How Coaches and Consultants Can Request Client Testimonials (Without Feeling Pushy)
Online reviews are a tried and true way of earning customers’ trust and growing your business.
Do you know how to effectively solicit quality customer reviews? Client testimonials are essential to the growth of your brand and the expansion of your customer base. Whether you own or operate a service-based business or a product-based company, your customers want to know your brand is trustworthy and reliable. Quality testimonials and customer reviews show potential clients proof that your brand satisfied previous clients, and that it will be a positive experience for them, too. Online testimonials can be particularly impactful for small businesses looking to make headway among competitors. Testimonials can convince an on-the-fence-consumer to choose your brand over competitors simply because there’s evidence that you are worth the investment.
Why do client testimonials help?
Recent studies support the idea that testimonials are absolutely critical to securing customer’s trust in your service or product. According to Search Engine Watch, 72% of customers will not take action until they read a positive review of a company. Furthermore, the practice of reading testimonials is ubiquitous among consumers. Big Commerce reports that 92% of customers read online testimonials before making an investment in that service or product. What’s more, customers implicitly trust reviews they find online—88% of consumers trust online testimonials as much as the word of their family members or friends. Writing a testimonial can also help encourage a client to give you a referral—in a sense, it’s a dress rehearsal for when they talk you up to their coworkers, friends, and family!
How many testimonials should I put on my website?
We recommend having at least 3 testimonials on your website. Too few testimonials gives customers the impression that your brand is inexperienced, that you don’t have enough satisfied customers, or that you aren’t established enough to be worth their investment.
There’s no question that you need testimonials to help grow your business. But how do you ask customers to give a review, without sounding pushy or desperate? Find out below!
How do I ask a client for a testimonial?
Use a post-project feedback form to get the client's perspective on their experience working with you. For example, you can ask: "If you were to recommend my services to a colleague or friend, what would you say?"
Give people the option to submit their testimonial via video, voice memo, or in writing. People need to feel that this is convenient and easy to do---so make it accessible for them! We recommend transcribing this later so that you have the text on your site.
When clients give you praise in person, email, or on the phone, write it down and ask them: “Can I quote you on that and would you mind if I shared that with my audience on my website?"
Consider linking to other testimonials so the client can get an idea of what others have said.
Be sure to ask if they are OK with you sharing their name, full name, or just initials, as well as their credentials and/or title or affiliation.
PRO TIP: Always send a formal thank you and a link to the testimonial once it’s up on your site.
After a client shares a positive review with you, don’t be afraid to ask for future referrals!
For example, you might follow up with the client by writing: “Thank you for sharing your experience with me; I’m so glad you are satisfied with our service (or product). Please consider referring a colleague or friend our way in the future—we always appreciate word-of-mouth referrals, plus you and your friend will receive a special discount if they book with us!”
Questions to Ask for Powerful Client Testimonials
Craft the perfect testimonial request with these proven prompts.
Before asking for a testimonial or review from your clients, it’s important to get clear on the kind of feedback you’re hoping to gather. Many clients might need a little nudge to feel confident in sharing their thoughts, so giving them some prompts can make all the difference. Below are some questions that will help you get detailed, heartfelt reviews that truly reflect the impact of your coaching or consulting:
What’s your name and role/business?
What specific coaching/consulting service did you work with me on?
How did you first hear about my services?
What made you decide to invest in working with me?
What challenges were you facing or what goals were you trying to reach when we started working together?
How did my services help you overcome those challenges or reach your goals?
What part of our work together did you find most valuable or impactful?
If you were recommending my services to a colleague or friend, what would you say to describe them?
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your experience with me?
Feel free to borrow any of these questions or tweak them to match your style. The goal is to make it easy for your clients to share their honest feedback, which will not only help you grow but also help others see the real value you bring!
Our actual feedback form we send to clients after we wrap a project.
When can I ask for customer reviews?
After a project successfully wraps up.
When a client says something nice to you in an email or during a phone / in-person conversation.
If this happens, you can say to the client: “Do you mind if I quote you on what you just said?”
When a client refers someone to you.
When a client refers someone to you, it’s one of the best compliments you can get! Word-of-mouth recommendations are such a powerful way to build trust and show potential clients the real value you offer.
At the end of the day, testimonials help prove that your brand is solid, your coaching really works, and your services are worth the investment.
Curious about how testimonials can help you attract more clients and grow your business? Let’s chat! Reach out to us here , and we’ll talk about how we can work together to boost your brand.
