For events, testimonials are essential. Just like endorsements are needed for LinkedIn and good references are a critical part of your resume, testimonials prove that you have experience, have attendees that have been satisfied, and will provide what is promised.
Two reasons that you should gather testimonials for the event website are that your attendees are going to sell your next event better than you can and the success stories of your consumers will create trust in your service or product.
The question is how do you get testimonials that will create confidence and trust in your events? The first step is identifying attendees that are happy. You will know who these people are because you have a relationship with them that is open and upbeat.
Once you have identified who these attendees are contact them and explain that you would like them to share their story on your event website. Most people that are happy with the service or product or event that they received will happily take the time to write a testimonial for your website.
Questions to Ask for Testimonials
In order to help your happy attendees leave (in writing or recorded) a good testimonial, there are certain questions that you should ask them. Some examples of questions that you can ask include:
- What were the benefits on attending this event?
- Did we come through with all of our promises?
- How can we improve our events?
You can then go ahead and write the testimonial out yourself using their responses. Make sure that you send them a copy of what you wrote so they can approve it. Once you post it on your site, make sure to send them a thank you letter along with a link to the testimonial. Also, make sure that you offer a reciprocal testimonial for them if they want it. This will help strengthen your relationship.
Why Testimonials are so Important
Using testimonials on your website helps to convince potential customers that they should use your services or purchase your products. It will take a bit of effort to get the information for a good testimonial and to display it on your website in a way that is the most beneficial, but the time and effort are definitely worth it.
The internet has made consumers a bit savvier when it comes to spending their money. Most people are more likely to review several products or services before they make an actual purchase—even if it is an event ticket.
In addition, the internet has created a lot more competition. Testimonials provide a way for a small business to earn the trust of potential attendees. They are going to research and compare, and one thing that they are looking for is proof that a company has provided a service or product to others who were happy with what they received. Reviews and testimonials are the best way for a consumer to learn more about a company, which is why getting positive testimonials is so important.
Silvia Pellegrini
Silvia Pellegrini is an entrepreneur, event consultant, author, mentor, event manager, founder and managing director of Silvia Pellegrini Consultancy (www.silviapellegrini.co.uk). SP Consultancy is located in the heart of London, yet her consultancy and event planning enjoys an international reputation.
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Humans are, and always will be, social animals. And this need to be social drives people to relate and trust one another, even in the face of cold hard facts, and for this reason we relate best to testimonials when making buying decisions