How to Write an Effective Testimonial, Including Examples

Your opinion matters and we can help you share it!

What is a Testimonial?

Customer testimonials, or reviews, are opinions shared by customers and posted online, usually at the site where the product or service was purchased but not always. For customers, a testimonial can reflect your experience and recommend that others follow the path you've taken or warn them against doing so. For retailers, encouraging customers to leave reviews has become a valuable tool for collecting social proof and a way to promote themselves through content marketing. Testimonials have become a key part of e-commerce for buyers and sellers and an expected feature on many websites.

Want to write a testimonial but not sure where to start? We'll show you what makes a good review.

You know the value of online reviews & testimonials left by fellow online shoppers. You’ve used them to answer questions, gather information, learn about the experiences of others and, most importantly, make decisions about what you will and won’t buy.

If you haven’t written one before and are looking for some tips and advice on what your review should (and shouldn’t!) include, we’ve got what you’re looking for!

Why Should You Write a Customer Review?

Don't you appreciate the fact that someone took the time to leave a review that answered specific questions you had about a product or service? A customer testimonial can be just the kind of social proof that makes us feel more confident when buying products and services online. And just as you have been helped by someone else's opinion, you can return the favor for anyone who needs to be persuaded one way or the other by hearing what you have to say about your experience.

Here's why your review, even a short testimonial, matters:

• It Helps Others Make Informed Decisions: Your honest feedback provides valuable insights for other potential customers. It can guide them to make the right choice and set realistic expectations.
• You Can Support Businesses and Brands You Love: Reviews are essential for businesses, especially small ones, to grow and thrive. By leaving a review, you’re giving them a powerful tool that can shape a potential customer's plans to make a purchase.
• It's a Chance to Share Your Experience: Writing a review allows you to highlight exceptional service, quality products, or unique experiences that made an impression on you. It’s your chance to share your story and celebrate what stood out.
• Encourage Improvement: Constructive feedback helps businesses identify areas where they can improve. This benefits not just the business but future customers, including you.
• Build a Better Community: When you leave reviews, you’re participating in a cycle of trust and transparency that supports a stronger, more informed community of consumers.

How to Write an Effective Testimonial

A good customer review is clear, detailed and a great opportunity for anyone to share their experience. Here are some tips to make your review impactful, trustworthy and helpful to prospective customers.

• Be Honest and Authentic: Write from your personal experience and avoid exaggerations. Readers value genuine reviews over overly positive or negative ones.
• Mention Specific Details: Highlight what made your experience special. Did a staff member go above and beyond? Was there a unique feature or product that impressed you? Specifics make your review more relatable and credible.
• Keep It Concise: While details are important, try to keep your review focused and to the point. A few well-thought-out sentences are more effective than a long, unfocused paragraph.
• Balance Positive and Constructive Feedback: If there were any areas for improvement, mention them politely and constructively. Businesses appreciate fair criticism as it helps them grow (but they love a customer success story even more!).
• Be specific and detailed: Instead of simply saying "It was great!", elaborate on what exactly you loved. If you have a critique, be specific about what could be improved.
• Share the "why": Explain how the product or service impacted you. Did it solve a problem? Make your life easier? Bring you joy? Adding this personal touch makes your review more engaging and relatable.
• Honesty is key, but keep it respectful: Even if you had a negative experience, maintain a polite and constructive tone. Focus on the facts and avoid using offensive language.
• Provide context: Include relevant details like the date of your purchase, the model name of the product, or any specific interactions you had with the staff.

Always use a friendly tone and try to write the kind of review that you enjoy reading. Also, remember that there's no "correct" length for a testimonial. A short review doesn't mean it's not useful to someone as long as it contains relevant information.

Want to Write a Great Testimonial? Use This Testimonial Template

The exact formatting and details of your review will vary depending on the information required by the platform, but here's an example of a template that can be used as a way to simplify the process and save time:

[Full Name]

[Your Location]

[Date]

Product/Service Reviewed: [Name of the product or service you’re reviewing]

Rating: [e.g., 5/5 stars, 10/10, or any other rating system]

Title: A short, catchy headline summarizing your experience, e.g., "This Helped Us More Than Anything!", "The Service is Exceptional!", "The Best (XYZ) for the Job!", etc.

