The Difference Between Testimonials and Reviews
By NETWORK. LEAD. EXCHANGE.
Many entrepreneurs use the terms review and testimonial interchangeably. Network Lead Exchange explains the important differences between these vital promotional tools.
Every business loves promotion and few things are as effective as testimonials or reviews. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs conflate these terms. Reviews and testimonials provide essential promotional functions to a business. They give prospective customers ideas about how effective a business is at providing service. With every business having stars next to their entry on Google, it’s important for entrepreneurs to distinguish between these tools and leverage them effectively.
Who is Writing It?
The key difference between reviews and testimonials is the writer. Testimonials are first-person accounts written by actual customers. Reviews could be written by customers, but they also could be written by third parties. Testimonials are highly effective because the writer is a real person who utilized a business’s service. Whether it’s a Google Review, or a CNET review, these reviews lack the same level of utility because the person writing may not be a customer.
Where is it Found?
Testimonials are usually published by a business itself while reviews populate third party websites. Google and CNET are great examples of places to find reviews. However, Morty’s Widgets is only going to feature testimonials from actual customers. Of course, Morty will not publish testimonials on his site that are critical of the business. Therefore, testimonials paint a one-sided picture, while a review stands independently.
Which Should Be Used?
The answer is both. Reviews and testimonials work together to paint the picture of a business. It’s important to have testimonials on a site. Another tool is recording video testimonials and posting them onto YouTube. Reviews are found on Google, Amazon, Yelp, etc. Monitor these reviews and if there’s a bad review, it’s imperative to respond politely to the review or if the review is slanderous to politely lay out the actual fact pattern. A business that’s diligently involved with procuring testimonials and monitoring reviews is a successful business.
Learning about using testimonials and reviews is a big topic in networking circles. Expand your knowledge base @ NETWORKLEADEXCHANGE.COM.
