I want to create a page on our website that has customer testimonials. We have a few and more if we were to copy from emails but I was thinking about emailing some of our long term clients for testimonials. A few of our long term clients I would actually consider friends. We have received invites to Christmas parties etc. However, they are all very busy (Im sure like everyone's higher end clients) and I am torn about bothering them.

We are very busy and dont need business right now but I thought it would be a good touch for the site.

In your opinion is it bad form to ask for testimonials? Does it come across desperate? Could it potentially damage a relationship? Not worth a new client if it risks damaging an existing relationship that we worked hard on.

Thoughts? Anyone do this?

If they're good customers and happy with what you do I don't see any issue asking for a testimonial. I've asked quite a few of my good clients for these and they were more than happy to oblige.

When I was in real estate, I did a Tom Hopkins course where not only did he say to ask clients for testimonials, but offer to write it for them so they aren't inconvenienced. He suggested something like call them up as a follow up and say you just wanted to make sure everything was good and they are happy. When they answer that everything is great and they love everything, then say, "that's great. Hey, we are working on updating our website and it would be nice to have some testimonials to put on there. Would you mind at all to give us a testimonial?". And when they say, sure, I'd be glad to (because they can't really refuse at that time), you say, " I know you are really busy, how about if I write something and I will stop by tomorrow and all you would have to do is sign it"

You get the testimonial, they think you are still great because you even made that easy, and you get face time with them, which is always a chance to sell something.

This website has good testimonials from customers:
http://tvmountcharlotte.com/

;-)

+1 except often I don't even feel the need to inconvenience them by having them sign. We just do it all over email. Although some people do go to further trouble to print it, sign it, then fax it back... so I've made more work for them by not specifying that they didn't have to sign! :-)

I cant imagine writing my own testimonial. Im way to self aware for that. I would criticize myself.

I think asking for a testimonial is perfectly fine. Using the website angle is perfect imo. "we are planning our new website and wanted to add testimonials from our existing clients...would you please consider writing one for us?".

I know you said you were busy but i would contact them with the.. "how is everything going, is the system meeting your expectations etc" conversation. This way it doesn't feel like you are just hitting them up for a favor. You may end up with a couple of service calls or small upgrades but i think its worth it...plus who knows...you might end up catching a client whos selling one house and building a brand new one.

I was just reading a transcript of a speech Mark Twain made, where he said he didn't like to be introduced... he'd rather introduce himself so he could be sure to get all the proper compliments in.

Don't be shy, guys. My ex once was too shy to use the word "Best" for a business name, thinking "what if we're not the BEST ? ?" and her partner at the time now very successfully uses the name....

And the only client who would be upset with you asking for a referral is one who already isn't happy with you.

I am a very confidant man and far from shy. Maybe too much so. However, I am not one to bestow compliments on myself. Its probably the reason I work as hard as I do. I want others to compliment me so I dont have to. :)

Point taken though. I will be contacting clients this week.

I agree with the others, this is a no brainer.  I would do it a little differently though.  Set up a constant contact account if you don't have one already.  Insert all of the pertinent clients that you'd like to ask testimonials of.  

Type up the email.  Explain the deal with the website, and how you value them as customers, you're trying to grow your business and you'd like if they'd give you a testimonial.  

Send it out, after that call all of them.  Explain that they have an email from you in their inbox.

That way they can do it while sitting in front of the computer, and it's easy for them.  

If you send them an email, you won't forget to say something like.."Please talk specifically about the installation we performed for you (i.e- How nice the TV looks, the home theater sounds, etc).

That way you won't have 50 testimonials that all say the exact same thing.

I thought about that but wanted to reach out to them individually instead of a format email.




Thats good advice!

You are a really cool dude.

Thats more like it. Can I use that on my testimonial page?

It doesn't bother Best Buy, and they're not even mediocre!

I would suggest that when you do this, you ask them if they would be willing to discuss the work you did for them, with future clients that ask for referrals? You would assure them that you will only list their preferred method of contact (email, phone) in the information given to clients during a proposal.

I would also suggest you ask people whom you have given proposals to, if they contacted any of the referrals, and if so, which.  This is your opportunity to send the referral a small gift, along with a note of thanks, even if you don't get the job.

When giving your prospective client a list of your referrals, let them know which match most closely to their situation.  Customers having a single panel hung, and a sound bar installed, won't necessarily get the best idea of how you'll be in that situation, from someone you did a whole home automation system for.  I've seen companies that give the referral name, a brief description of the work they performed for the client, followed by a small blurb of what the customer said about your company.  I found this very helpful.

Don't be afraid to have a couple that even talk about how something went a bit wrong, and how you took care of the situation to make the customer happy.  Most reasonable customers knows that sometimes things just go wrong, and the difference between good companies and bad, is how they handle such situations!