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Tips on Getting Testimonials from Customers

by Jesus Perez
21 replies
How do you request testimonials from your customers to get the best response?

I understand I can simply email them, but I want to maximize the possibilty of actually 'getting' a testimonial.

Do you use an ethical bribe such as a report?
#customers #testimonials #tips
  • Profile picture of the author winebuddy
    if they have purchased a product from you, offer them a discount in terms of a rebate. If they have received a free report, offer them another BETTER report.

    just a couple of suggestions...
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    • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
      Why not just ask for feedback? If you get positive feedback, ask if they mind that you use it on your site with perhaps a link to their own site. When you did get negative feedback, and you will, thank them for their point of view and consider what they're saying. It could lead to an even better product.

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  • Profile picture of the author Maria Gudelis
    It is like herding cats isn't it getting a testimonials sometimes! I find the most effective tactic I've used in the past is a combination of

    Survey and ethical Bribe - so an email to my purchasers saying ' do me a favor ' and also if you fill out this survey - you will get a FREE xyz worth $y amount'

    I take them to a survey (to help improve my product or what other products are in demand) and the last question instead of a survey question is - something like "hey if you'd like, I'd love it for you to leave a testimonial and you win as well because your name and website will appear on my sales letter as well!" All you need to do is then leave your name as well and in the box below tell me how this helped you.

    *** Just my 2 cents worth - I also encourage them to leave feedback on my WSO Threads by emailing that or including a link back to WSO in the download pdf - "do Maria a favor and tell me what you think - click here" type of thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author brieat
    Do one of those contest, send some testimonials for a chance to win a free ipod nano or something, I seen the micro niche finder owner did that with great success.
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  • Profile picture of the author Maddi
    It can be bit of a mission sometimes. The most common example would be Blog posts that get hits in the 1000s and will hardly get 10-30 comments at most. People simply aren't willing to engage sometimes.

    But like Maria has mentioned, emphasizing it in the pdf or via your product delivery method and also in the follow up emails increases the chances. I've actually got Maria's wso that mentions how important testimonials are and how to get them [ See there is one testimonial right there from me ] and its awesome stuff.

    Combining it with a bribe seems to work better or like some have mentioned a discount for a future product or a rebate might work.

    My 0.02

    Maddi
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      How do you request testimonials from your customers to get the best response?

      I understand I can simply email them, but I want to maximize the possibilty of actually 'getting' a testimonial.

      Do you use an ethical bribe such as a report?
      Be careful, because if you promise anything in exchange for a testimonial, according to the FTC rules as I understand them, that needs to be disclosed when you use the testimonial.

      It's better to ask for feedback, either in an email or in a survey, and then select the positive comments and ask those people for permission to use their quotes for marketing purposes. In that situation, you are not rewarding them for the testimonial. Even if you offer a reward in exchange for filling out the survey, you are rewarding them for providing feedback (positive or negative), not for the positive comments.

      I have seen marketers offering a big prize for the best testimonial, and since that's clearly rewarding people for positive quotes (whether or not they're sincere), that is something that in my opinion needs to be disclosed when displaying any of the quotes gathered that way.

      Marcia Yudkin
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      • Profile picture of the author MrDay
        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        Be careful, because if you promise anything in exchange for a testimonial, according to the FTC rules as I understand them, that needs to be disclosed when you use the testimonial.
        Thanks for this, I really didn't know that. A lot of people in the past offer me free products in exchange for testimonials. I didn't even know they were doing something shady. :confused:
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      • Profile picture of the author Charles Washington
        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        Be careful, because if you promise anything in exchange for a testimonial, according to the FTC rules as I understand them, that needs to be disclosed when you use the testimonial.
        Marcia Yudkin
        Keep in mind the advice you were refferring to was posted before the FTC rules went into place. Look at the thread date
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      • Profile picture of the author summer07
        Originally Posted by Maria Gudelis View Post

        ...I take them to a survey (to help improve my product or what other products are in demand) and the last question instead of a survey question is - something like "hey if you'd like, I'd love it for you to leave a testimonial and you win as well because your name and website will appear on my sales letter as well!" All you need to do is then leave your name as well and in the box below tell me how this helped you.

