Testimonial Request Letter: 9 Examples + Useful Tips
How to ask for a testimonial via email? No single person shopping online would want to buy a "cat in a sack". Therefore, people check the social evidence to see if they can trust the store (Facebook and Instagram are the most popular platforms for feedback). Customer feedback is the most powerful tool that engages new people and turns them into loyal customers.
Much has been said about the importance of requesting testimonials from clients. It is a direct indication that you can meet your customers' needs. But how to ask customers for reviews?
This article will look at collecting feedback mechanics and share effective testimonial email examples.
Why Request Testimonials?
You know that requesting testimonials is a powerful and necessary marketing practice. Do you remember searching for a review of a new blender before buying it? And we are sure you wouldn't have bought one without studying the reviews. The same goes for your customer, that's the most exciting content on your website.
Besides, people enjoy reading personal recommendations and usually believe other people's reviews. This should be a strong starting point for you to start requesting testimonials, as it is one of the best ways to boost your sales.
Let's see what you should ask for and what a lovely testimonial is. Once you learn how to ask for a testimonial, you'll notice how your business skyrockets with your sales rates. And remember to have fun!
How to Ask For a Testimonial?
The first thing you should learn is how to ask clients for testimonials, so here are some methods and strategies we find functional in Claspo.
Methods
You can reach your customers via their emails. We are sure you get such information while people are filling out the purchase form. So, create a testimonial email where your customer can leave a review and send it to you, answering your email. Yes, there is an option for that. In this case, you should work on your testimonial letter so the user can provide honest feedback. And don't be afraid of any kind of feedback, as the bad ones are also important — they allow you to grow and develop your business.
SMS
There is always a chance that your customers have lots and lots of unopened emails just waiting in their inboxes. A simple alternative to that might be a short message. It works the same way, since you ask people for their phone numbers when they enter personal information before making a purchase. You can send a tiny link that will lead your customer to the website where they can leave feedback.
You can use pop-ups and forms on your site to collect your customers' phone numbers. With Claspo and ready-made templates for collecting contacts, the process will be easy, fast and free.
Review Section
When people look for other reviews, they will notice that they can leave one themselves. You can also guide them from the first page of your store or a website, using any tool you like: sidebars, pop-up., links, etc.
Face to Face
If you run an offline store, you can ask for a testimonial yourself. Many people enjoy talking to others, which can help determine what your customers think about you. Such communication is not only about getting feedback but also about creating loyal customers. A great example of this kind of face-to-face conversations is in coffee shops, where people can share thoughts on their favorite coffee with baristas, thus befriending them.
Receipt QR
Place a QR code on your receipts so that whenever the user buys something from you, they can use the receipt to leave feedback. The code should take customers to the page where they can leave a review. You can place such code anywhere you know people will see it after the purchase — packaging, stickers, etc.
Social Media
Most people use social media to talk about their experiences, including life, shopping, eating, hanging out, etc. And business marketing teams highlight the necessity to create social pages on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, etc. You can create a strategy that will include asking for a testimonial via social media.
Strategy
Strategy is essential when it comes to anything business-related. The more you plan everything, the more you shape the final result and the better stats you'll get. Let's check what's essential for the superb testimonial letter strategy.
Timing
As you learn everything about your customer, you'll find out when exactly they have enough time to fill in the testimonial letter. This will allow you to send the testimonial request at the right time. Notice that if you run a service that will instantly change your customer's life, say cleaning services, it's better to ask for feedback right after you finish the task. And if you sell products that people have to use for some time to understand all pros and cons, then it's better to ask for a testimonial a bit later, let's say after one month.
Encourage them to leave the testimonial
You know how many testimonial letters you have. And most of them will be deleted unopened as you will find no point in replying or reading them. That's where you can get an opportunity to get ahead of your opponents. Offer your customers a gift if they fill in the testimonial. It should be manageable and inexpensive, so a simple 5$ discount or a free shipping code will do its job.
Make it easy
The process of leaving a testimonial should be as easy as possible. Create a short path to the page where the customer can leave the testimonial. Make your website design-friendly so people won't need to guess where to click to leave a review. No one will spend much time searching for the necessary page to say that your product is good.
9 Testimonial Request Examples
To get anything from anyone, you need to ask them with the right words. And the best part is that you don't have to generate 100% new or unique requests to get the result. The main point is that each testimonial request should be easy to understand, written in suitable language, and timely. Yes, feel free to customize each, but remember to walk in your customer's shoes, so be precise.
Example 1. General
Starting with a general testimonial request is a good choice. You can collect reviews for your website, Google, and Facebook pages. Be simple with your message!
