As a business that delivers a great product, or a memorable experience for customers and clients, one of the best things you can leverage to bring in even more business are authentic testimonials from your customers.
Normally most businesses don’t actively ask for testimonials from their clients, and these same businesses are leaving a ton of money on the table!
Below is a list of creative ways you can ask for testimonials without being pushy or annoying.
1) Offer an Incentive
One of the easiest ways to get testimonials to be sent in for your business is by asking your customer base for a testimonial in exchange for something they want. There are many ways to do this.
Examples
- Create a post on your Facebook page and say “For the first X people to leave a testimonial in the comments section below (greater than 3 sentences), will get a XX% discount on their next purchase.”
- You can send an e-mail to your list doing something similar (like you did on Facebook) with a discount.
- You can even enter everyone who sends a testimonial into a drawing for free product or special promotion…where you select someone in the pool of submissions once every six months!
2) Integrate A Call To Action When Following Up After A Sale Has Been Made
One of the most underutilized ways of generating a great testimonial is optimizing the time that is taken with the customer after a sale has been made. This is an optimal time to ask for a testimonial while the experience is fresh in their mind, or after they have experienced using the product for the first time.
Examples
- Put a call to action on the receipt asking them for their testimonial. Direct them to a website where they can fill in what they want to say, and make sure you add in an incentive for sending in their testimonial.
- When they open up the box with the item they ordered, integrate a flyer into the packaging that encourages them to send in their testimonial. Make sure to add an incentive to increase the response rate!
- If you run a restaurant, put a comment card in the check, which will give the customer an opportunity to write down their testimonial. Just make sure you provide them with enough space, and a potential incentive for doing so!
3) Provide an Exceptional Experience/Product
This one is a no brainer, but the better you take care of your customers, the higher likelihood they will reward you with positive words out of the blue. The best way to do this is to always serve your customers the best way you can, and be sure to listen to their suggestions whey they offer them.
Examples
- Pay attention to what your customers are posting on your Facebook page, and see if there are future opportunities to serve them better.
- When on the phone with your customers, ask them if there is anything else you as an organization can do to make their life or experience more enjoyable.
In the end, getting valuable testimonials from your customers will always come down to your ability to implement proven ways to generate responses, while at the same time providing an amazing experience for everyone who chooses to do business with you!
About The Author
Scott Bradley is an entrepreneur who is passionate about helping business owners create and implement effective marketing plans, strategies and tactics. He is the owner of this website, Brilliant Business Advice, and spends most of his time creating products and services that directly serve the small business community. You can learn more about Scott on his personal website which can be found at http://www.ScottBradley.name
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