What is the difference between testimonials and feedback?

Great testimonials promote your business while feedback serves to improve it. Testimonials build trust, boost conversion rates, and allow you to brag about all your happy customers. They are client statements that highlight what your organization does well and help convince potential clients that your organization is the right choice for them.

A good customer testimonial is positive and specific. Think less, “This organization did a great job! Thanks, guys!” and more, “I loved working with Kayla. She was always responsive and her work led to a notable increase in sales. I’d recommend this organization to anybody, and I wouldn’t hesitate to work with them again.”

Feedback, on the other hand, is client input with the sole goal of improving your organization. Feedback is a vital component of evaluating how your organization works and what needs some attention to produce a better product. You should solicit feedback from every client and take it seriously - even if it bruises your pride a bit.

You shouldn’t, however, always put it on your website. By its nature, feedback is often critical and draws your attention to possible weaknesses. Not exactly the message you want potential clients to focus on, right?

If you aren’t careful, you can find yourself asking for a testimonial and getting feedback. Is it better than complete silence? Of course. But, in an ideal world, you’ll get both. Fortunately, incorporating a few simple techniques into the testimonial request process will ensure you get the testimonials your clients want to see on your website.