Dear [name],
Thanks for choosing us! We would like to hear your impression of our [product name] that you've purchased not so long ago.
This won't take longer than several minutes. Please, visit this link [link] to leave a review.
Example 2. Holidays
During holidays most business owners expect a rise in sales. People get products and services as gifts to treat themselves and their loved ones. You can also write down a discount code to win the customer over.
Hi [name],
Happy Holidays!
As we all are in constant search for perfect Christmas gifts, we want to spoil you with a discount code if you find several minutes to write your review on your last purchase at [company's name].
Thanks for being a loyal customer! Have a fun, warming Christmas!
Much love,
[company's name]
Example 3. Formal
This option is the most suitable for businesses with a formal audience, providing specific goods or services, such as medical equipment or hardware. You have to personalize such a testimonial letter as you write directly to someone who's bought your product for their job.
Dear [name],
Thanks for being our long-term customer!
We are really happy that you chose our brand time after time. It's an honor to work with you! As you are one of our favorite customers, we want to ask you to share your review of our work and products so we can place them on our page. It doesn't matter in which form you want to share it: video, audio, text, anything that fits your schedule. Please, feel free to ask anything or share any thoughts about our business!
Regards,
[your name]
Example 4. Casual
Be casual if you can. People love it because they feel like there is a person behind your business, not a soulless machine that gets into their pockets. But for this move, you need to know your target audience and learn what "casual" means to them.
Sup, [name]
Thanks for sticking with us this month! Really appreciate that. We would like to hear your thoughts about our product and service. Are you satisfied with everything, or are there any downfalls?
Please, take several minutes to help your favorite brand. And we promise to learn your review and see what we can do to be better!
See you around!
[company’s name]
Example 5. Generic
If customer service is not your cup of tea yet, you can go with generic letters like this.
Hello [name],
We hope you've enjoyed our [product] and our [service]. Are you ready to rate your purchase with a short review? You can write it down via this link [link], helping others to make their minds before the purchase.
Thanks!
[company's name]
Example 6. After Purchase
You can write an email several days after the person buys the product. Such reviews help you learn about your services, website, sales team, etc., rather than the product itself.
Dear [name],
Thanks for your choice! We would like to hear from you! Write your review here [link]
Waiting for your response,
[company's name]
Example 7. Social Media
This option is excellent for several reasons. One of which is that you don't have to ask for a testimonial at all! Many people on social media share their thoughts on different products and services, so you have to find people who've already done a review.
Meanwhile, you can write to those with a picture of your product but no review, asking them for their opinion.
Hi [name],
We've noticed that you are using our [product].
Can you share your review with us? We would be very grateful!
Thanks!
[company's name]
Example 8. Return Offer
Offer exciting things to people who are loyal to your business. It can be a freebie, a discount, free shipping, etc.
Hi [name]!
Thanks for staying with us! We would like to give you free shipping if you write down your testimonial about our product via this link [link].
Thanks!
[company's name]
Example 9. Coaching
People often don't know how to write a testimonial. When they have to write one, they don't know where to start and what to write. So you have to teach them and describe what you want to get from them. Create a guide in the form of a list or as a questionnaire. Start with questions like:
- How has our solution helped your business?
- What benefits have you noticed when using our solution?
- What metrics have improved since you started using our solution?
Remember that the more detailed review you ask for, the more you have to offer in return.
Hi [name],
Thank you for using our services!
It's been a while since you've started using our solutions, and we would like to hear back from you! Please, share your experience with us. It will take several minutes to answer our questions below: [list of questions]
Thanks for staying with us!
[company's name]
Example 10. Ask Open-ended Questions
Closed questions, the answer to which is “yes” or “no,” are not always informative. For example, you ask, “Did you like the service?”, and the answer is “No.” Put the question differently: “What didn’t you like about the service, and what left pleasant memories?”.
Example 11. Write on Behalf of a Specific Person
We recommend that you write not on behalf of the company but on behalf of the employee. This will make communication more personal. Choose an employee from whom this letter would be appropriate. For example, it is logical that a marketer or quality manager collects reviews, so write on their behalf.
The Secret of Successful Testimonial Letter
The secret of an effective testimonial letter is in every detail: a clear subject, a specific request, a description of the benefit for the client, speed of action and convenience, and timeliness and relevance of the letter.
When you start thinking about how to ask for a testimonial, you should start with simple things. Be sincere and clear about what you want from people and you will receive a review and gain a loyal customer when done right.
After sending the same testimonial letters for some time, see how you can adjust them and work on your strategy to improve them.
Remember to ask our professionals at Claspo for help. We can create a strategy for getting testimonials from clients and help you with testimonial letters.
