The best way to reach new customers is through word of mouth. We all know this, but how can you use word of mouth when you cast your net wider in your quest for customers? One way to do this is through testimonials.

What is a testimonial?
Simply, a testimonial is a recommendation from one of your customers. Instead of being a direct recommendation to another person, it is made out to nobody in particular. The advantage of this is that you can share that glowing review of your products or services with the world. Because it is personal, instead of being seen purely as marketing bluff it is recognised as a true experience. We inherently place more value on other peoples’ experiences. Testimonials build up trust in your brand and let your potential clients know that you deliver on your promises.

How to ask for a testimonial
Most of us understand how important testimonials are, but many businesses are uncomfortable about asking for them. Testimonials will not just happen naturally. Satisfied customers tend not to give a positive review unless they have been prompted. There is nothing wrong with giving your clients a little nudge or incentive to encourage them to share their experiences with others.

You may want to ask for clients to share their good experiences when:
You solve a problem for them;
They tell you they’re happy with your work;
You successfully deliver a product on time.

You may do this through an email, a phone call or a survey. The personal touch is always best, and we always communicate with our clients by phone or in person as much as possible.

See testimonials in action
At ThriftySites, we are extremely proud of the testimonials we've collected from our customers over the years. We have five star Google review ratings, and we collect and publish messages from many of our satisfied customers.