How tradespeople can foster the greatest testimonials from clients 

For many tradespeople, whether you’re a mechanic, builder, plumber, electrician, or even a baker or confectioner, testimonials from clients should mean a great deal. Often, prior to using any service, the customer will look for reviews from previous customers; hence, tradespeople are very reliant on highly spoken testimonials from clients. So, just how can a tradesperson stimulate the best testimonials from clients?

Gather reviews

It is said by Screfix.com, that at 73%, almost three-quarters of consumers trust local trades more after reading positive customer reviews. With this in mind, it’s advisable to share reviews across your website, social media channels and even any leaflets that you may distribute. This will not only help to build credibility but also expand your reach.

Testimonials are of great importance as some 63% of consumers conduct online searches for reviews when looking for a tradesperson. 61% check out the company website of the tradesman, and staggeringly, 81% of tradesmen come personally recommended by friends or family. Testimonials are like word of mouth; only better!

Set up a website

If you have a website, you’re far more likely to foster a decent testimonial from a satisfied client. Plus, a website provides you with a platform to display that testimonial. A website is generally the first thing a client will look for as they search for a company. A good website can set your business apart from competitors, and legitimise your services as a tradesperson.

Get listed

Get your business listed in local online directories and this will aid your search ranking efforts. Clients are more likely to move towards a tradesperson with a high search ranking, and this can lead to some awesome testimonials. Research the most popular and trustworthy directories for your trade and get listed today. If your company is listed, this will help to further legitimise your services.

To further validate your services, public liability insurance should be deemed a necessity. Such cover will protect your business against compensation claims and legal costs, if a customer, or other third party, suffers injury or property damage because of your operations. This will afford both you and the customer with peace of mind.

Communication is key: hone the basics 

When you agree to a job, stay organised and explain everything clearly – the client may not understand all the jargon of your trade so give thorough explanations. Break down quotes to the finest detail and be sure to keep the client in the loop with all stages of the job. If the client feels informed, they will feel valued and will make this known.

It’s important to remain honest and straight with customers – if you sell them a dream, you may find yourself on the receiving end of a bad review. If you are redundant of ratings, you could ask customers who you know will reflect on your work, positively, to produce a small review and build from this.

When initially approached by a client, respond in a prompt and friendly manner – reports suggest that 51% of clients are impressed by tradespeople who have a polite demeanour. If you impress from the off, that testimonial is only going to grow better and better.

As well as politeness, punctuality is also important. Late tradespeople can seriously irritate clients, and understandably so. You must remember they are paying good money for your services, so if you are going to be late, contact the client and give your apologies as well as a new arrival time.