As we continue the Month of Thanks and Reflection series with a practical and impactful topic: “How to Ask for Testimonials“. Discover why testimonials are essential for your business, whether you’re an author, speaker, coach, or a combination of the three. I explain the power of testimonials in establishing credibility, attracting new clients, and enhancing your marketing efforts. I’ll also share a helpful template in the show notes to simplify the testimonial process. Let’s get inspired to strengthen your business by asking for and using powerful testimonials!
1. Why are testimonials important?
Testimonials give us social proof and show our potential readers or clients the value that we provide. Whether they’re reading one of our books, attending an event and listening to us speak, or getting coached, testimonials will help others to know that you are who you say you are, and that you can provide what you say you can. This is the purpose of a testimonial, and they are easier to receive than you think.
Testimonials can:
- Highlight and establish credibility
- Boost your authority
- Attract more clients or readers
- Play a huge role in your marketing materials, especially your website and your promotional pieces
Testimonials can be the lifeblood of your business. They can truly help you to move forward in your business and to help gain new clientele.
2. Testimonials come in several different forms.
You can have written testimonials that are great for your website and social media.
You can have video testimonials. These add authenticity and emotional connection.
You can also use your testimonials in shorter quotes. You can use them on your books themselves. Many times for books, especially with authors, you get reviews. Testimonials are different, but they can still work the same way.
You can integrate testimonials into your website, email marketing, book promotions, social media posts or stories, and even into speaking engagement introductions and slides.
3. What are some strategies and tips for requesting testimonials?
Asking for a testimonial and asking for a book review are similar. So let’s think about those things as one in the same.
Ask specific questions.
What was your biggest takeaway from working with me as a coach? What was your biggest takeaway from the speech that you heard today?
Offer a way to submit the testimonials.
You can use a Google Form or even just an email. Request testimonials at the conclusion of a project. Say you’re a coach and you finished your sessions together. You can send an email requesting testimonials at the conclusion of that project.
Give the client prompts.
What did you enjoy most about working with me? How did my services help you to achieve your goals?
Follow up in order to receive the testimonials in a timely manner.
Follow up politely if they don’t respond and emphasize how their feedback can help you and others in the future.
Be specific.
Encourage them to share concrete details about their experience or their results. Ask them to focus on the outcome they had. You can ask them to submit a written testimonial or a video testimonial, but you always want to ask permission to share their testimonial.
4. How can we show gratitude for the testimonials?
Be grateful for whatever testimonials you are given! Always thank them and consider sending a small token of appreciation like a free resource or even just a handwritten note.
Encourage them to send over a testimonial by asking for it as soon as you’re finished working together so that they don’t forget.
Invite them to share on a social media group or channel, like in your Facebook group or on your social media channels.
Promote a helpful resource or service in exchange for their testimonial.
I’ve done this before to gain help when I’m trying to launch something new. If I ask for feedback, I might give the resource to them for free in exchange for a testimonial.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials!
Most people are more than willing to shoot over a testimonial for you without very much trouble at all. It doesn’t take but a few minutes. Obviously, be willing to give testimonials to others so that when you request one, they’re more likely to give it to you.
Provide a template for the testimonial.
With a template, all they have to do is fill in the blanks. I will provide one to you in the show notes.
A template will help your clients to create a testimonial for you that’s easier for them. They fill it out and are able to share their experience in a more concise manner without really having to think about it. And that’s what we want. We want to make testimonials easy and not a hard experience for them.
Create a plan to ask for testimonials in your business so that you can use them in your marketing resources, on your website, and in your emails.
Remember, as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) Always remember how important sharing what others have done to help you is how we lift up someone that we’re working with.
I hope that you will begin using testimonials in your business if you don’t already, and that this episode encourages you to reach out and ask for a testimonial today!
Questions? Join the Group!
If you have specific questions about asking for testimonials, I’d love to get those because that would help me to make sure that I’m covering everything that you’re interested in knowing during this series on the podcast. You can submit your questions inside The Christian Business Advantage Facebook group. I look forward to seeing you there!
