How do you solicit feedback from your clients without being pushy?

1 Why testimonials matter

Testimonials are more than just nice words from happy customers. They are social proof that validates your claims and demonstrates your results. According to a survey by BrightLocal, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Testimonials can also help you differentiate yourself from your competitors, highlight your unique selling proposition, and address potential objections or concerns. By showcasing testimonials, you can show your prospects that you understand their needs, solve their problems, and deliver on your promises.

2 How to ask for testimonials

Asking for testimonials can be tricky, so it's important to be polite and effective. When your client is most satisfied and impressed with your work, such as after a successful project completion or a referral, is the best time to ask. Explain why you're asking and how it will help you grow your business. To make it easy for them, provide some guidance or structure, like a questionnaire or template. Ask for something specific that shows the impact of your work, such as numbers or metrics. Lastly, show appreciation for their time and effort. Express your gratitude and let them know how much you value their opinion and support. You could also offer them a discount, bonus, or referral fee as a token of appreciation.

3 How to display testimonials

Once you have collected some testimonials, displaying them in a way that showcases your value and benefits is essential. You should select the most relevant and compelling testimonials that address your target audience's pain points, goals, and objections. Additionally, you could add details to make the testimonials more trustworthy and authentic, such as the client's name, title, company, location, photo, logo, or website. Furthermore, you could use different formats to make the testimonials more engaging and appealing such as video testimonials, audio testimonials, screenshots, case studies or stories. To maximize the impact of your testimonials, testing and optimizing them is key. Try different placements, layouts, designs, colors, fonts, headlines or calls to action. Finally, use analytics tools to measure the performance and conversion rates of your testimonials.