So you have decided that you want to collect video testimonials from your clients or customers for your website, YouTube Channel, and other platforms. Yet, requesting these testimonials can be quite demanding since it requires significant effort from the customer or client.

To make this process smoother, our goal is to simplify the task for them.  I'll outline a step-by-step approach to help you efficiently collect video testimonials from your clients. By doing so, it won't burden or consume too much time for them, while also streamlining the collection process for you. Now, let's jump right into it!

How to collect video testimonials from a Customer or Client

How do we collect video testimonials from the customers?

You can reach out to your customers through many mediums, like mail, voice calls, personal meetings, video calls, text, etc. All these options are obvious, but we suggest you make your request as personal as possible.

What medium to use for reaching out?

Depending on the relationship you have with them, we suggest calls over emails and texts. You're the one doing the asking here, so it's important to be respectful and thankful for their help!

Of course, emails are the most appropriate and professional way to approach your client/customer. But if you have even a little bit of a personal relationship with them, you can call them up and make this request.

Calls add that personal touch and show you're really interested in hearing about their experience. But hey, if they're crazy busy, shooting them an email works too!

How to ask your client/customer for the testimonial?

When requesting a video testimonial from a client/customer, firstly, show them that you value the relationship you have with them. Maybe you can tell them how great it is/was working with them!

Then, consider outlining the purpose behind the conversation, which is asking them for a video testimonial and how their unique perspective can benefit others and showcase the value of your product or service.

Ensure they understand it's voluntary and there's no pressure. You can say something along the lines of:
"Hi [Customer's Name], I hope you're doing well! I wanted to reach out because we truly value your experience with [Product/Service]. We believe your insights could be incredibly helpful to others considering [Product/Service]. Would you be comfortable sharing your thoughts in a short video testimonial? We completely understand if this isn't possible, but your perspective would be invaluable. Thank you for considering this request."

After making your request, be clear about the instructions and other details of the testimonial you want from them, which we will discuss in the next section.

Lastly, there’s no one-fits-all method or formula for this since we are dealing with human beings, and different people may react differently! But for anyone who’s confused and doesn't know where to start, treat this as a starting point and keep improvising as you progress!

We have an entire article on how to ask for testimonials, which you can read here.

If you decide to reach out by mail, please feel free to go through our email templates to ask for a client for a testimonial here.

Now that we know the flow of conversation, it’s time to decide which route you’re going for so you can be clear about it when you instruct your clients.

How to collect video testimonials from your customers or clients?

Method 1: Shooting the Testimonial in person

So you can either call your client/customer to your office or studio or send video support to your client/customer’s office, home or wherever they are comfortable. Depending on the quality of the video you want, you can hire a video crew or simply shoot with a phone. Phone-shot videos, in most cases, work just fine as long as the audio is clear. For better-quality videos, you can also carry extra lights or maybe a microphone for recording the audio. However, that, in most cases, is not necessary. Just ensure that you’re recording in a quiet, well-lit, and noise-free environment.

In fact, phone-shot videos look more authentic and personal! Please note that not everyone is comfortable speaking in front of the camera, and that’s why we have to make it as effortless and easy for the client/customer as possible.

Pros

• You will be in control and can record to your satisfaction.
• You can suggest ideas for the content!
• You can make your client/customer feel more comfortable
• Looks more professional (if you produce it well!)

Cons

• It could be quite a tedious job.
• It involves traveling and is time-consuming

Tools to use:

• A good quality camera (Any DSLR, mirrorless camera, or even a good phone camera will work!)
• Tripod or Stabilizer
  This is to keep the camera steady and prevent shaky footage, especially if you're shooting handheld. Tripods or stabilizers like gimbals can help maintain stability!
• External microphone
  An external microphone, such as a Lavalier mic or shotgun mic, can greatly improve sound quality by reducing background noise. However, these microphones can be quite expensive. So consider renting them out! If you’re not too quality-conscious, you can also use a second phone (preferably an iPhone), keep it close to the speaker, and record the audio on that.
• Lighting Equipment
  Proper lighting can significantly enhance the video. Softbox lights or LED panels help create a well-lit, professional-looking video. If budget is an issue, you can simply go for a ring light or shoot at a location that is well-lit and does not require any external lighting.
• Backdrop (optional)
• Script or Guideline (optional)
• Teleprompter apps (optional)
• Storage (Cloud storage like Google Drive, WeTransfer, etc., or a memory card/SD card, hard disk, pen drive, etc.)

