Don't Forget...

Testimonials are one of the best tools you have to let people know how great your products and services are, but getting started can be a challenge. In our experience, most business owners simply don't know how to ask for testimonials. It can feel awkward to ask for feedback that you will use publicly, especially if you want to use a photograph or a video of customers. Plus, even once you do ask, the resulting testimonial can end up feeling staged and inauthentic - like asking to take a photo of customers at lunch to use a testimonial for your restaurant instead of getting a more candid picture. Our best advice is to not to panic. You can get testimonials that will make your customers flock to you. Here's how.

#1. Leverage Customer Compliments

Start with where you are. Look through reviews of your company on social media sites, sales platforms, and anywhere else that one of your customers may have written about your brand. If you have been selling quality products or services and providing excellent customer service, you should find something you can use. Once you see a quote you like, ask for permission to post those statements or use them in your ads. It's that easy. "Thanks for your review! May I post this on our website with your name?"

#2. Follow Up With Every Sale

If you don't have many reviews out there, start following up with your customers after each sale. Follow up and start a conversation about what they liked about your products or services. A simple open-ended question is all you need to get the ball rolling. Not only could you get a testimonial you can use (always ask permission) but you could gain some valuable insights into what matters most to your customers, how your company is performing, and any areas that could use improving. "Just checking in. How do you like your [products/services] so far?"

#3. Make It Easy

You can also get testimonials for your company by making it easy for your customers to provide feedback. Sending out surveys are one option, but you also need to make sure you are encouraging your customers to leave reviews on sites like Google Places and Yelp. Kristi Hines for Neil Patel explains, "Why would you want to steer your customers to writing reviews on these sites as opposed to writing a testimonial directly for your site? Simple. If you are trying to get Google search traffic to your local business, you would want your business to come up in the search with the most reviews." Make it easy for your customers by claiming each of your company listings, verifying the information, and making sure everything is consistent across sites.

#4. Provide The Best Customer Experience Possible

The one downside to reviews and testimonials is that they might not all be positive - and that's okay. Use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your stellar customer service. While you won't want to use these testimonials on your website or in your marketing, you can show your commitment to quality by responding publicly to each complaint and stepping up to make things right. In some cases, you might be able to turn that negative reviewer into an advocate but, at worse, other would-be customers will see how well you respond to criticism and your willingness to make things right. In turn, they can trust that if there is an issue with one of your products or services, you will respond instead of ignoring a complaint.