Soliciting Testimonials

[Island Lawn]

I would like to add a few written testimonials to my portfolio.

I have plenty of well satisfied customers who verbally complement my work.


Do I need to say anything more than:

"Kin yew right me up sumpin sayin i'm gewd? Pleeeeeze!


Disclaimer:
I am trying to be professional about this...

All Comments welcome!

I enjoy a good brainstorm!

[Stonehenge]

I provide my customers with a questionnaire on the back side of their invoice, and I leave a space for them to write anything they'd like. >Voila< I have all the testimonials I need.

But the best ones are when we get cards with gift certificates in them, or a tip on top of what they owe.

[Island Lawn]

I guess I could just start "collecting" verbal complements and compile them to a list. Then make the list part of my portfolio.

(Do I ask them, "Can I quote you on that"?)


But I would like a bunch of big fat letters with signatures.

How do you ask a client to do that for you?

Does it consist of more than simply "growing a pair"?
(I'm working on that.)
;)

[SprinklerGuy]

Grow your pair faster! They will be glad to, most of them anyway. And you could always thank them with a discount of some sort, or a pointsettia this xmas.

[Guido]

the customer's you are closest too, and the most friendly of them. They will be easier if you are comfortable talking to them, and they would probobly give you the best ones! Your right, there is nothing like the real thing, but if this doesn't work for you, do like what Stonehenge said and send out a "quality check" and urge them to fill in a paragraph or so with comments. Hopefull they are very happy, because thats the only way this method works!

Good Luck, and let us know how you make out!

[lawnboy82]

A good chunk of my customers offer themselves to me as a reference. I am sure that I could get a written one from them as well. However they have no problems with being contacted in one way or another about the quality of my work.

[Island Lawn]

Thanks for all the replies!

Sometimes, I gotta be spoon fed.

Stonehenge, I'd like to know more about your questionnaire!
The part I'm looking for is that blank space!

SG, Tell me how you really feel! LOL!
(Are there vitamins for that?)

Thanks again Guido!
Plain and simple....language I can understand.....
urge them to fill in a paragraph or so with comments.
Here is my starting point
"Kin yew right me up sumpin sayin i'm gewd? Pleeeeeze!
...I'm working on it!:rolleyes:

[Island Lawn]

"I provide my customers with a questionnaire on the back side of their invoice, and I leave a space for them to write anything they'd like. >Voila< I have all the testimonials I need."

Stonehenge,
Are you sending them a questionnaire EVERY month "with invoice"?
By doing this monthly, do you find the customer comes to expect it?
Maybe they begin to consider their responses throughout the month...

Is your questionnaire generic, asking the same questions every month, or Do you customize your questions depending on the customer and/or work done?

Do you ask the HARD questions?
What are the hard questions?

I can see where face to face has its advantages.
A monthly questionnaire is just part of a "Quality Check" System that should continuously gather information...and BTW, testimonials...

Now I’m thinking of an information gathering tool as well as a testimonial generator!

Maybe I should do a search / start a new thread for "Creating Questionnaires"! Since this seems to be the root what I‘m looking for...

[Stonehenge]

I try to ask all the 'hard' questions I can think of. But that's why I leave space open for them to 'freestyle', in case there is something I've missed.

I ask if they were satisfied with the deisgn, date of project start, date of completion, condition we left the yard during construction, would you (customer) hire us again, if not why not, how likely are you to recommend us to others, overall, how were we? A few other Q's, too.

Beyond testimonials, this gives you the chance to see where you are great, where you could improve.

As for frequency of questionnaires, well, we mainly do hardscapes and some softscapes. No lawncare. So we usually don't have to send more than once invoice, except when a customer has us back in later years for more work.

[Island Lawn]

Here is a quote from an article in a green industry mag:

Have you used testimonials? Credible testimonials are powerful persuaders, particularly today when businesses can't afford to make mistakes. But use only real people and identify them completely - no anonymity and no initials. Readers see through such deceit. Be sure to get permission and a signed release from those providing testimonials.

[Island Lawn]

Something the customer gets with the invoice and comes to expect.

Open ended questions that get more of a wordy response more than simply
"circle A, B, or C".

Here is my most recent thought:

___________________________________________________
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY

Your feedback is extremely important to us. We strive to find new and better ways to serve our customers.
Please take a moment to comment on your experience with us.

Are you satisfied with the quality of service you receive?

What do you like about our service?

How can we improve our service?

Please take a moment to include any additional comments.



Thank you for your comments and continued patronage.
It is a pleasure serving you.

Island Lawn
___________________________________________

Dassit!
Wadya Tink?


Also,
No special deals for responding to survey!
...other than improved, more personalized, responsive service!

Is that enough?
Or should I offer some type of promo incentive?

Thanks for all the help!