Method 2: Ask your client to record a video

Nowadays, everyone has smartphones and can easily record themselves! Selfie videos, anyway, look more personal and authentic. So, yes, you can ask your clients to record themselves. However, that increases effort on their end.

So, to ease their job, consider sharing a script or a questionnaire with them. You can also share sample testimonial videos for references with them so they don’t feel confused. Be very clear in your instructions about what you want from them, the length of their testimonial, if cuts are allowed, and other details.

Pros

• Clients/customers are usually more comfortable recording themselves, and conscious around other people, so the testimonial video may come out to be more natural. So they can record themselves in their own comfort.
• You won’t have to schedule anything

Cons

• There may be revisions, which could be very difficult to ask for!
• The lighting, audio, etc., may not be as good!

Tools to use:

• Good-quality camera (phone/professional)
• Video editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Wondershare Filmora, etc.)
• Cloud storage for sharing files
• Microphone (earphones with good-quality mic, Lavalier mic, etc.)
• Good lighting/Lighting Equipment (ring light, LED lights, softbox, etc.)
• Remote Collaboration Tools (platforms like Zoom or Skype for remote guidance or to provide real-time feedback during the recording process.)
• Instructional Video or Tutorial (Optional)
• Teleprompter app or a script (Optional)
  

Alternatively, you can also go for a professional service like Testimonial Donut. As a first step, they will create a mock testimonial video design for you. Then, you just need to select five clients/customers of yours and connect them with the company, and the company will take care of the rest from there.

By the end of the service, you will get your testimonials without any hassle and unnecessary back-and-forth with the clients/customers!

Method 3: Schedule a Video Call with them and record the video call

You can also consider scheduling a video call (like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Facetime, etc.) with your client/customer where you can record them directly. These are more engaging and helpful as they can also help you instruct them about the audio, lighting, speech, etc.

It can also be an impromptu testimonial video call where you prompt them questions, and they give you a candid answer based on that. That will make the testimonial more authentic and honest!

Alternatively, you can share the questionnaire with them beforehand so they can be more prepared. Afterward, you can edit the video, cut the pauses, silences, and any parts you want to remove, and get a tight testimonial edit.

Pros

• You will have more control over the testimonial
• It’s a convenient and less time-consuming answer
• You can guide it in your favorable direction with the questionnaire
• Looks more natural and honest!

Cons

• May look less professional
• Quality control may be a challenge, since video calls’ resolution may not be that great!
• Dependency on the Internet connection
• Will require a good edit!

Tools to use:

• Video call software with recording capabilities (Zoom, Google Meet, MS Teams, FaceTime, etc.)
• Video editing software (Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Wondershare Filmora, etc.)
• Good lighting
• High-quality phone camera or webcam
• Microphone

How to follow up after requesting the testimonial?

Once you've requested the testimonial, follow-up actions are essential to keep the process on track and maintain a positive relationship with your clients/customers. Here’s a guideline on following up that you can follow.

Thank You Message

Send a thank-you message immediately after making the request. It’s also good to express gratitude for their time and consideration. This reaffirms your appreciation for their effort. Let’s say you’re writing a follow-up mail, the first thing should be thanking them for agreeing to the request.

Confirmation and Gentle Reminder

If the customer/client hasn't responded a day or two after the initial request, send a gentle reminder to confirm if they've had the chance to consider your request. Politely remind them of the importance of their testimonial.

Let’s say the client/customer agreed that they will share a testimonial with you in “x” days. After that period, wait another day or so, and if you don’t receive the testimonial from them, just write or say something along the lines of “I haven’t received your testimonial video yet. Just wanted to gently remind you about it, and check if you’re doing well or need any assistance with the video!”

Provide Assistance

Offer any necessary assistance or clarifications they might need. If they have questions or uncertainties, provide prompt and helpful responses to facilitate their recording process.

Flexible Deadlines

Be flexible with timelines. While it's good to set an expectation for when you'd ideally like the testimonial, consider their schedule and offer reasonable timeframes.

Check-In

Regularly check in with a polite follow-up message. It's crucial not to appear pushy but instead show continued interest in their willingness to participate.

Provide Samples or References

If they seem uncertain about the format or content, offer samples of other testimonials or guidelines to help them understand better what you're looking for.

Express Gratitude Again

Once they've submitted the testimonial, whether it meets all your criteria or not, express gratitude. Thank them for their effort and for sharing their thoughts.

Lastly, if you find any of this too much effort or work or don’t have the time or bandwidth to invest in this work, consider going for services like Testimonial Donut, where all this headache is taken care of by their team.