The Power of a Well-Written Testimonial

Nothing speaks as loudly and compellingly as a raving fan, which is why a well-written testimonial is hands-down the most effective 'marketing tool' you could ever use in your business. It's social proof. (And proof of results!) After all, what is the first thing you look for when considering a product or service?

=> The reviews. What are people saying? What was their experience?

The interesting thing is that pretty much every review and testimonial we read and base our conclusion or decisions on, was written by someone we’ve never even met! People believe a complete stranger’s opinion a lot more than the claims and promises of a manufacturer or service provider.

For a testimonial to be effective, and, frankly, believable, it's important that it is specific, includes facts, and is written in a compelling but relatable way. In other words, it shouldn't be vague ... but it also shouldn't sound like a commercial.

Below are two examples. Both are real, by the way.

"Alina was absolutely amazing to work with, we would recommend her to anyone without hesitation!" ~ B. & T.

vs.

"From the first meeting with Alina, we both felt we were dealing with a person of unusual honesty and integrity, which is something sadly lacking with so many today. After a very unsuccessful and frustrating experience with Comfree, where we had to deal with a parade of ‘shoppers"’and not ‘buyers’, Alina was able to sell our place at our full asking price in just one day." ~Mike and Jen Thomson

=> Which one do you think is more believable? Which one causes you to feel a higher level of trust? Why?

Best Practices

=> The best time to request a testimonial is when the SOLD sign goes up, assuming it was a successful working relationship, and your clients are happy with the result, of course.

=> As you install the SOLD rider on your for sale sign, ask to take their picture in front of it. (Check local rules and regulations.) There are very few people who would say no to that, and if they do, don’t worry about it and focus on those who say yes. If it was a buyer client, take a photo of them in front of their new home! The front entry door is perfect, no need to have the whole house in the picture. “OK, everybody say, ’cheeeese’! Awesome! Hey, would you guys be open to writing me a short testimonial about your experience working together? Awesome! I can email you a 4-question framework to make it super simple, if that works?”

=> The 4-question framework is helpful because it not only makes things easier for your clients, it creates a powerful and concise testimonial. (Some people will love you so much they’ll write you a whole chapter!)

=> Make sure to ask permission to use their testimonial and photo on your website and on social media.

This truly is results-based, competence-demonstrating ‘marketing’ at its best.

Hope this was helpful! Oh ... and if you'd like the 4-question framework ... shoot me an email and I'll send it to you!

Cheering you on,

Alina Schumacher

Alina Schumacher is a Certified High-Performance Coach™, host of The Alina Show PODCAST, founder of World-Class Agent Academy, and the author of How To Get Listings & Dominate Your Market ... Even if Nobody's Ever Heard of You! She helps driven Real Estate Professionals all over North America become world-class, build a 6-7 figure fully referral-based business, and reach the TOP 1% - extremely FAST - using her proven 4-stage Market Domination Plan.