The best story a business owner can hear is the story of how a client was blown away by amazing products, services, and support from your small business. These types of stories are worth sharing, and that is why getting customer testimonials should be a priority for your marketing strategy. A customer testimonial is evidence of your commitment to providing a great customer experience, and it is something potential customers need to know about.
However, great customer testimonials don't just fall into your lap all the time. Sometimes, you need to be straightforward and ask for them, provide a method for getting them, and guide your customers on crafting the perfect customer testimonials for your small business. In the article below, I go in depth on how to get customer testimonials and why they can be powerful for your small business marketing.
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Simple strategies: how to get customer testimonials
Getting customers to share testimonials with you can be extremely important to your small business marketing. Here are some simple strategies to encourage customers to share their experiences with you as customer testimonials:
Provide exceptional customer service
Deliver an amazing customer experience to your clients, going above and beyond their expectations. When your clients are extremely satisfied with your product or service, they are willing to express these feelings and share them with others.Ask for feedback about their experience
Even if a customer is extremely satisfied with your work, they may not think about sharing their experience with you. Following up with your customers after a purchase or interaction to ask for their feedback. can result in a client testimonial. Be prepared to help your customer share their testimonial by providing a way of doing so, such as with a customer feedback survey.Offer perks and incentives for customer testimonials
Incentives can motivate a customer to give you a testimonial. However, keep in mind that this can result with less than authentic testimonials. An incentive can be a discount, free items, or something exclusive. Whatever the perk is, make sure it is of value and relevant to your customers. I explain this in more detail in the section “Can customers be incentivized to share a testimonial?”Make it easy for customers to share a testimonial
Make it easy for customers to share testimonials by a system in place, such as an online testimonial form, customer review funnel, or a customer feedback survey. Include clear instructions on how to share testimonials and make it quick and simple process.Highlight testimonials in your small business marketing
Making customer testimonials part of your small business marketing can encourage new customers to also share their of testimonials with you. Some customers may take great pride in their experience with your products and services and want it to be known. By highlighting their customer testimonials, you give the customers a way to share their ability to make great decisions (by choosing your products and services).Be candid with your customers about testimonials
Just like when asking a customer to leave a review, be honest with the purpose and intent of the testimonial and what you plan to do with it. When asking your customer for a testimonial, be forthcoming with what details and aspects of their experience you would like them to share. This shows your customer that you value their opinion and are genuinely interested in their feedback and are not looking for a generic positive testimonial.Give examples of customer testimonials you want
When asking for a customer testimonial, share example success stories of how your product or service has helped your other customers. This can help your customer identify the points they would like to make in their testimonial. I have shared some example customer testimonials in the next section.
For Customer Review Funnels and Customer Feedback Surveys, I recommend using the tools and templates at involve.me and OpinionStage.
Short Customer Testimonial Examples
Here are some examples of customer testimonials that you can share with your customers to give them an idea of what a great testimonial is for you:
Customer Testimonial Example 1
"I recently purchased ABC product and I am blown away by how well it works! It has saved me so much time and effort in my daily routine by cutting out unnecessary manual input. I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a high-quality solution!"
Customer Testimonial Example 2
"I was hesitant to try ABC service at first, but I am so glad that I did! I struggled with trying to accomplish the tasks on my own. The customer service was exceptional and the results were beyond my expectations. I will definitely be a loyal customer from now on."
Customer Testimonial Example 3
"I had a great experience with the team at ABC company. They were professional, communicative, and went above and beyond to make sure I was satisfied with the end result. I especially appreciate they way they made me feel about my concerns. I would recommend them to anyone in need of their services."
Customer Testimonial Example 4
"ABC product is a game-changer! It has revolutionized the way I do business and has helped me to achieve my goals faster than I ever imagined. I feel like I have my time back and can focus once more. Thank you for creating such an amazing product!"
Customer Testimonial Example 5
"ABC service has been a lifesaver for my family. They have helped us through some difficult times and have always been there when we needed them. Attempting to do this on my own was heading for disaster. I am forever grateful for their support and care."
What makes a great customer testimonial?
A great customer testimonial is one that is authentic, specific, and relatable. Potential customers are looking for real world experiences with your products and services, so asking customers to share what is most important to their experience is the goal. Here are some key elements that make a customer testimonial standout:
Be Authentic
Your customer testimonials should be genuine and unscripted. You aren’t looking for a customer testimonial that hides the truth, nor should a customer testimonial pretend everything is perfect. Sharing an experience that highlights challenges and overcoming them through service and support can be incredibly impactful.Be Specific
A compelling testimonial includes details about the customer's experience with your product or service. It should highlight the problem or challenge they faced, how your product or service was the solution, and the positive outcomes that were the result of it. Describing quantifiable and measurable results add credibility to the customer testimonial.Be Relatable
A great customer testimonial should connect with your potential customers. It should address common pain points or challenges that your customers may have. When reading the testimonial, your potential customer should be able to see themselves in the customer's shoes and imagine the results for themselves.Be Relevant
Testimonials should be relevant on topic with your potential clients by demonstrating the value your small business has to offer. Consider using testimonials from clients who fit your ideal client persona and your marketing niche. This helps potential clients identify with the client testimonial and comprehend how your product or service can benefit them.Be Different
A powerful customer testimonial emphasizes what sets your small business apart from your competitors, as well as alternative options. It should highlight what makes your small business unique, amazing customer service, or any other factors that make your business stand out. This helps potential customers understand what is important to your customer experience.Get Permission
Always ask your customer for permission before using their testimonial. Some customers may not want to have their names or identities shared. The last thing you want to do is upset happy customers.Great testimonials aren’t always easy to come by, not is it simple to express feelings into words. Also, sometimes customers can be way off base when giving you a testimonial. That is why having guidelines to help your customers craft great testimonials is important.
