6 Ways to Ask for Customer Testimonials Without Feeling Awkward
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The thoughts, opinions, and beliefs of consumers familiar with your product are one of the most valuable pieces of information to bolster your marketing strategy. There’s a reason why the average consumer makes a purchase only after reading 10 online customer reviews. It’s because of the power of social proof!
The Power of Social Proof
Social proof is the influence that others have on someone else’s decision making. As humans, we easily fall into the trap of making decisions based on other’s appraisals. Because of this, it is crucial to provide customer testimonials, reviews, and endorsements on just how great your products work. It might just be the factor that increases a future consumer’s trust in your goods and services and motivates them to a point of purchase!
7 Painless Ways to Gather Customer Testimonials
Despite how important social proof can be for your marketing materials, it can be quite daunting to work up the courage to ask a customer for a testimonial. The last thing you want is to sound desperate or self-centered from the consumers who matter most to your business.
Lucky for you, most consumers take these inquiries well, so why not shoot your shot? In fact, 70% of consumers are happy to leave a review when prompted to do so. Below are 6 ways to ask customers for a testimonial in a manner that avoids any unwanted awkwardness!
#1: Incentivize Consumers to Write A Review
One easy way to gather testimonials is by making the experience mutually beneficial by providing a reward to consumers in exchange for their testimonial. This could include anything from a coupon code to an entry into a contest. Taking the time to show your appreciation for a review shows your customers that their time is valued by your business.
However, it is important to be careful about how you go about this. Make it clear that you seek an honest review to not intentionally bribe audiences into writing a positive one, which could backfire quickly.
#2: Ask Consumers Right Away
When it comes to testimonial requests, timing is everything. It’s always best to cut to the chase and ask consumers as soon as possible! There is no better time than asking directly after a consumer makes their purchase. This ensures that their enthusiasm for your product or service is hopefully still high and guarantees that your business is already at the top of their minds.
#3: Send a Survey
Follow-up surveys after consumers engage with your business are a simple and streamlined way to ask for a testimonial. They are less personal in nature, which can put less pressure on you and the consumer to follow through if they are uncomfortable doing so. Overall, surveys from Google Forms, Survey Monkey, and a variety of other platforms can be linked in an email with ease!
#4: Make It Easy as Can Be
The easier it is for consumers to write a testimonial, the greater the chances are that your request will be received positively. Make sure to include links and calls-to-action that directly navigate consumers to the spaces you would like a review. Better yet, offer a plethora of places for them to write one.
Some of the best platforms for motivating a customer review include:
- Facebook business page
- Yelp business profile
- Website and landing pages
- Trip Advisor
#5 Keep Clientele Close
The more friendly and personable you already are with your past customers and clients, the less awkward it will feel to ask for a testimonial. In general, it is always in your best interest to check in with clients to maintain a strong and friendly network, so when you do need the favor, it won’t feel quite as out of the blue.
#6 Return the Favor
If you have used a customer’s business the same way they have used yours, a great way to get a testimonial is through doing them the favor of writing a testimonial yourself! The beauty of this tactic is you don’t necessarily have to blatantly ask for the testimonial. You can merely let them know that you wrote a review for their business on Yelp, or perhaps wrote them a personal recommendation on LinkedIn.
It is in human nature to feel motivated to return gestures or favors that are given to us. So, if you write a testimonial, there’s a good chance that you’ll see a one coming back your way in no time!
The Importance of Customer Testimonials
There’s no need to stress about obtaining customer testimonials, as there is little risk in putting yourself out there. And really, any awkward feelings will be greatly outweighed by the power that a positive testimonial will bring to your marketing strategy. Get started today on generating testimonials and watch your consumer trust improve immensely!