When it comes to real estate marketing materials, testimonials from clients can be a powerful asset. Prospective clients are more likely to trust the word of someone like them who worked with you and reported a positive experience and a successful outcome. Some clients may automatically and spontaneously provide testimonials. However, most often you have to ask them.
Don’t be afraid to be proactive in asking for testimonials. While clients may not think of making them independently, many will be happy to say a few words in your favor if you ask. However, it is a good idea to put some thought into how you ask them and how you collect their responses.
Timing
You don’t want to wait too long after doing something for your client before you ask for a testimonial. You want the experience to be fresh in his or her mind. Once you reach a significant milestone, such as closing on a property, you may want to make your request.
However, the transition period following a closing can be hectic, and your request may get lost in the shuffle. Therefore, you may want to ask for a testimonial after smaller steps, such as showing a house, listing a property for sale, or just giving real estate advice.
Approach
When asking for a testimonial you can add to real estate social media post templates, there are many ways to approach your client. You may make a face-to-face request while talking to your client directly, or you may ask during a phone conversation, perhaps as you follow up after a closing. A personalized email may also be effective, especially if you are making the inquiry early in the transactional process.
Whichever approach you use, make sure that you are authentic. Be upfront with your client about explaining why you want the testimonial, but don’t sound too aggressive or desperate.
Format
Real estate testimonials usually appear in either written or video formats. A video format may pack a bigger punch because prospective clients can see that the review is coming from a person like them. However, when requesting a video testimonial, you are asking a bit more of your clients. Be sure that you respect the time investment they will be making and take their comfort into consideration. Do not ask for a video testimonial from someone who is clearly very shy, and if your client refuses, take no for an answer.
Written testimonials are easier to collect, and clients can provide them on their own schedule. You can create a survey with the help of several online tools. Whether you collect written or video testimonials, it is important to ask specific, open-ended questions of your clients. If you ask questions that can be answered yes or no, that is likely all you are going to get.
Presentation
When presenting client testimonials, you do not have to use everything that clients give you. However, you do have to recreate their words accurately and not misrepresent their intended meaning. Written testimonials are very versatile and can be presented in both online and print formats. When combined with photos and other multimedia elements, they can be very effective. Find out more about incorporating testimonials into real estate brochure templates.