client testimonials

[ninapecora98461]

I am currently in the process of developing a draft for an email I will be sending out to clients asking for testimonials. Can I anyone here do me a favor and let me know how this sounds??

"Dear (insert client's name),

I am writing you to let you know what a pleasure it was meeting you and having you as my client. I really enjoyed our sessions together.

During one of your sessions, you made several positive comments about how it provided you relief from your (insert condition here).

I am so glad I was able to help you and I would like to ask if you would consider writing a testimonial so that other potential clients can see how my massage services have benefited others and could help them too?

I would really appreciate your feedback and I am just a phone call away if you need massage therapy in the future.

Sincerely,"

Any tweaking/additions, comments are GREATLY appreciated! TIA!

 

[cairo]

I always get stuck on "I really enjoyed our sessions together." It's probably ok coming from a girl to a girl, but I don't want my clients to think.......too much.

Assurance that they will remain anonymous might foster more response, but some people won't care either.

You might also slip in a line about how youplan to use the testimonial, ie, brochure, website, telemarketer.

I would really appreciate your feedback and I am just a phone call away if you need massage therapy in the future.

I would change IF to WHEN.

Offer a reward to submit, $75 off the next hour for example. Free tonail waxing or bra-strap snapping. Sure, some examples contain levity.

Great idea!!

 

[Pompal 09.]

When I did some testimonials, I just asked the client in person if they would write one for me.

I was getting my website done and wanted to add some to brochures. Everyone I asked wrote one. I didn't want too many. I know for me I stop reading them after about the 5th one.

If you would prefer to send a letter, I think your rough draft is good and I agree with Mick's advice. Maybe not the bra strap snapping part! :wink:

 

[Bender]

Thank you so much for your adivce. I will tweak accordingly! Um, Mick, I do think I will leave out the bra strap comment, though! Hilarious!!!!

Anyone who is doing the same type of brainstorming, feel free to use my example as your starting point!

 

[Sally]

here are my thoughts. i don't like the sound of "having you as my client" to me it just sounds weird. maybe something like "it is a pleasure working with you". also, in your statement "i am so glad i was able to help you..." you have a question mark at the end but it's not a question. you'll want to change that.

i also really like stress solutions idea of letting the client know how you plan on using their testimonial. they may be more likely to write something for you. and as pete has stated, try to stick to present tense phrases.

 

[Woot!]

Offer a reward to submit, $75 off the next hour for example.

i have found $10 off next 60 min massage works well. $75 off is too much for me. :wink:

 

[Eric_Lindros2003]

ha ha.. yeah, at his rates I'd be giving THEM money to come to me! too funny. :

 

[bambinn]

client testimonials

To fix this and to follow Mick's suggestion as well, I would use the phrase "I enjoy working with you" which shouldn't freak out even the most homophobic males. LOL

:

 

[Tenshi]

At one seforum.xxxe when I was working at a resort, I used a guestbook that the client could place comments in immediately after the massage.
Just used a sign on the wall next to the clients's chair asking for comments to be writen in the guestbook.
Got some lovely statements.

 

[FancyPants!!!]

at the spa i visited in denver, they had a guest book in the float room where each client could write anything about the session - it was really neat to see what they wrote, it was obvious they'd just floated out of something! they could hardly spell correctly!

amanda

 

[padmini]

Just found this thread in a search as I am also looking into asking clients for testimonials. What is the general concensus on offering them something in return? I don't want it to appear as if I am trying to "buy" compliments, but at the same time, it is nice to offer them something. Thoughts?

 

[AlinamE]

Gessika, I usually wait until the client has dressed following the massage then when they are glowing and happy and gushing about how good the massage was, I ask them, "Would you mind putting that in writing? A testimonial from you would mean so much to me."
I don't usually offer anything for doing it, but you could tack some extra time onto their next massage I suppose.
You could set up a form for feedback (poseforum.xxxe paid) for testimonials and give it to all clients one month and see if you get anything back that is useful.

 

[Chace W]

I tried collecting the testimonials by mail in the past.. poseforum.xxxe paid and all. Although these clients are continuing to come to me and refer me, I have yet to have one take the time to fill anything out. Guess people are just too busy...

I think I am going to go the book route. Get a nice journal and set up a table for just that purpose for them to fill out before they leave.

 

[Nichole]

When I updated my website to add a testimonials page I emailed my most regular clients and said this:

I'd love to have some client comments to put up on my website so others who are new to massage or who are looking for a therapist can get to know me through you. I think I offer a certain style of bodywork that may appeal to some and not to others. I am carving out my practice very particularly and your honest evaluation of our sessions would help me draw the kind of clients I'd like to see on a regular basis; I'd love to get more clients like you. Having your words connect with like minded individuals would help me achieve that faster.

Along with some extra stuff telling them that there's not a right or wrong thing to say, that if they choose not to write anything I would not get my feelings hurt and I would still enjoy our sessions....etc. I got about 4 within a week and a couple more have trickled in. Others have said that they want to write something, others have said they've been meaning to write something. If they do they do, if they don't they don't. I was glad to get some in and now I am just extra pleasantly surprised when a new one pops up in my email.