Your Experience:

Write 2-3 sentences describing your experience with the product or service. Be specific about what you liked or didn’t like.

What You Loved:

Highlight 1-3 specific positive features or aspects.

Room for Improvement:

If applicable, mention any areas where the product or service could be improved or details about why it let you down.

Would You Recommend It?:

It's a Yes-or-Now question but try to add a sentence explaining your answer.

[Optional: Add a photo or video of the product/service in use]

Thank You!

End with a positive note, e.g., "Thank you for creating such an amazing product/service. I’ll be a returning customer for sure!"

Customer Testimonial Examples

Want to write better testimonials? Here are a few examples to serve as inspiration. Notice how they're direct, honest and informative. Bear this in mind if you want to write testimonials that inspire trust and deliver some value for readers.

#1 - Here’s an example of something you may encounter on some sites - ready templates that ask for answers to specific questions.

What makes it good? It’s to the point and forces those who leave the reviews and those who read them to concentrate on short, focused aspects of the product or service.

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#2 - The ability to share something is key in the click economy and that includes testimonials. Everyone has a platform now so why not use it?

What makes it good? Sharing something on your own profile shows how important the review is to you. On top of that, it’s possible to attract the attention of the brand you’re talking about and - who knows? - maybe even get tagged or shared by them.

#3 - Good reviews like this one share good points, bad points and honesty all at the same time.

What makes it good? The writer describes an entire journey with the product, including up and downs along the way, in just a few sentences.

#4 - This review is a reminder that numbers can tell a story faster than words can.

What makes it good? The use of specific amounts of money and time immediately communicate the value the writer feels for the product.

#5 - Want to make sure readers draw the right conclusion from your review? Skip giving advice and go straight to commands, like in this review.

What makes it good? Strong recommendations stick in the minds of readers more than nuanced ones and there’s no doubt what this reviewer thinks.

#6 - Simple language, simple points and simple conclusions engage readers, as shown here.

What makes it good? There’s no need to write a book to make your point and this reviewer communicated a lot in just fifteen seconds of reading.

More of a Talker Than a Writer? A Video Testimonial Could Be A Better Option

If the platform where you're creating a review allows it, leaving a video testimonial can be a great alternative to writing one. More and more online retailers are making this type of testimonial possible because of the advantages that everyone enjoys:

• Increased Engagement: Videos are more captivating than text. They allow potential customers to see and hear from real people, making the testimonial more personal and impactful.
• Enhanced Authenticity: Video testimonials showcase genuine emotions and experiences, building trust and credibility in a way that written reviews can't.
• Improved SEO: Search engines tend to favor video content, so video testimonials can boost a website's ranking and visibility.
• Greater Shareability: Videos are more likely to be shared on social media, expanding the reach of the testimonial.
• Accessibility: Some people may find it easier to speak about their experience than to write it down, making video testimonials a more accessible option.
• Versatility: Video testimonials can be used on various platforms, including websites, on social media, and even in email marketing campaigns.

Don't see the option to leave a video review? Tell the platform about Easylove and show them that allowing different kinds of testimonials is a great idea!

Your Customer Testimonial Can Help Someone Make a Better Decision

Leaving a review takes just a few minutes, but it can last for years. Whether you’re praising a brand's good job of serving customers, warning about an organization's shortcomings or simply sharing your thoughts, your voice matters. Testimonials are important and powerful because they can build credibility for a brand that deserves it or make someone less likely to purchase from a brand or seller that didn't live up to your expectations.  Reviews empower other customers to make informed choices and smart business owners monitor them to pick up important details about their product or service.

You don't have to be a high-profile online influencer to have an impact on the way consumers view a brand — any testimonial you share that gets read has the same chance to influence buying decisions. Testimonials help in subtle ways that can help build trust and credibility or save someone from repeating a negative experience.

Next time you have a memorable experience, take a moment to share it with a compelling testimonial – your community will thank you for it!

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