Last week I blogged about the importance of keeping your client pages up to date, especially if you are, like us, consulting for a living. Within that post I mentioned testimonials and how they were not the same as client lists and promised further insight, so here we go.
A testimonial is about you and usually written by someone you have worked with. It’s great having a list of clients, but what did they think of you, and would they recommend you to others? That’s why testimonials are equally important, it’s more personal and looks at the how and who.
I usually ask clients for a testimonial as they are valuable to me, it does frustrate me when promises to provide one do not lead to a testimonial being provided. As people are busy I always offer guidance on what subject to cover, focusing on what I did not solely the outcome of the work.
So if you’re asked to write a testimonial, or indeed want one here’s 4 tips I’ve collated from the internet and used over time:
To the point. Keep it short. The testimonial has to be focused on the specific product or service. Nobody wants to read something that’s irrelevant, so advise your customer not to ramble aimlessly. A short but well-written testimonial can have a greater impact than a long, boring one.
Call to action. Great testimonials are those that call their readers to action.
Clarity. Your testimonial has to be clear, intelligible.
Positive. One of the most important aspects of a great testimonial is to be genuine and convey honesty. You don’t want your client to exaggerate with compliments related to your business. However, the message should always be a positive one.
Finally don’t forget to publish and use your testimonials, your previous achievements are hugely valuable in helping other decide if they wish to work with you in the future and in the current economic climate any advantage can be huge.
Here’s our testimonial page, we are equally as proud of this as we are our client list.
Excellent testimonials, all very much deserved!