Good luck!

 

[Superdave]

Testimonials

I went through the same thing you did. I offered $5 off their next session for every testimonial brought in. It worked.

 

[Dick Tator]

I am re-visiting my testimonials on my website and for my printed marketing.
I am planning on sending out a card that asks clients to visit my website to offer a testimonial. I am hoping that doing it this way may make it a bit easier for them to submit their info. In the card I plan on giving an example of a 'good' testimonial in hopes that it will get the client thinking about how they were helped by my services. I think some of your advice here about wording is great and I plan to incorporate some of it in my mailing.


Like Gessika, I am wondering about making an 'offer' for a testimonial:

Just found this thread in a search as I am also looking into asking clients for testimonials. What is the general concensus on offering them something in return? I don't want it to appear as if I am trying to "buy" compliments, but at the same time, it is nice to offer them something. Thoughts?

Wouldn't I need to state that it was a 'paid for' or 'compensated' testimonial? I feel like it is very different to get a volunteered testimonial versus a compensated one.

Open to thoughts and suggestions ...


Brian

 

[CreepyCrawlers123]

It's kind of funny that this is coming up now (again?) - I recently started asking a few of my regulars for reviews for google & yahoo.
This is the format I've been using:

Hi (client)!
Hope you had a good time with your daughter last night
(or other sentence that says something "personal" to them)

I would appreciate it if you could take the time to write a short review of your massage services you received from me on either Yahoo or Google's websites. You'll need an account with those sites to write one, and if you don't have one, setting one up will only take a few minutes- it should be pretty easy.

Yahoo: http://local.yahoo.com (would link directly to the page to review my business)

Google/gmail:
http://maps.google.com/ (would link directly to the page to review my business)

Thanks so much
See you Monday!

Me

http://www.my website .com

Since then I've gotten my site listed on msn business page thingy too, so I may add that in.
So far one person has reviewed me, but I only sent out this email to maybe 5 or 6.

 

[elpi]

It's kind of funny that this is coming up now (again?) - I recently started asking a few of my regulars for reviews for google & yahoo.

Regarding reviews: Don't forget to also mention Citysearch, if you are listed with them as well.

 

[nick O]

I am re-visiting my testimonials on my website and for my printed marketing.



Wouldn't I need to state that it was a 'paid for' or 'compensated' testimonial? I feel like it is very different to get a volunteered testimonial versus a compensated one.

Open to thoughts and suggestions ...


Brian

I thought I remembered something about using testimonials in advertising being not quite legal, so I looked it up. In Texas, it's considered misleading or something:

"(b) A licensee shall not use advertising that is false, misleading, or deceptive or that is not readily subject to verification. False, misleading, or deceptive advertising or advertising that is not readily subject to verification includes advertising that:

(1) makes a material misrepresentation of fact or omits a fact necessary to make the statement as a whole not materially misleading;

(4) contains a testimonial;"

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub...c=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=25&pt=1&ch=141&rl=7
(Texas Administrative Code
TITLE 25 HEALTH SERVICES
PART 1 DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES
CHAPTER 141 MASSAGE THERAPISTS
SUBCHAPTER B CODE OF ETHICS
RULE §141.7 Advertising)

Interesting, huh? I do advertise on Citysearch, and the testimonials there are done by a third party, which is probably okay, right? Although I could give testimonials to Citysearch to post about me and there's no verifying whether I'm making them myself or if they come from actual clients. I wonder if this is unique to Texas or if other states have similar regulations about testimonials...

 

[ZEPPELIN OF LED]

wow Seebs that is crazy about the legal aspect, I should look up for my area - I had never heard of that.

When I wanted testimonials, I got the tip from one of those online marketing guys (sorry, I can't remember which one!!) but it was a great idea - to help your clients get their testimonial juices flowing - give them a form to fill out that goes something along these lines:

How do you feel before a massage?
how do you feel after a massage?
Describe your therapist's personality.
what would you say to someone who is hesitant to try massage therapy?
any other comments?

I used this idea and it worked GREAT. I think people want to give testimonials, but it can be tricky getting them started - people don't know where to begin.
After they filled out the form, I just took away the questions, and put their answers in a paragraph. After they read it and approved, I used it in my marketing efforts. it made it unbelievably easy to get testimonials like this:
"When I need a massage, I feel tense, stressed, and tightness at the top of my shoulders. After a massage with Stonegirl, I'm relaxed and all the stress is gone. My body even feels lighter. Stonegirl gives a deep tissue massage which gets rid of all the knots in my shoulders. I can have a conversation, or move into deep relaxation and enjoy the moment of peace and tranquility. Stonegirl is a very nurturing person - friendly yet professional. She wants the best experience for her client. I have had many massages, and Stonegirl is the best. I would go without new shoes before I gave up my scheduled massage every three weeks!"

I will do my research and find out who I got that idea from so he can get the credit!