How To Ask For Testimonials For Your Freelance Design Business.
Whilst testimonials are a small part of a bigger marketing strategy they are key to future proofing your freelance fashion design business.
I used to think testimonials were just nice words to put on a website, yet they are so much more when building a marketing strategy for your freelance design business. I still look back at the testimonials from years ago, they give me a reminder of my personal strengths and the results of my business. Testimonials ought to be a part of your process in your client journey as a freelance fashion design business. Here are five ways to consider the importance of testimonials.
Why ask for testimonials?
It’s very easy to overlook this part of your client journey. You are likely to be so happy to deliver and get approval on the brief that you just want to lie down in a dark room and recover. Yet testimonials are the gold dust of marketing your freelance fashion design business. Whilst they are part of an overall marketing strategy, client testimonials are the easiest way to get some quick marketing content. As a freelance design business you don’t get yearly appraisals from a manager so treating a testimonial as a great form of feedback is a mindset shift on the way to view this important part of growing your client roster. In addition, creating conversations around the results you achieve for your clients are essential for future content when you choose to start marketing on LinkedIn.
What is a testimonial in freelancing?
Simply put, a testimonial is a way of creating social proof to show off your insane design skills and your unique qualities. It also allows you to reflect on feedback so that you can improve and learn from each design brief and indirectly gives your client a moment to acknowledge how great you are. Building a future proof freelance life can be tough at times, so creating a process to attain client testimonials for your freelance fashion design business and saving them in a folder on your desktop is a little confidence boost and self coaching tip when you experience an inevitable drop of motivation when you are going through a bit of a ‘dip’ between clients. Lastly, by asking for testimonials you are inviting another human being to express gratitude, the highest vibration we can experience, so a lovely way of giving your clients the opportunity for a five minute ‘feel good’ factor feeling.
How Client Testimonials can Boost your Freelance Business.
You can use testimonials in many ways to market your freelance fashion design business, even if you aren’t regularly marketing (even though you really ought to be). I understand posting on places like LinkedIn can feel really hard; imposter syndrome, overthinking and procrastination can take over, yet if you want to future proof your freelance life it is key to attracting clients. However, if you aren’t ready for that just yet you can use testimonials in your email proposals, in your portfolio PDF’s and on your email signature; get creative, that’s what marketing is all about. Even if you do nothing else a testimonial can boost your creative freelance business by giving you insight into the problems you solve. This is key to selling your services to clients and increasing your rates.
How to ask for a design testimonial.
But what if you feel icky asking for a testimonial? It is normal to feel this way when you start doing something new, yet once you get rolling it is a fun way to finish off a project. Pick a project that went really well, maybe with a brand new client, or you might be on such good terms with a regular client you could simply say “I feel a bit uncomfortable yet I’m starting to collect a short testimonial from clients, I have loved working with you and it would feel amazing to get your feedback. What do you think?’
If that feels too much, slow down and listen carefully to your conversations. Clients are offering you testimonials all the time in your freelance fashion design business; in meetings, on emails, on thank you cards at the end of a project. Ask them if you can quote their words, write them down and email them for approval.
Change Your Mindset.
If you ask for a written testimonial and a client looks overwhelmed, or you need to nudge them after they agreed to write you one, you could suggest they send you a voice message to make it easier and quicker for them and then use Otter.com to transcribe it.
Don’t be disheartened and try to keep things light hearted, we are all busy and honestly, nobody is given life lessons on how to write a testimonial, so they could be wondering “what on earth do say in a testimonial”. If you are getting nowhere with one client, channel your energy elsewhere, go ask another client - or three!
