How to Ask for Testimonials: Approaching Customers in the Right Way

You may already know that testimonials are one of the most powerful tools you have as you build your law firm, but do you know how to get the reviews you need?. While every client has valuable feedback, getting it out of them can be a difficult task. With a little ingenuity and careful planning, you can connect with your customers, get their feedback, and secure the testimonials that you need. Testimonials create an online presence aligned with your dedication to your clients . You’re confident in what you offer. You know that your web copy represents you well and offers a polished view of your firm—so why do you have to go one step further and add testimonials? Reviews are a major way to highlight your dedication to your clients and their best interests. When potential clients visit your website and see the words of satisfied customers, they see that you seek to meet clients’ needs, take feedback into account, and actively work to better your business at every step. This creates a public view of you that matches your passion for your work. There are several ways you may request testimonials from clients. Learn more about these options and decide which one best suits your client base. How to ask for testimonials on your website . You may have a page on your website that solicits testimonials from previous or current clients. This is a viable option if you have a client base that comes back to your site again and again—for example, if most of your client base is on retainer, they’ll likely be repeat visitors that have to pay their bill or send in important information. A pop-up or form letter that comes up after they pay a bill may encourage them to share their feedback. When asking for reviews, you may want to explain why you are asking for feedback. Everyone has offered feedback, good or bad, only to have it completely ignored by the people in charge. That’s a discouraging feeling, and it’s one that may keep people from reviewing services in the future. . . Ensure that clients know that their feedback is valuable and directly contributes to the decisions you make regarding your business. Explain how big of a role testimonials play in your business and how their words could help you expand. If you’ve met your clients’ needs, they will likely be happy to help you. Use email templates to ask clients for testimonials directly . Perhaps your clients are one-and-done clients. After you meet their legal needs, you’re unlikely to see them again unless the same needs arise at some point in the future. In this type of scenario, asking for feedback via your website may not be the way to go. If a client’s work with you is done, they probably won’t visit your website in the future. If this describes your client base, consider automated emails that request client feedback at a specific point after the completion of their case. The email may wish the client well, explain why you’re asking for feedback, and direct them to a webpage where they can enter their feedback. If you choose to solicit testimonials via email, make sure that your emails are brief, easy to scan, and concise. No one wants to read an entire essay before deciding whether or not they’re going to do what you have asked. Make sure your offer benefits them . Although many clients are motivated by doing something to help those who have helped them, others may not want to provide a review unless there is something in it for them. That’s why you may want to consider sweetening the deal in order to get a greater number of reviews. What you offer depends entirely on the services you offer and your client base. You might offer a discount on a future service, a free trial of a service you offer, or a gift card to a local business. Remember that these benefits should be offered to everyone who provides feedback, not only those who offer positive feedback. Otherwise, it looks like you are paying for positive reviews. Finding the right method for you . Not sure which way to go or which option will save you the most time? . Consider review management platforms like Lawfecta. These platforms compile reviews from a variety of sources for display on your website, generate video testimonials in exchange for rewards, and ask customers for testimonials on your behalf. This limits the heavy lifting you have to do while still allowing you to gather an impressive amount of reviews. You can tailor review requests to match the tone and style of your law firm, making it sound like every email is coming directly from you instead of sounding like a form letter. Test your options and experiment . . Don’t spend too much time worrying about how to gather reviews or which option is best suited to your firm. You can always try both or try one at a time and compare results. It’s more important to get started now and navigate the next steps later. Every day that you delay your testimonial collection efforts is a lost opportunity that puts you further and further away from past clients that may have been happy to provide you with an amazing testimonial. What to ask . While you may ask clients for a freeform testimonial that includes whatever they wish to write, that may not be the most helpful option for your business. Some clients, when asked for feedback, revert to generic, broad terms that tell visitors little about your services and commitment. Instead, you may want to ask specific questions about your timeliness, communication skills, level of commitment to their case, and willingness to go above and beyond—just as an example. Avoid making the mistake of asking too many questions. Although many clients like some guidance, no one wants to feel like they’re taking an essay test when they’re just trying to provide feedback. Conclusion: . Asking for testimonials can be tricky, but it can also be an incredibly helpful way to gain the trust of potential customers and establish your reputation. With the right approach, customers will be more likely to oblige. Contact your customers in a timely fashion, and approach them with a thoughtful thank you. Make sure you’re respectful of their time and willing to offer something in return. Show them that you value their feedback by taking their answers seriously. If done correctly, asking for testimonials from your customers can help build genuine relationships with them and give your business an edge over the competition. Interested in automated review collection and management? Check out Lawfecta and find out how our platform can help you.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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