Everything you need to know about how to collect and share customer testimonials on your website (and even some stuff you don’t!)
In this article we’ll cover all the basics of how to collect and share customer testimonials on your website, some common mistakes to avoid as well as best practices to implement, so you’ll be fully ready to get started. Let’s get into it!
Benefits of Collecting and Sharing Customer Testimonials
Before we get into how to collect and share customer testimonials, let’s cover some of the benefits of even doing in this, which are numerous!
For starters, customer testimonials can be used as a form of proof that your product or service is reliable and provides value. People are more likely to purchase products or services that have been recommended by others. Additionally, they provide a platform for your customers to express their experiences with your product and may provide feedback about the quality of your product or service that can be used to make improvements. Customer testimonials can also improve your website’s search engine rankings. Finally, customer testimonials can serve as a source of inspiration for your team and help boost morale.
How To Collect Customer Testimonials
Before you can share customer testimonials, you’ll need to figure out how to collect testimonials!
To get started, you’ll need to reach out to customers who have used your product or service and ask them to provide a customer testimonial. When reaching out to customers, it’s important to be clear about the purpose of the testimonial and the expectations for how the testimonial should be given. You should also provide information about how the testimonial will be used and the timeframe for its publication. Additionally, it’s helpful to provide customers with a list of questions they can answer to create the testimonial. (Don’t worry! We know there’s a bit to remember here – if you decide to use Re-View , we will guide you through all these steps in the product).
It’s also important to make sure that the customers who write testimonials are representative of your target demographic. It’s a good idea to ask customers for their demographic information so that you can include a variety of perspectives in your testimonials. Finally, if possible, provide incentives for customers who write testimonials. This will encourage more people to participate.
How To Share Your Customer Testimonials
Once you’ve collected a few customer testimonials, it’s important to promote them in order to maximize their impact. One way to do this is by sharing the testimonials on social media. This will expose the testimonials to a wide audience and help increase their reach. You can also post the testimonials on review sites such as Yelp and TripAdvisor, which can help boost your online presence.
You can also use email marketing campaigns to promote customer testimonials. This is a great way to reach potential customers and demonstrate the value of your product or service. Additionally, you can use paid advertising on platforms such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads to further promote your customer testimonials.
Best Practices for Displaying Testimonials on Your Website
When displaying customer testimonials on your website, there are several best practices that you should follow. First, make sure that the testimonials are prominently featured on your website and are easy to find. Additionally, ensure that each testimonial is clearly attributed to a real customer and includes their name or initials. Additionally, you should include pictures or videos of the customer if possible in order to add credibility to the testimonial.
It’s also important to be aware of how many customer testimonials you display on your website. Too many testimonials can be overwhelming for visitors, so it’s best to stick to a handful that are relevant and clearly communicate the value of your product or service. Finally, you should include a CTA (call-to-action) with each testimonial, such as a link to purchase the product or sign up for a free trial.
Analyzing the Impact of Your Customer Testimonials
Once you have collected and shared customer testimonials, it’s important to analyze their impact so that you can adjust your strategy as necessary. One way to do this is by looking at website analytics such as pageviews, conversions, and bounce rates. This will give you an indication of how effective your customer testimonials are at driving traffic and engagement on your website.
You can also use surveys to measure customer satisfaction levels after they have read a customer testimonial. This will help you understand if customers are finding value in the testimonials or if they need additional information before making a purchasing decision. For more on collecting customer feedback, see this page.
Examples of Successful Testimonial Campaigns
To give you some inspiration for creating successful customer testimonial campaigns, here are a few examples from companies that have done an excellent job of collecting and sharing customer feedback:
- Apple: Apple created an interactive website showcasing customer stories from around the world.
- Starbucks: Starbucks’ website includes positive quotes from real customers describing their experience with the company.
- Amazon: Amazon regularly posts customer reviews of products on its website and allows customers to rate products on a scale from one to five stars.
How to Measure the ROI of Customer Testimonials
When measuring the ROI of customer testimonials, it’s important to look at metrics such as pageviews, conversions, and customer satisfaction levels. You can also look at how much money is being earned per customer as a result of their experience with your company, as well as any other metrics that are specifically relevant to your business.
It’s also important to monitor how customers are responding to changes in your customer testimonial strategy. Are they responding positively or negatively? Are they engaging with the content? Are they taking any desired actions after viewing the content? All of these metrics can help you determine whether or not your strategy is effective.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Collecting and Sharing Testimonials
When collecting and sharing customer testimonials it’s important to avoid common mistakes that could have negative consequences for your business. The first mistake is not giving customers enough time to provide meaningful feedback. Customers should be given adequate time to write and record thoughtful and detailed testimonials that accurately reflect their experience with your product or service.
Another mistake is making it difficult for customers to submit their feedback. If the process is too cumbersome or complicated, customers may not be motivated enough to complete it. Additionally, it’s important not to edit customer feedback in order to make it sound more favorable than it actually is.
Weird fact: Theres research that suggests that having some three and four star reviews makes your company seem more trustworthy.
Finally, make sure that all customer feedback is kept confidential in order to protect the privacy of customers unless you have their explicit consent to share it on your marketing website.
Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Post a Customer Testimonial
Before you share a customer testimonial, it’s important to ask yourself a few questions in order to ensure that the content is appropriate for your website and consistent with your brand image and target audience:
- Does this testimonial accurately reflect my company’s values?
- Does this content add value for potential customers?
- Is this content appropriate for my target demographic?
By asking yourself these questions prior to sharing a customer testimonial, you’ll be able to ensure that the content reflects your brand image in a positive light and helps attract potential customers.
As you can see, collecting and sharing customer testimonials on your website can be an effective way to increase leads, boost sales, and improve customer satisfaction levels. By following the tips outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way towards creating successful customer testimonial campaigns.
If you want to get started with your testimonial program, sign up to Re-View today!