Collect Social Proof That Turns Onlookers into Clients

Look, we’ll be honest with you.

It doesn’t really matter how good YOU say you are… In fact, self-praise tends to go in one ear and out the other where your work is concerned.

What really matters is how good your CLIENTS say you are.

Don’t believe me?

Try these stats on for size:

• “88% of consumers trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations” (Source)
• “Testimonials can increase conversions on sales pages by as much as 34%” (Source)
• “The average consumer reads 10 online reviews before making a purchase decision” (Source)

In light of the research, the case for rave-worthy client reviews is crystal clear. 

Client testimonials can make a HUGE difference when it comes to landing new projects. They have the potential to turn lurkers into loyal clients and tip indecisive leads in your favor.

If you’ve been cranking out projects you’re proud of but don’t have a strategy in place to collect reviews worth their weight in gold, never fear! We’ve got your back.

Read on for the inside scoop on getting the kind of social proof your future clients can’t ignore.

Use a CRM to Automate Emails

It’s time to get your tech up to speed!

If you aren’t already leveraging email automations, that should be at the top of your to-do list.

We don’t have to tell you that keeping up with your inbox is a major time suck. Automated emails will make it a breeze to ensure you and your clients are on the same page at every stage of their project. The right automations help you stay consistent *without* having to draft and send every message by hand.

Imagine what you could get done if you could cut your time spent on emails in half!

And imagine the kind of testimonials you’d get if NO ONE slipped through the cracks.

(Oh! Your emails requesting testimonials? Those can be automated too.)

Provide a Questionnaire With Open-ended Questions

One way to guarantee your testimonials hit every note you want to cover is to provide clients with a questionnaire after wrapping up each project.

Using a questionnaire gives you the opportunity to offer direction upfront so you’re more likely to get the kind of feedback you’re looking for.

Open-ended questions are especially useful in this case.

You’d be surprised. When clients are allowed to talk freely and elaborate on what they feel like talking about, we bet our bottom dollar that you’ll get some reviews you couldn’t have written better yourself!

Consider adding these questions to your exit survey:

• “What was your favorite part about working with us?”
• “Did we do anything that exceeded your expectations?”
• “In your opinion, what is our greatest strength as a company?”
• “What part of the project are you most satisfied with? Write down the first thing that comes to mind.”

For good measure—and to make you aware of any areas that need improvement—add this next question as well!

• “If there is anything you would change about your experience working with us, what would it be?”

When you write out your questionnaire, get a second, third, or even fourth pair of eyes on it. Keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Don’t forget that powerful testimonials don’t happen by accident!

Offer Something in Exchange for a Testimonial

Who doesn’t love a little motivation in the form of a small gift?

Trust us, the little things go a long way in business, and asking for your client’s time in exchange for a treat CAN pave the way for future opportunities.

Your client gift doesn’t have to be big either!

You could offer a cup of coffee, a gift card to Target (or whatever fan-favorite store strikes their fancy), or a free bonus that isn’t included in their selected package.

This shows your clients that you value your time, energy, and insights they may want to share. It also has the potential to turn a happy client into a repeat customer.

No matter what you offer in exchange for social proof, know it’s not a waste of funds or resources, it’s an investment in the future. After all, word-of-mouth referrals are a LOT more powerful than organic marketing methods. You might as well lean into them. 

The experiences your clients had while working with you have the power to open new doors for your business—IF you can get them to put it in writing to share with the world.

Up your marketing efforts by making testimonial acquisition a priority. 

Then watch your business soar!

P.S. If you’re ready to cut to the chase when it comes to collecting social proof, check out our email templates. We’ve got scripts to help you follow up with clients after a project wraps, scripts to ask for referrals, and more. It will take the guesswork out of emailing and cut down the time you spend in your inbox. We pinky swear.