When is the Best Time to Ask for a Testimonial?
When to ask for a testimonial? Testimonials can sometimes be the main thing that sways business your way instead of steering it to your competitor. A good testimonial from a satisfied customer is a heartfelt endorsement of your company and the service that you offer.
It creates an expectation in the potential client’s mind of the service that they too can expect. And, because it is from a real, live person, instead of some actor, it is instantly seen as more credible.
Getting your clients to give you testimonials should be part and parcel of your aftercare process. But how do you know when the right time to approach them is? When is the best time? Is it possible to leave it too long?
In this post, we will discuss the answers to these questions.
When is the Best Time to Ask?
The best time to ask is when your client is feeling most positive about you and your company. If you were a tax consultant, for example, this would be when you have just saved them a bundle of money. That’s when to ask for a testimonial.
Time the request for when they are still feeling appreciative about what you have done for them, before that feeling starts to wane. As you get to know your clients, you will be able to gauge when that is.
Make sure that your client is relaxed and not in a hurry to go off anywhere else before speaking to them about the testimonial. If they are rushing to their next appointment, you are going to cancel any good vibes by placing extra pressure on them. They may feel compelled to assist, but it is not going to sit well with them.
When Not to Ask
It is also important to gauge the kind of client that you have sitting in front of you. Is this something that you think they would be willing to do? If they tend to be high-maintenance sorts, you know, the ones that complain about the smallest little thing, asking them to give a testimonial may not be the best move.
It seems incredible that I would have to put this in here because you would think it would go without saying, but don’t ask for a testimonial after you have just messed up. I am going to give you a personal example here.
I went to the bank the other day. There was some new rule in place, and I got really annoyed because the teller did not bother to explain it to me, she just said, “No.” It was only after I started getting insistent that she found another way to assist me.
Now, it wasn’t anything I had done wrong – it was due to a change in their system. I was very riled up. The teller assisted me and then had the nerve to ask me to rate her service. Needless to say, I did just that, on a consumer website in full detail. I don’t think it was the review she was expecting.
As with anything in life, timing is crucial. Make sure that your client is predisposed to saying, “Yes” and that they have the time to help you out. That’s when to ask for a testimonial.