The best testimonials and reviews are very short-form stories, and stories are very powerful when done correctly.
Reviews are something we have gotten used to seeing,
and sometimes we write them too.
That blank page hurts, though.
What DO you actually write about and say?
Here is the simple formula that makes it easy to write, and with an outstanding look for your service provider.
Hopefully you got this a day or two before you need it, but it won’t take you long to write it.
Or record it – video is super powerful!
Here is how you (yes, YOU!) can build the perfect testimonial and shorten it to a killer review:
Checklist below the video. Just fill in the blanks (so to speak)!
Step 1: You had a problem.
- What was it?
- How did that make you feel?
- What were the potential consequences or outcomes?
- Example:
- What was your absolute biggest challenge prior to purchasing / joining / attending?
Step 2: Decision to Act
- How did you find me?
- What made you decide to use my services rather than a competitor?
- How long did you wait before contacting me?
Step 3: Outcomes
- What changed after purchasing/joining/attending?
- What specific results can you share?
Step 4: Final Thoughts
- What would you say to somebody on the fence about purchasing / joining / attending?
- Anything else to add?
Step 5: Formalities
(Note: many of these are automatically included in Google Reviews, etc., but if you are doing an off-line review or testimonial, you’ll need to provide these too.)
- Headshot (aka Profile Picture). People are more trusting of people they can see.
- Contact Information and/or Company Name
- Do you grant permission for us to feature your company and this testimonial in our marketing materials?
- Demographic Information (if you’re comfortable sharing that).
- This can help with social proof for similar demographics
- i.e., 25 year old enlisted military would prefer social proof from other mid-20’s enlisted members, but probably won’t benefit a retiree downsizing, and vice versa.