Dark Social Explained: Why & How Your Analytics Can Mislead You

Testimonials and Case studies are an essential part to win over consumers in the purchasing process. They supply proof that your product provides value to consumers. People buy from companies they know and trust, according to Adobe 7 in 10 consumers will buy more from brands they trust; abandon those they don’t. In the current competitive landscape, the difference between you and your competitors could be an impactful testimonial or case study.

Case studies and testimonials give a real-life example of how you provide value to your customer. Using these unique stories properly can be one of the most valuable sales tools to build an authentic brand. Just think for yourself, the last time you made a purchase you asked your friend for their opinion before swiping the card. After all, what better way to sell satisfaction than from the mouth of a happy client?

Where To Share Case Studies & Testimonials
To effectively use these tools they need to live where your target audience looks for them the most. Your site is a great spot to start, however, it is important to use outside platforms to ensure these satisfied customers are heard! Below are some great methods to ensure your happy clients’ stories can be seen:

 

Make it a part of your Email Signature
Adding a small portion to your email signature can have a positive result on sales. Putting section saying “Read about our success stories” or “Check out what our happy clients say about us”

Use your webinar or podcast to broadcast case studies
Reuse your case study for more content! Use these success stories as an educational tool for others to learn from. Many potential clients want to learn more in-depth about what it’s truly like working with your business. Check out our cocktails and case studies series.

Make a social post
Create a short compelling description of the success story of your product and add an attractive photo of your satisfied client urging your followers to read the success stories your team created.

Create a video version of the case study
Video is the most consumed media type in today’s day. Creating a compelling video displaying your product’s successes can be an extremely effective sales tool for your business. If you are Wondering how to create a compelling case study video check this blog out!

Make physical case studies for Networking events
Attending a networking event or speaking at a conference? Print brochures or flyers that display why your products are great and all the people that rave about your business.

Promo Emails
Add a section to your newsletters or email campaigns that share your latest case study or features a testimonial from a recent client.

 

Strategize Your Case Study
When writing a case study using a consistent strategy to display your past work can make the process of writing various case studies efficient and effective. Below is an outline description of the strategy we find works best.

Challenge
Describe the unique challenge that this particular case presented. Be specific and honest about what were the difficult parts of the project, this sets you up to show how your expertise allowed you to overcome these obstacles.

The Process
What was your angle of attack to provide the best product for your client? Describe the specifics of what actions you took. Explain your methods in solving the challenges but also how your team went above and beyond to ensure all pain points your client could possibly face were addressed before they could arise.

The Result
Lastly, touch on how your product or service provided value to your client. Be sure to include any statistics or images of the final product that aid in showcasing the expertise you provided your client.

 

Schedule your Case Study Writing
Great writers always have a vision and stay organized throughout the writing process. Keeping a writing schedule makes bringing your vision to life a lot easier. Allotting time to make revisions, and creating clear deadlines can also make holding yourself accountable easier.

Schedule Sample
9/1- Decide your topic of choice

9/4- Get feedback from peers/editors

9/9- Draft an outline

9/12- Gather all potential resources needed

9/16- Gather all research needed

9/22- Draft

9/25- Edit

10/1- Finals Draft

10/4- Final Copy Due

 

Best Practices For Getting Testimonials
You may ask yourself, “How do I get people to write about my business for me?” You would be surprised by the number of happy clients who would love to write about their positive experiences! If you are still unsure where to start, here are some actionable steps you can take:

Make a Process
Make Asking for reviews a subconscious business practice of yours, the more you make this a key practice of your business the more authentic it will become. After establishing a great relationship with your client, asking for an overview of their thoughts on your business is a natural way to show you care that they had a positive experience and want to ensure you provided the value that was expected.

Make it Personal
Incorporate clever ways to encourage your satisfied clients to write about your business. Make a personal video giving gratitude to your great clients for their business, at the end add a call to action for them to leave a review in return. Give them a call to give thanks for the business, ask them how they enjoyed the process, and urge them for some feedback or positives from their experience.

Make it Easy to Write Feedback
Use drip email campaigns to make writing feedback as easy as possible for your clients. Sending a thank you email thanking them for their business with an easy-to-find review link will promote feedback from your clients. Make sure that the email is concise and to-the-point, giving sincere thanks while also prompting them to leave some feedback.

Acknowledge Your Current Reviews
You may be surprised but one of the best ways to encourage more people to write reviews is to send thanks to the ones who have already left a review. When people see that reviews are getting acknowledged by the business that they have used before, they will be more motivated to write a testimonial of their experience as well. Just like you want to feel thanked for your service to them, your clients look for reciprocated appreciation.

Just Ask!
It doesn’t need to be anything special! Just start asking the happy people you have done business with. Your past clients and customers will be more than happy to write about their experiences with your business. Many people understand the importance of personal testimonials when in the purchasing process and will be more than happy to write about a positive experience they’ve had with a business.

 

Importance of Case Studies & Testimonials
Why continually tell prospective customers how you provide value when you can have a client do it on your behalf? In an extremely saturated digital world, it’s vital to your business’ success that you stand apart from the competition in a big way. Using testimonials and case studies is one of the best tools to persuade buyers in the decision-making process. What better way to ease hesitancy in the purchasing process than hear a reliable review from someone who has already been in your exact shoes previously? Hearing a story from a previous buyer that was in your very situation can be the difference in your prospects making the purchase or moving on. If you’re still feeling stuck on the best ways to build a compelling case study check out these key strategies to make your case study stand out!

If you’re interested in learning more about how to make the most of your testimonials and case studies, book a quick 15-minute call!