Getting customers to convert on your website is crucial to growing your business, and one of the most effective ways to do this is through the power of testimonials. Testimonials are short statements from customers praising your product or service, and they can give potential customers the confidence they need to make a purchase. But what makes a great testimonial, and how do you go about collecting them? Read on to discover seven powerful testimonial examples and tips for maximizing their effectiveness.
What is a Testimonial and Why Should You Use Them?
Testimonials are short statements from customers about their experience using your product or service. These may be written reviews of your product, video testimonies from customers, or social proof from authoritative figures. Testimonials establish credibility for your business and provide potential customers with social proof that others approve of your product or service. This social proof can be an incredibly powerful tool for boosting conversion rates.
Including testimonials on your website or in your marketing materials can help to build trust with potential customers. People are more likely to purchase a product or service if they can see that others have had a positive experience with it. Testimonials can also help to differentiate your business from competitors, as they provide a unique insight into the customer experience.
What Makes a Testimonial Effective?
What you will notice about the most effective testimonial examples is that there are a few key ingredients that exist in all of them, that you should look out for.
First of all, a great testimonial example should tell a story. Rather than simply listing positive words about your product, focus on how the customer’s experience was improved by using it. This will help potential customers to imagine how their experience might be improved.
The other key to a good testimonial is authenticity. The more believable your testimonials are, the more trust potential customers will have in your product or service. You can achieve this by being open about the customer experience, such as including both the positives and negatives. You may also want to include a real photo or video of the customer and maybe even include information about their credentials to add even more authenticity to the testimonial. Further, having your customer create their own testimonials in the comfort of their home with their own mobile phone, as Re-View allows, has been proven to increase authenticity and provide a greater return for the business than professionally edited testimonials. Which is a bit unexpected, isn’t it?!
In addition to authenticity, it is important to make sure that the testimonial examples you share are relevant to the product or service you are offering. If the customer does not look or sound like your typical customer, it will not be as effective. For better or worse, people are more likely to trust others who are in a similar situation to them. This could be a similar job title, location, age gender or something else entirely! It is also important to make sure that the customer is speaking in their own words, as this will make the testimonial more genuine and believable.
Finally, it is important to make sure that the testimonial is up-to-date. If the customer is talking about a product that is no longer available, or was filmed years ago when the company was still new, it will not be as effective. It is also important to make sure that the customer is speaking about their current experience with the product or service, as this will make the testimonial more relevant and believable. This means testimonials are not a ‘one and done’ type affair. Like everything else in your business, it is important to keep your testimonials up to date and current, which is crucial to improving their effectiveness.
How to Collect Great Testimonial Examples from Your Customers
When it comes to collecting powerful testimonials from your customers, it’s important to remember that not all customers are going to provide you with a great review. However, if you put the effort into seeking out quality testimonials, you’ll be rewarded with some incredibly powerful statements.
The best way to collect good testimonials is to reach out to existing customers and ask them if they would be willing to write an honest review of your product or service. You can also reach out to influencers who can provide social proof for your product. Finally, you can incentivize customers to write reviews by offering discounts or freebies in exchange for their testimony.
When asking customers for testimonials, it’s important to be clear about what you’re looking for. Ask them to provide specific details about their experience with your product or service. Also make sure to emphasize that you’re looking for honest feedback. Additionally, make sure to thank them for their time and effort in providing you with a testimonial.
Finally, once you have collected your testimonials, make sure to showcase them prominently on your website or social media channels. This will help to build trust with potential customers and give them the confidence to purchase your product or service.
Using Video Testimonials to Increase Engagement
Video testimonials are becoming increasingly popular as an effective way to engage potential customers. Video testimonies are significantly better than written reviews as they showcase real people advocating for your product. Think TikTok vs. an article. The article doesn’t stand a chance!
The key to creating great video testimonials is to keep them brief. Stick to one minute or less, as most people are unlikely to watch for longer. You should also focus on weaving compelling stories. Ask the customer to explain their experience using your product or service. After receiving the video response, feel free to add in fun extras like video edits and music. But always remember, the customer is the hero, no the jazzy backing track.
When creating video testimonials, it is important to ensure that the customer is comfortable and relaxed. Make sure to provide them with a script or talking points to help them stay on track. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the video is well-lit and the audio is clear. This will help to ensure that the video testimonial is professional and engaging. But remember, don’t make it too polished, because this can come come at the expense of authenticity.
