How to ask for testimonials

To ask for testimonials you need to write a request for a letter of testimonials. Here are the steps to writing a request for testimonials:

• Determine your most valued and loyal customers

  These are the customers you should be requesting testimonials from. Loyal customers are often going to respond most enthusiastically to this request, as they value the service or products you provide them with. These types of testimonials can often be the most authentic and have a positive promotion effect on your business.

• Keep your message clear and brief

  Just like an actual testimonial, your request should be brief and to the point. This eliminates any confusion your customer might experience when reading the email, message, or another form of correspondence, and also makes it easier for them to accept the request.

• Describe why you want them in particular

  You should avoid sending out mass uniform emails or other messages to customers for testimonials. It is a much more effective approach to include a personal touch in each. You should be trying to engage with your top ten customers for testimonials and work down from there. With a personal approach you can describe how much you value and their opinion.

• Explain how it can benefit the receiver

  This holds especially true for business-to-business (B2B) professional relationships. You can describe how this testimonial will help advertise the receivers company by including a link to their website.

• Provide the option to decline the request

  You should also make sure to let your customer know that it is okay if they do not wish to participate in the testimonials. If this happens to be the case you should still thank them for their loyalty to your business.

• Give them the option of writing it for them

  For customers who are very busy, you can also give them the option of writing the testimonial for them, and then having them review it for feedback and approval. This often makes it a hard offer to turn down since the customer won't have to do much work at all.

  Here is what should be included in a letter of testimonials:

  • Marks for quotations

    Your testimonials must contain quotation marks at the beginning and end of all testimonials because these are statements from your customers.

  • Length of statements

    Testimonials should consist of a 30 to 50-word statement from your customers. You are looking for brief and compelling statements that can achieve a high impact on potential customers that will read them. They should never be overly long or complicated.

  • Tone of voice

    Testimonials should have an authentic and organic tone and voice. Testimonials should not sound too businessy or overtly professional. Encourage your customers to use a conversational approach to the testimonial.

  • Statement credit

    If your customer allows you should always credit them with the testimonial in the text version. Testimonials from anonymous sources might be viewed as untrustworthy from readers.