testimonials

How to Ask a Real Estate Client for a Great Testimonial

testimonialsThe Power of Testimonials

Testimonials have substantial influence on potential clients not just in business, but in real estate as well. Client testimonials help separate you from your competitors—they help position you as a “safe” choice.

When people hire you, they want to know they can trust you. They want to know you will get the job done. Testimonials—and great testimonials at that—show them that others have trusted you and had a phenomenal experience. It gives them permission, in a sense, to contact you, but it also compels them to. Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions people make and one way you can reassure them is by providing social proof.

Testimonials are also a useful marketing tool. If you want to target first-time home buyers or millennials, having a testimonial from a millennial or first-time home buyer who has worked with you is beneficial. In order to get testimonials, however, you have to ask for them.

No or Limited Testimonials

You may be losing clients if you have limited testimonials or don’t have any at all. Not having solid testimonials can be an indication that you either haven’t satisfied customers or that you’re inexperienced. You don’t want that!

Testimonials also establish authority, which is very important in the online world where you don’t have as much face-to-face interaction to begin with. When you establish authority, you position yourself as an expert and leader, and people trust those who are at the top of their field.

If one of your competitors provides solid testimonials and you don’t, they will benefit from more online leads even if they don’t provide a better service than you.

So, how do you professionally ask for a testimonial from a real estate client?

How to Properly Ask a Real Estate Client for a Testimonial

It’s not difficult to get great testimonials, you just have to be proactive with former clients. If, for example, a satisfied buyer or seller does not provide you with a testimonial, contact them and ask for one. Satisfied clients are always more than willing to endorse you—you just have to ask.

You’ll likely have a number of satisfied customers, so here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re trying to determine who to ask:

  1. Choose a Unique Story

    Select clients who have a unique story, so it pulls readers in. Think about all of the clients you’ve had and each of their situations and pick the ones that you feel stand out.

  2. Choose People Within Your Target Market

    Make sure that you showcase clients who fit your target market. This will help others identify with the testimonial and see that if you can help someone similar surely you can help them, too.

  3. Utilise Face-to-Face Engagement (if possible)

    If possible, meet your client in person over a cup of coffee or lunch and bring a recorder. Typically, getting your testimonial in a face-to-face setting makes it more engaging than merely receiving it via email.

  4. Plan

    Make sure you ask your testimonial provider to be specific about how you’ve helped him or her. The best testimonials are specific to who you are and they tell readers the problem that you helped solve. Provide some insight for your testimonial provider, so it’s not all fluff. What’s the pain point for your potential clients? Ask your testimonial provider if you helped alleviate their stress or worry and ask him or her to share about that.

Testimonial Mistakes That Are Easy to Make

You may still be trying to wrap your head around how to ask for a testimonial from a real estate client, but rest assured that if you take the bold step to ask, your satisfied clients will almost always be willing to provide you with one. In the meantime, keep these common testimonial mistakes in mind, so that you don’t make one (or more) yourself.

  • Don’t provide false testimonials. Providing false testimonials is unethical and can be really damaging to your business and brand.
  • Don’t refine the testimonial so much that it doesn’t look anything like the original. People value honesty and will connect with a testimonial that reads like it really came from someone.
  • Don’t ask for something too positive. Genuine testimonials often address worries clients might have had and that’s ok. It helps readers connect and identify.
  • Don’t post vague testimonials. Specific details that address how you or your services benefited your client are more engaging and successful with potential clients.

Now that you know how to ask past satisfied clients for testimonials and what to avoid when asking for testimonials, start asking!

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