Generate Positive Reviews and Testimonials

Generate Positive Reviews and Testimonials

When it comes to running a successful business, nothing is better advertising than a satisfied customer. Word of mouth is still a viable marketing method. When people are happy with your goods and services, they will recommend you to family, friends, and acquaintances. So, getting positive reviews and testimonials is important weapon in your marketing toolkit.

Today’s business world relies heavily on the internet and social media. This means that more people than ever have access to the recommendations of your happy customers. By far, the best way to get those messages out there is through positive customer reviews and testimonials. It is a fact that 82% of consumers prefer to judge a local business through Google reviews. This means you need to know the ins and outs of this marketing strategy. ReputationDefender offers the following advice to help.  

Customer Testimonials

Testimonials are effective because they are created by a customer endorsing your company, products, and services. You can place them on your company’s website and use them in your advertising and marketing materials. Testimonials can be written and often include photos, or they may be videos of the customer talking about your company and demonstrating a product. You want testimonials to be sincere, specific to the customer’s experience, and relatable to other consumers who will view them. 

Asking for Testimonials 

Many customers are willing to leave a testimonial, but few will volunteer to do so. It is perfectly acceptable to ask a satisfied customer to leave a testimonial. Here are some tips from Reputation Defender on how to go about it.

  • Don’t wait – As soon as a transaction has been satisfactorily completed, ask your customer if they are willing to leave a testimonial. You want the experience and all the details fresh in their mind. 
  • Ask again if necessary – If after a couple of weeks, your customer has not responded, ask again. Follow-ups are perfectly acceptable and your customer may have more positive things to say about the product. 
  • It should be easy – A customer is more likely to leave a testimonial if you make the process easy for them. Give them guidelines and perhaps a template to follow for a written testimonial. Provide an app for recording a video. The easier it is, the more testimonials you will get.

Testimonials are so powerful that you should be asking all of your satisfied customers for one.

Positive Reviews and Testimonials

Customer Reviews

A customer review differs from a testimonial in that rather than an endorsement, it is a written account of the customer’s experience with a transaction. This includes the product, price, shipping, and any customer service you provided. Reviews are generally published on third-party sites, such as Google and Yelp, so consumers tend to trust them more than recommendations on your own site. You can also respond to reviews to thank a customer or to clarify misinformation. 

Asking for Reviews 

Just as with testimonials, it is fine to ask a happy customer for a review. It’s best to bring it up naturally in conversation, especially when the customer is offering praise. It’s a normal progression to ask the customer if they would mind putting their praise online. You can also use your email list to send a brief message asking customers to leave a review. Leave a link for them to follow and make the process easy, just as you would with a testimonial. You can even offer your customer a small reward for leaving a positive review. This will keep them coming back and eager to leave more reviews.

Happy customers are the lifeblood of any business. They can provide you with repeat sales, and more importantly, they can help you grow your client list. Testimonials and reviews are among the most effective ways to let consumers know what you do and that you do it well. Be sure to take advantage of them.