Customer Testimonials: How to Ask for Them & Where to Use Them

Testimonials from your satisfied customers are not only a positive reflection of your products or services, but they are also an excellent way to influence potential customers to try your business. Customer testimonials are one of the most powerful forms of advertising that your business can harness – in fact, a study by Ipsos found that 78 percent of Americans decide whether to purchase a product with the help of online reviews. Getting testimonials from your customers is easier than you might think, and here’s a look at how to ask for them, as well as how to use them.

New Customers

No matter what industry your business is a part of, the most enthusiastic testimonials will often come from your new customers. Contacting your newest customers and following up after they have engaged your service or bought a product from you to see if they are satisfied is a good way to open the door. If they have positive feedback, ask them if you can share their story. Be sure that you don’t wait too long to check in. It’s best to reach out and get that testimonial from a customer whose experience is fresh. The Globe and Mail reports that Audi representatives reach out to new customers to see if they are happy with their experience within 30 days of a car purchase. If a customer continues to shop with you afterwords, check in with them now and again and they can become a powerful source of positive reviews.

Share Away

Sharing positive reviews sourced from your social media sites is another great way to find and publish positive reviews of your business. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media sites are a powerful resource for companies seeking testimonials – after all, Social Media Today reports that 43 percent of all marketers find customers through LinkedIn and 52 percent of all marketers find them through Facebook. Once you have reviews, share and highlight the best ones and thank customers personally for their comments.

Sharing shouldn’t stop on your social media profiles, though. Take the best of your reviews and put them right on your official website. Identity protection giant LifeLock is an example of one company that does this well. They have a variety of testimonials highlighted, ranging in satisfaction, giving potential consumers a chance to make a decision based on the voices of others. Be honest with reviews – if you only share the most shining ones, a customer who sees a mixed review elsewhere may feel like you are covering up your failings. It’s better to address reviews that have complaints or misgivings, especially on social media – responding to concerns won’t make them go away, but it will show new and old customers that you care what they think.

Thank Your Customers

It may seem like a small detail, but something as simple as thanking customers won’t just encourage them to leave reviews, but to leave good reviews. No matter how an interaction with a customer goes, it’s important to thank them for their patronage and make them feel valued. A customer who leaves a review is one who has gone out of their way to say something about your business, often without any promise of reward. These are the customers who you want to hear from – the passionate, the enthusiastic, and the opinionated. Their reviews are more than just marketing material, they are a learning experience for you and your brand.