search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!

How to Get Testimonials and Make Them Count

By Al Levi
January 31, 2010


Why the big fuss about getting testimonials anyway?

It’s simple. I learned a long time ago that what you tell me about you is interesting but what I really want to know is what someone, who is a customer, like me is saying about you.

It’s not that as a potential customer we don’t trust what you’re saying…but we don’t…and it’s only natural to feel that way.

Think about it. When you go shopping for something like a car or even a service you need at your home, don’t you ask your friends, family members or even check out the testimonials of others? As people, we want to know who else will testify as to how good the product and/or the service you’re selling really is and we’d prefer not to be the Guinea Pig.

It’s not personal. It’s just human nature. WE want assurance. At least, we don’t feel foolish. So if we follow someone’s recommendation or rely on a testimonial and it doesn’t work out quite as well as we had hoped we don’t feel so silly. Nobody wants to appear stupid and most, if not all of us, are more than happy to let someone else test the waters first for us.

Okay, so now you know why testimonial advertising and marketing are so powerfully effective and why it’s critical to keeping your phone ringing.

To help capture testimonials, you need to work at it. The big thing is to do a Customer Survey each and every time you do work for a customer. And the time to do it is as soon as the work is completed and they’re hopefully feeling the best about you and your company.

Here’s the template I use with clients to solicit testimonial comments by sending them out after each job called the “Customer Survey Form”

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY
Appleseed Business, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (480) 205-5164

[Date]

[Customer Name]
[Street address]          
[Town], [State] [Zip]  


How would you rate the service you recently received? (please check only one answer for each item)

                                                                            Very Satisfied          Satisfied           Dissatisfied  

The politeness of the office person                        __                        __                           __
when you called for service?

The company's ability to set a scheduled              __                        __                           __
time range that was at your convenience?

Service Technician's arrival within that                   __                        __                           __
scheduled time range?           

Politeness of the Service Technician who             __                        __                           __
performed the service?

Technical knowledge of the Service Technician    __                       __                           __
who performed the service?

Workmanship and quality                                          __                        __                           __
of the service work done?

The work area left clean and neat?                          __                        __                           __

Would you use Appleseed Business again?                            Yes__                     No__       


If you would like to make additional comments, please use this space and reverse side if necessary.
_____________________________________________________________________________   _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________  


May we use your comment in future marketing?                        Yes__                     No__       

Signature:____________________________________________  
Date:__________________________________


Note:   It’s the comments they write in that count the most! That’s because it takes effort and you can use them if they give permission in your marketing. Check boxes are not as helpful.

Note:   It’s easy to think that you can ask your Techs to hand them out when they do the work. STOP! You think if I was your Tech and I ticked off a nasty customer that I’d actually hand them one of these? No way! That’s why they must be mailed or if you like you can try emailing them.

Here’s an alternate example of a set of questions that I have some of my clients use when completing big ticket jobs like installations so they can potentially get a good testimonial to use with prospective new customers:
    What was going wrong before we arrived [or did our work]?

    What were you most afraid of before working with us?

    What were you most pleased with about the way we did our work?

     Would you recommend us to others?

If you want to really ramp up the effectiveness of your testimonial marketing, try to get a picture to go with their good written testimonial. The worst they can say is, “No” and you’d be surprised if you do a good job how amenable they are.

The trick is to get the testimonial as soon as possible after the work is done and they’re feeling good about you. And if you want to learn how to leverage testimonial sales and marketing read the Special Announcement below.

Special Announcement:

Biz Experts Al Levi and Ellen Rohr are kicking off a new Teleseminar Series:
Get More Calls Now (starting March 16, 2010) 

Together, they’re showing their clients they work with one-to-one how to get their phones ringing right now. And now they plan to share these secrets with others in the Get More Calls Now program which has 3 simple, low-cost marketing “drivers” that will get your phones ringing (more leads, more SALES)…now. They could even double or triple the business you have. Though times are tough, some savvy business owners are going to dramatically GROW their sales. 

The Get More Calls Now program is designed to help business owners who… Need to get the phone ringing now? So that you can at lease keep the doors open!
Want to really grow their company and skip the inch by inch slow-growth process?
Want to do more than just survive and create real opportunities for yourself and your team?

Learn more at http://www.GetMoreCallsNow.com

Announcement:

The Step by Step Success program solves the “Contractor Overwhelm” issue by offering one simple, powerful business building Step at a time. Through interactive Teleseminars and one-to-one coaching in Office Hours, Al Levi and Ellen Rohr will help contractors implement ONE action each month that will help them make more money and start living a better life. 

One simple Step…one problem SOLVED every month. Topics include…
  • Firefighting 101 teaches you how to handle ANY problem…Once and for All. 
  • Establishing yourself as someone worth playing with, following…and fighting for. 
  • Launching Laser-focused Direct Marketing to get Massive Results on a Shoestring Budget.

Learn more at www.StepByStepBusinessBuilding.com.

Links

  • Give Me 60 Minutes And I'll Show You The Secrets To Running A Profitable Service Business ... Even During A Recession!

Share This Story

Al Levi has been helping plumbing, HVAC, roofing, remodeling, electrical and carpentry businesses solve problems, turn greater profits, and help owners get their lives and free time back for over 7 years. This is all based on his 25-year career at his family-owned and operated contracting business. For more information, visit www.60minuterecessionsolution.com.
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Blog Topics

Damato of the Day

Guest Blog

Recent Comments

It's fascinating to see how virtual trade shows...

This update is a game-changer for flat...

This is a timely conversation for residential...

Safety is No1

high quality materials

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

QXO closed its acquisition of Beacon Building Supply on April 29, 2025.

QXO Closes Beacon Acquisition, Rebrands Immediately; Jacobs to Ring NYSE Bell

New executive orders signed by President Trump will likely further constrict an already tight labor market for the construction industry.

New Executive Orders Will Further Squeeze Labor Force

President Trump’s trade war is causing real harm to the construction sector, including roofing contractors.

Trade War Fallout: Contractors Are Delaying Projects and Cutting Crews

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

May 22, 2025

Remote Teams 101: The New Way to Hire

Our industry experts will guide you through what remote hiring and outsourcing should look like, how it can help you grow, and why it’s easier (and less scary) than you might think. If you want to save time, find great talent, and grow your business, this is one session you don’t want to miss!

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing