How to Increase the Number of Testimonials You Receive

Everyone loves reading testimonials. Which item would you rather buy, the one with gleaming testimonials from happy customers or the one with just a description and photo? People are much more likely to purchase an item that someone else recommends, even if they do not know the person giving the recommendation.

How to you get testimonials?

In some cases it is very common to get testimonials on just about everything you sell. If you put something up on Etsy or Ebay people will usually write a nice one line testimonial when they receive your item.

It is different on personal websites. Whether you have an online gallery or an ecommerce site, you are less likely to have an easy method for customers to leave a testimonial for your product. In most cases you will receive a nice email. These emails are great and can be added to a separate testimonials page on your website.

The more you deal directly with customers the more testimonials you will receive. When people know that they are dealing with a real person that hand made their item, they are likely to send you an email saying that their item arrived and how pleased they are. A simple follow up email to your customer to make sure the item arrived ok will usually result in a testimonial like response.

In addition to emails, you can also receive photos from your customers. They may be wearing your item, using it, or they may send you a photo it installed in their yard or on their wall. It is work for the customer to take the time to do this though so you cannot expect it every time.

A simple way to get more photos is to ask for them. You can put a handwritten letter in the box saying that you would love to receive a photo if they get a chance. This will definitely increase the likelihood of receiving pictures. It is not uncommon to even offer a small discount on a future order to customers that send in photos. A nice letter thanking them for their purchase along with a 10% discount on a future purchase if they send in a photo can definitely increase the number of photos you will receive. You can put these photos with their testimonial or even along with your product photos.

In most cases the items I make and sell have to be installed so it is very nice to get photos. I would not otherwise have any pictures showing my pieces permanently installed into the ground.

Good luck,

Richard

Tags: feedback, testimonials