Using testimonials is a great way to build credibility and develop rapport. In addition, customer endorsements are an effective sales tool when responding to a prospect's objections. Nothing promotes credibility faster in the mind of a skeptical prospect than a heartfelt and sincerely written testimonial from a trusted third party source.
There are many ways to request a testimonial from a customer, but as with most things, timing is everything. For example, don't ask for a testimonial from a customer that you're meeting for the first time, because you may appear overly aggressive. The most effective testimonials are derived from three primary sources; positive comments received from verbal feedback, customer surveys, and thank you notes. If you take the time to nurture your key customer relationships and go the extra mile when rendering service, most of your customers will be happy to give you a strong testimonial endorsement if you ask them for it.
Here are some valuable considerations to help you get the maximum benefit from your customer testimonials:
From an advertising perspective, a testimonial from a happy customer has the potential to be worth as much as a full-page newspaper ad. Harnessing the good will of your satisfied customers' is the key to taking your business to the next level.