Utilizing Social Proof to Boost Your Conversion Rate
Social proof is when authoritative figures endorse your product or service. This social proof can be incredibly powerful and boost your conversion rates significantly. The key here is to focus on influencers who are connected with your target audience. If they have a have a large following of potential customers, then that’s a bonus.
You should also consider industry awards or certifications which can demonstrate the quality and reliability of your product or service. Featuring these alongside your testimonial examples on your website can significantly boost potential customer’s confidence in your brand.
Tips for Writing Powerful Testimonials
If deciding to go with written reviews, there are a few tips you should follow to ensure that your testimonials are engaging. First off, your testimonial examples should focus on individual stories. Pitfalls we often run into with writing reviews is trying to make them too generic. While this may help you sound more professional, it won’t do anything in terms of engaging potential customers.
You should also focus on making the customer testimonial examples memorable. Use exciting adjectives to draw attention and make sure to emphasize the improvements the customer experienced. Finally, don’t be afraid to use personal anecdotes which can help potential customers picture themselves using your product.
High-Converting Testimonial Examples
Here are a few examples of effective testimonials which can help increase your conversion rate:
- “I was completely blown away by the speed and efficiency my new computer. I can’t believe it took me this long to upgrade. It has helped me to increase productivity tenfold! “- John Smith, Software Developer
- “This app changed my life! I used to be overwhelmed by all my tasks each day, and didn’t know where to go for support and encouragement. But now I know exactly what needs to be done and when I need to do it. “- Sarah Taylor, Business Owner
- “This product has been a lifesaver! I used to struggle with staying organized but now I have everything under control! “- Kevin Johnson, College Student
- “Best product I’ve ever used. Seriously. I’ve tried a lot of skin care products because my skin is super sensitive, and this is by far the best. Not too oily, not too thick or goo-ey. Just right” Michelle, North Carolina
- “I was a little hesitant to order new shoes from an online store because my feet are wide, but I’m so glad I did! Your products are exactly what I was looking for, and the shipping was very fast. Plus, I think they’re very stylish; I’ve been getting lots of comments on them from friends. I will definitely be ordering from you again” Marc, New York
- “I have been a customer of BestBank for years, and I have always been impressed with their level of customer service. The staff is friendly and helpful, and they always go out of their way to meet my needs. One time, they even held the store open so I could finish my business before rushing off to a busy weekend. I would highly recommend BestBank to anyone.” Kevin, Iowa
- “My gut health has never felt better since switching to organic products.I feel like a new person! Shiny inside and out.” Sanoma, California
Notice not only the simple to understand terminology but the attribution to a specific person as well? Both are crucial and often overlooked elements of a successful testimonial.
Want more examples of testimonials? Check out our blog: 50 Real Examples Of Customer Testimonials.
Analyzing the Impact of Your Testimonial Examples on Conversion Rate
Once you’ve added testimonials to your website using Re-View’s Showcase functionality, it’s important to measure it’s impact on conversion rates. This will help you identify which type of testimonials produce the greatest conversions, as well as other contributing factors affecting conversion rates.
Look at the results of your A/B tests in order to identify any trends in customer behaviour. Are certain types of testimonial examples more successful than others? What about features such as video vs written reviews? Analysing these results will allow you to refine and hone in on which type of testimonial examples are most effective to share with your potential customers.
Maximizing the Benefits of Your Testimonials
Now that you know the basics of how to collect and write a great testimonial, here are a few tips for leveraging them in order to maximize their benefit:
- Display on landing pages:
Testimonials are incredibly effective at converting visitors who land on your website. Place testimonials prominently on landing pages to boost conversions. - Use them in emails:
Testimonials can be quite impactful when sent via email campaigns. Choose the most powerful testimonies in order to increase sales and reiterate the value of the product or service. - Pay attention to placement:
Think carefully about where on the page you place your testimonials. You’ll want them to be visible without detracting from other elements such as CTAs or product images.
For more on this topic, check out our blog on “How to turn 1 video testimonial into 5 pieces of content“.
If implemented correctly, testimonials can be a powerful way of increasing conversions on your website. By collecting authentic stories from happy customers and displaying them prominently on your website, you can boost trust levels amongst potential customers and lead them towards making purchases.