What a customer says about you and your services has a direct impact on your business success or failure. Words of approval from your customer will pack more of a punch than any sales pitch.
Why do testimonials work? Testimonials create believability, credibility, and a sense of security for your audience. These stories help to break down the natural barriers and distrust that a first-time buyer may feel in the decision making process. Take a look at these tips to getting those customers to talk about you with a powerful and honest testimonial of your work.
Timing is everything. If the performance of the team and the outcome of the project was stellar, and the customer is pleased – now is the time to ask! Don’t wait until later.
Don’t be shy, be specific. When you are talking to your customer, it is okay to ask them what part of the business to customer experience pleased them the most. Once they have responded, you can ask them to include this specific quality in the testimonial. It’s as easy as saying, “I’d really appreciate it if you mentioned how my team was on time and how we worked within your schedule.” This approach not only helps to show your customer that you value their feedback, but also gives them a place to start in writing the testimonial.
A picture is worth a thousand words. In addition to written testimonials, it is also powerful to use images. For example, if your customer has a beautiful new kitchen remodel, ask them if you can get a picture of them in their “new” kitchen to highlight on your website or Facebook page. If a yard sign is one of your marketing tools, upon completion of your job, ask the customer to stand beside it with a big smile and take their picture! Or better yet, have them give you a video testimonial. These testimonials are sure to get shared with friends and family!
You must ask for their permission. You must have a customer’s permission to publish a testimonial. It is easy to place this “ask” within the initial service agreement or completion of work document that the customer signs. Even though they may say “no,” this allows you to plan accordingly.
A testimony can be the thing that makes a potential customer choose to set an appointment with you rather than with your competitor. If your service is stellar and your product is superior, you are losing money and new business by NOT asking every customer for feedback with a testimonial.
Contact the team at R2R Marketing and learn how we can help you gather testimonials and reviews with a strategy that is rewarding for your customer and your company!
