do better?"
• Ask specific questions about what made them happy or unhappy. If you're looking for specific feedback on certain aspects of your business, it's important that you ask specific questions about those things. For example, if you're looking for feedback on your delivery speed, ask something like, "How would you rate our delivery speed?" or "How would you rate our order accuracy?"
• Ask for things they'd like to see improved or added in the future. This is an opportunity for customers to give you ideas about what they'd like to see improved at your business (or what they'd like added). If you take action on this, contact them after for another testimonial!

7. Create a dedicated page on your website

If you want to collect testimonials, create a dedicated page on your website that asks for them. Make sure that the page is easy to find and easy to navigate.Also, make sure that there are no other links on the page beside the testimonial request form itself — no unnecessary links or images will distract people from filling out their testimonial, and they'll be more likely to do so if they can easily find what they're looking for right away.Lastly, don't forget to let customers know how much you value their thoughts on your business by crafting a thought-out message before and after they submit.

8. Give people options on how customers can leave a review or testimonial for you

One of the most important things about getting customer testimonials is making sure that it's easy for customers to do so.It doesn't have to be a video or even a written review — an audio recording will do just fine too! Just make sure it's something that's easy for them to do without taking up too much time on their part.Some people prefer emailing it in, others might prefer filling out a form on your site or sending it directly to your support team. Or maybe they don't mind leaving it publicly on their social media channels like Facebook and Twitter.Therefore, make sure you give your customers as many options as possible, so they feel comfortable leaving feedback in whatever way works best for them.

Key takeaways

Obtaining testimonials from your satisfied customers is not the easiest task of running a business. You'll have to work hard to convince them, and you'll have to find ways to meet their expectations, but if you do it right, the end result will be a marketing strategy that provides you with endless benefits.But it's important to know that testimonials are not just a nice-to-have; they're an essential part of the sales process. If a potential buyer is going to buy from you, they need to know what other people think of your product or service. That's why they are so important: they help build trust and credibility with potential buyers.So, if you haven't already, it's time to start working on getting more testimonials from your happy customers. Hopefully, these tips have given you some ideas, and you're ready to get going!