        *** Just my 2 cents worth - I also encourage them to leave feedback on my WSO Threads by emailing that or including a link back to WSO in the download pdf - "do Maria a favor and tell me what you think - click here" type of thing.
        HOpe that helped!
        I like the idea of combining a multiple choice survey with an open ended request. And I notice 2 things about Maria's method:
        1. She trains her list to give feedback by asking for it on a regular basis -- and yes...I'm on her list.

        2. She gives a writing prompt that helps people get started, ie., "tell me what you think", "tell me how this helped you".

        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        Be careful, because if you promise anything in exchange for a testimonial, according to the FTC rules as I understand them, that needs to be disclosed when you use the testimonial.

        It's better to ask for feedback, either in an email or in a survey, and then select the positive comments and ask those people for permission to use their quotes for marketing purposes. In that situation, you are not rewarding them for the testimonial. Even if you offer a reward in exchange for filling out the survey, you are rewarding them for providing feedback (positive or negative), not for the positive comments....
        Even if the FTC only requires disclosure if you reward testimonials, who wants to have a disclaimer on their sales page saying "These people got paid to say nice things...."?

        Anyway, I think it's a good idea not to offer incentives for testimonials. There's a lot of value in honest feedback, even though it's a rare commodity.

        One thing I do on a lot of my customer correspondence after I offer my opinion on the topic is simply add the sentence, "Let me know what you think".

        Not everyone responds, but it plants a seed and I've been fortunate to recieve some great unsolicited testimonials as a result.
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  • Profile picture of the author Drover
    When I set up my support forums for sites, I typically only have one section open to people who haven't yet bought the product/service. This section usually has two forums: "Pre-Sales Questions" and "Successes". When people post to the Successes section, and they do like to brag about their successes, I take those for testimonials.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      I didn't even know they were doing something shady.
      Actually, it's not shady if they disclose it.

      But funny thing, I've not yet seen a disclosure of this on a sales page.

      Marcia Yudkin
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Jordan
    Make sure your customers are satisfied this will make some of them give spontaneous testimonials. OR get feedback from them, asking what they liked best about your product or service. You can then request permission to use these comments.
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  • Profile picture of the author CliveG
    If you just want a short comment then telephone them, agree some words and confirm them by email.
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  • Profile picture of the author Radko
    If your customers are satisfied with your service, then getting positive testimonials is not hard.. but if you are on the other side the you need to spend some money or give discounts to them to get +ve comments
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  • Profile picture of the author David McKee
    If you want serious, honest, real feedback - ask what you could do to make your product better, then ask what they liked about your product.

    Best testimonial going because it looks and sounds honest, because it is.

    -DTM
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  • Profile picture of the author thatgirlJ
    I always say "Hey, does anyone have any feedback for me?" You'll often get good stuff that way. However, my FAVORITE testimonials are the ones that just show up in my inbox because someone is blown away

    I am REALLY bad at saving and organizing them, though I need to get on that! They are great for a boost when you're feeling down. They are also a wonderful motivator for when you need to get that next product out because people love what you have to offer!
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  • Profile picture of the author Ashley Wright
    I just usually ask for feedback, and/ or send them a survey and at the bottom have a box where they can write a testimonial! works a treat!
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    I give my stuff away for free in return for a testimonial.

    Give people what they want and you get what you want
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan D
    Banned
    I have a message setup in my autoresponder a certain number of days after that automtically asks them for a testimonial. In exchange, I give them a steep discount on another product. I make it clear that I will use a handful of them and they can give me praise or critism.

    To get more details, I do a drawing once per month where the winner wins something of real value. It's not an ebook that I created or anything. It's a physical product that you could buy at the store and has real value. This encourages people to give more details into their expeirience.

    I literally have them rolling in automatically every single day. I have probably 4k testimonials. They work as great content to your site also. Showcase some (in a salesletter or whatever) and then use the others as ways to make other pages more unique.
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  • Profile picture of the author Amy Carczak
    Ask early .. the best time to get a
    testimonial is right after they purchased
    from you as that is when they are most
    enthused about the product or service.
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