How to Get Great Testimonials
Did you know that people look for program and product testimonials before making a buying decision? Potential clients want to see and hear about success stories that help them envision the same thing for themselves.
Testimonials can help overcome objections and skepticism as well as help build your reputation and authority when they are used the right way.
We’re breaking it all down for you this week on The Wellness Business Podcast, so you know exactly how to obtain and use testimonials in your wellness business.
Here’s What You’ll Discover:
- Why testimonials are so important to your success
- How to ask for a testimonial without feeling awkward
- What to do with the testimonial once you have it
- How to use a testimonial to attract clients and grow your business
- We’ll also share 3 options to fill your testimonial page even if you’ve never had a paying client
Why Testimonials Are So Important To Your Success
Each time you collect a new testimonial, you have just received a gold nugget that you can share (on your website and on social media) that validates what you offer is effective and provides results.
The reason that client testimonials are so important to your business is because it establishes that you have built a reputation within your niche and that you have had previous successes.
How to Ask for A Testimonial Without Feeling Awkward.
You should ALWAYS ask for a client testimonial as soon as possible when the client is feeling excited about their results.
Depending on the program, product or service you provide, that may mean you ask while your client is still working with you or immediately upon the conclusion of working together.
When you are coaching a client through a longer program, such as six months, you can ask for a testimonial around the halfway point and again once they’ve completed working with you.
By the time they reach the halfway point they will be experiencing positive changes and will already have a strong opinion of how valuable you are to their success.
The goal is to collect as many client testimonials as you can, and most people will be more than happy to do it.
What to Do with The Testimonial Once You Have It.
Now that your client has given you their testimonial, what’s the next step?
The next step is YOU must write a final draft of the testimonial. Meaning you compile all of their answers into one coherent, well-written success story.
It’s up to you to rewrite it, using as many of your clients own words as possible.
Write it in a way that actually answers commonly asked questions and be sure to emphasize the results that your client received when working with you. Keep it as true to their words as you can.
Let’s face it… not every client that you have is going to write the perfect testimonial. Chances are it will need some tweaking before it lands on your website.
You don’t want to change the message, but just make sure that it flows, is grammatically correct and is punctuated in the right way.
Once you have it edited just the way you want it, ask your client to review it one last time. Ask for their ‘A-OK’ on the entire testimonial.
Finally, ask them for a photo of themselves that you can place next to their testimonial on your website.
My recommendation though is to never publish a client testimonial without your client’s approval. Ask permission to use their first and last name or if they would prefer you use their first name and last initial – it’s totally up to them and their level of comfort for privacy.
How To Use Testimonials To Grow Your Coaching Business
- Now that you have accumulated some amazing testimonials, let’s discuss how you can use them to grow your business.
- First, you will add a “Testimonials” tab to your website where you will proudly display the results your clients have received by working with you.
- Second, you can sprinkle them into your weekly blog post email or newsletter. Rotate them around every couple of weeks to keep the stories fresh and interesting.
- Third, you should include the very best testimonials on your program/ product/service sales pages. Even if the topic of what you’re selling on the page is different than how you helped a specific client you can still use the testimonial. The purpose is to substantiate your expertise and authority within your industry.
- Lastly, feel free to brag about your success stories on social media. There is nothing wrong with giving yourself a virtual pat on the back once in awhile. Plus, the potential clients that are using social media to check you out will enjoy learning more about how you’ve helped past clients.
Now, let’s dive into the 3 options you can use to fill your Testimonials Page, even if you’ve never had a paying client.
One of the longest and most difficult times as a coach is when you’re first starting out.
It seems that you have more questions than answers. One of the questions we get asked most often is, “What should I include on my Testimonials Page if I’ve never had a paying client?”
This is actually a really great question and the good news is the answer is easier than you think.
There are three quick and easy options that allow you to quickly gather testimonials, even if you’ve never had a paying client.
Option #1: Ask colleagues or mentors to write a testimonial describing your expertise and commitment to your clients.
Who better to give you a recommendation than someone you’ve learned from or a peer in your industry that has knowledge of your programs, products and services?
They can add a substantial amount of credibility to your page, especially if they have an established business and reputation, (although this isn’t a requirement).
Option #2: Ask friends and family that you’ve helped and supported with your vast knowledge to write a testimonial describing how your support has caused a change or improvement in their life.
As a passion driven wellness business owner, you are more than likely sharing valuable tips and strategies with those around you all of the time. Even the smallest improvement in someone’s health or condition is worth documenting in a testimonial.
Don’t discount the impact you make on the people in your life.
Option #3: Document each time you participate in a local talk, online summit, guest blog or are interviewed on a podcast. This type of exposure certainly establishes your expertise and gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge with a larger audience.
If you’re being asked to share your information with someone else’s following, it is definitely noteworthy and should be included on your testimonials page.
All you have to do is take a screenshot of the webpage and write a descriptive paragraph about what you offered during the event.
Okay, are you ready to start collecting and sharing testimonials?
The key is to start asking for testimonials and to make it easy to do so, you can download Karen’s Client Acquisition Testimonial Formula here, so you are sure to get the best possible and useful testimonials.
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