Testimonials: How to Get ‘Em, and How to Show ‘Em Off

Want to know the most important words on your website? It’s not your blog or your sales page. It’s your testimonials.

Think about this: When a potential client visits your site, he or she has no idea if you are professional, good at your job, or if you’re even capable of doing the work he or she has in mind. The only thing your new customer has to go by is your word, and that of the people you’ve worked with in the past.

How to Get Testimonials

Here’s the obvious answer: ask. Yes, it may seem overly simplified, but the truth is, most people will not volunteer a testimonial, but will gladly provide one if you just ask. Consider creating a template email in which you ask for a testimonial. Then each time you finish a job with a new client, simply copy and paste and send it off.  

Of course, if you’re just getting started, you may not have any testimonials to show off. What then? There are plenty of ways to gain testimonials when you’re just starting out.

• Volunteer your services in exchange for a testimonial
• Become an intern – many business owners will happily provide a testimonial at the end of your internship
• Ask people you’ve worked with in the past, even in a different capacity. A testimonial saying you’re hard working and conscientious is just as valuable whether the person is talking about your stint as a bank teller or your new virtual assistant business.

How to Display Testimonials

We’ve already said how important testimonials are when you’re trying to entice new clients. But here’s a weird thing about those potential customers: They’re not very likely to actually click on the “Testimonials” tab in your nav bar.

So how do you let them know about those great things people are saying about you?

First, don’t hide them all away on a single page. Sprinkle them throughout your site. Some good places for testimonials include:

• In your sidebar
• In your header
• On your about page
• On your home page
• In your footer
• On your sales page

If you’re using WordPress, you can use a plugin to “rotate” your testimonials, so the same one isn’t shown to each and every visitor.

Here’s something else to consider: It’s easy to make up rocking testimonials. While you know that you would never do that, others may not know it. So when you’re using a testimonial on your page, be sure to include the person’s full name, website or physical address (city and state), and a photo. Even better is a video testimonial, if you can arrange it.