In addition to the qualities listed above, you can also request additional context from your customers for their testimonials:
Customer Identity
Ask customers to share more information about themselves, such as their job title, industry, or location. This helps potential customers connect to a real person or business with additional social value.Customer Photo
If your customer is comfortable, encourage them to include a photo of themselves with their testimonial. Having a photo of the person giving the testimonial humanizes the words and draws attention to who is giving the testimonial.Finally, always be thankful and express gratitude for your customer’s time and effort in sharing their testimonial. Showing your appreciation can further strengthen the relationship with your customers.
How to get customer testimonials? Your loyal customers can be a great source for amazing testimonials. Don't be shy. Ask!
What are easy ways a customer can give a testimonial?
Customer testimonials can come to you in many different forms and media types - typically in the most convenient way that your customer can provide it. Here are common ways customers will share testimonials with you:
Written Testimonials
Customers can write testimonials in the form of an email, text document, or even a hand written letter. This is the most common way you will receive testimonials, even if you have not asked for them.Online Forms
An online form can also be a convenient way for customers to share testimonials with you. In addition to the testimonial, you can also provide guidelines, examples, and make other requests, such as adding photos to the form submission. Taking it a step further, having a customer feedback survey or customer review funnel can streamline the process for your customers.Social Media
Customers will commonly share their testimonials on social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram or possibly as a recommendation on your Alignable profile. The benefits of this method are that client can tag your business or use relevant hashtags to increase visibility and allow others to engage with the testimonial. Your business can also respond to the post and continue to share it with others.Video Testimonials
Growing in popularity, some customers may be willing to record a video testimonial for you. This can be a powerful way to showcase their experience as their expressions and feelings are visible to viewers. Customers will typically use their smartphone to record the video, and share it with you or to social media.Audio Testimonials
Less common ways customers share testimonials are through audio. Customers may choose to record an audio testimonial using their smartphone or other recording devices. The audio can then be used in other formats, such as in a video or used as a transcript.Leaving it up to your customer to provide a testimonial in their preferred format does come with challenges, so it is best for you to decide what your preferred format is and provide a means for your customers to use your preferred format.
WAIT! What about reviews? Aren’t they testimonials too?
While customer reviews can be considered a form of testimonial, in the context of this article and your small business marketing, a testimonial is an experience that is shared with you for the purpose of using in your small business marketing with the consent to do so. An online review is owned by the platform it is given to, thus you do not have the same permissions to use it as you would with a testimonial that is shared with you with proper consent.
Reviews vs. Testimonials
On the surface, testimonials and reviews are very much the same. However, in the context of small business marketing, the small differences can help you determine how to go about obtaining each and their purposes for your small business marketing.
To explain the differences between reviews and testimonials, I have pulled a clip from a past podcast episode on the subject. Use the audio player below to listen.
Can customers be incentivized to share a testimonial?
In a few words, yes. Customers can be incentivized to share testimonials. However, there are pros and cons to incentivizing testimonials that you should consider. There is no doubt that providing incentives can help motivate customers to share a testimonial.
While there are many ways to incentivize customers to share a testimonial, I am going to list the simplest and most effective methods:
Rewards Or Discounts
For retail businesses, offering a small reward or discount, such as a coupon code or gift card, can be an inexpensive way to increase your customer testimonials. In addition, it encourages repeat business from your customers. If the reward is transferable, your customers may use it to promote or refer your business to new customers.Promotional Marketing
In a B2B setting, your clients may appreciate attention for their testimonial. Highlighting or acknowledging clients who provide testimonials through marketing channels can serve marketing for both you and your client. This can be done through social media posts, placing the testimonial on your website, or including their testimonial in promotional materials.Going any further with incentives in exchange for testimonials can detract from the authenticity of a testimonial and should be avoided.
About The Author
Chris Risse
Chris is the owner of Mediaryte, a digital commerce company working with local small businesses. He has worked with countless business owners on business mastery, systematizing processes, and quantifying results. Chris also is a competitive fat bike racer and has a fantastic sixth sense for detecting well hidden candy and treats.
Customer Review Resources
We've prepared additional resources to help you maximize your customer reviews.
6 Simple Ways You Can Generate Great Customer Reviews
Emotional Intelligence Advantage: Crafting Review Responses That Wow Customers
5 Essential Tips To Attract Customers With Your Google Business Profile
How To Create A Great Customer Satisfaction Survey With 5 Examples
How To Delete Negative Google Reviews And Get Better Ones
How To Get Customer Testimonials – Guide & Examples
Powerful Tips & Examples For Asking Customers For Reviews
How To Get Customers To Leave A Review
50 Easy Responding To Customer Feedback Examples For You To Use
