Harnessing the power of customer reviews and testimonials gives you a free marketing tool that builds trust, boosts credibility, and drives more customers to your business!
But first, you need to know how to get them and where to put them. After all, reviews and testimonials only work when your target audience can see them.
Fortunately, there are strategies to get and correctly display your reviews and testimonials.
And you’ll learn those in this post.
Ready to harness the power of customer reviews and testimonials for your small business’ success?
Great, Let’s do it.
What's the difference between customer reviews and testimonials?
Customers give testimonials directly to your business and reviews to third-party sites like Yelp, Trip adviser, and Google My Business.
Both are free marketing tools essential to your small business’ success.
You can select which testimonials to display and where. Reviews, on the other hand, are out of your control, well, almost!
There is a way to influence what your reviewers write and where they post them.
But before I tell you that, you need to know:
What makes a great customer review and testimonial?
A great testimonial isn’t just a few positive words slapped together; it’s a persuasive story that showcases your business’s ability to solve your customer’s problems and deliver outstanding results.
Removing any doubts they might have and convincing them to choose your business.
The key elements of an effective testimonial/review:
- Define the problem: A great testimonial/review begins by describing your customer’s challenges or issues before discovering your business.
- Describe the action taken: It should highlight your specific efforts to address your customer’s problem, demonstrating your commitment to providing exceptional solutions.
- Share the outcome: The testimonial/review must illuminate how your product or service helped your customer solve their problem and showcase the positive results.
- Provide context: And paint a vivid picture by mentioning the situation or context in which your customer experienced your exceptional service or product.
You might ask, “But how do I get people to leave reviews like that?”
It often happens naturally by ensuring your customer experiences all 4 stages that make a good testimonial/review.
But you can also encourage it by providing a helpful template your customers can use to write testimonials/reviews.
Now let’s look at how you get them:
How to get customer reviews and testimonials
Customers need a reason to give your business a glowing testimonial, and there are ways to ensure they do.
All take effort, but the results could be priceless:
Provide exceptional customer experiences:
Exceed your client’s expectations and make them feel unique by delivering outstanding service and after-sales support.
Encourage customers to leave testimonials:
Ask happy customers to share their experiences by leaving reviews or providing testimonials.
And make it easy for them by providing simple instructions (your review template) and links to your preferred testimonial/review platforms.
Set up a system for collecting reviews:
Use online platforms and tools designed for managing testimonials to implement a structured process to gather feedback and reviews from your satisfied customers.
Reward customers to review:
Consider offering small incentives, such as discounts or exclusive offers, to customers who take the time to provide testimonials to motivate them to share their experiences and help you gather more reviews.
Where to display your testimonials
Testimonials only work if people can see them, so you must put them where your target audience can easily read them and where they’ll have the most impact.
Display testimonials on your website:
Show people your testimonials on your website by creating a review page and putting them on your homepage to ensure visitors see the positive experiences your previous customers have had when using your business.
Include customer reviews on product pages:
Display testimonials specific to your products or services on their respective pages to give potential customers valuable insights and boost their confidence in purchasing.
Encourage testimonials on your social media platforms:
Social media’s power is unquestionable because of its genuine feedback from real people.
Take advantage of this power by placing your testimonials on every platform you`re using to promote your business.
Where to encourage people to leave your reviews
Customers choose where to leave reviews, but you can influence their decision by asking them to review you on the platforms that suit your business.
For instance:
Leverage online platforms and review websites:
Use popular review websites and online platforms relevant to your industry and encourage your customers to leave reviews on these platforms.
For example, a tour company or hotel would promote TripAdvisor. A local plumber would direct his clients to their Google My Business page.
Optimize your local search directory listings:
Business listings like Google My Business and Yelp are essential marketing strategies every business should use. But for them to work, you must optimize them and enhance your online presence by asking your happy customers to leave reviews on everyone you use.
How to harness the power of customer reviews and testimonials to grow your business
Once you have your glowing reviews, your last step is maximizing the benefits they can bring your business.
And there are 5 proven ways to do it:
1. Leverage testimonials in social media and advertising:
Share customer testimonials on your social media accounts, turning them into engaging posts or graphics. And use them in your online ads to increase their impact and effectiveness.
2. Use testimonials in your sales emails:
Email lists are a proven way to convince people to purchase your products or services because those who opt into your email list already have an interest.
Adding glowing testimonials from previous clients removes any lingering doubts they might have by providing social proof from real people.
3. Incorporate testimonials in marketing materials and campaigns:
Include testimonials in your brochures, flyers, and other marketing materials. Use them as exciting stories to highlight and sell the benefits of your products or services.
4. Show customer variety:
Ensure your testimonials represent a diverse range of customers to show that your business caters to different needs and establishes relatability with a broader audience.
5. Integrate third-party reviews:
If other businesses advocate your services, showing any reputable third-party sources alongside your customer testimonials is a powerful way to strengthen your credibility and build trust.
The benefits of customer reviews and testimonials
There are few marketing strategies as powerful as free testimonials and reviews.
Amazon built its store around reviews; every e-commerce business uses them to engage and convert its target audience.
But one-off sales aren’t the only benefits; for instance, reviews and testimonials can:
- Build trust and credibility: Testimonials act as social proof, assuring potential customers that your business delivers on its promises and has satisfied customers who can vouch for your products or services.
- Improve local SEO: Positive reviews and testimonials help boost your online visibility and improve your rankings in local search results, making it easier for customers to find you.
- Increase conversions and sales: Genuine customer testimonials have a persuasive impact on prospects, influencing their purchase decisions and increasing conversion rates.
- Enhance brand reputation and differentiation: Strong testimonials help differentiate your business from competitors and contribute to building a positive brand reputation.
Conclusion
Now you know why harnessing the power of customer reviews and testimonials for your small business is essential to its success.
And how to do it.
Focus on getting as many reviews and testimonials as possible and leverage their power by putting them where your target audience will see them.
Remember, your clients are your best brand advocates!
