{"id":141546,"date":"2020-07-15T16:07:15","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T16:07:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.searchenginewatch.com\/?p=141546"},"modified":"2020-07-15T16:07:15","modified_gmt":"2020-07-15T16:07:15","slug":"testimonial-link-building-using-real-experiences-for-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/2020\/07\/15\/testimonial-link-building-using-real-experiences-for-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Testimonial link building: Using real experiences for success"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"well\">\n<h3>30-second summary:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"TextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\">Link building is one of the most\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2 SCXW84135031 BCX0\">crucial<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\">\u00a0yet most\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\">difficult<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\">\u00a0aspects of SEO but\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\">testimonial link building<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW84135031 BCX0\"> can solve that problem for you.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Testimonial link building is seen as a great way to harness this raw strength of positive experiences by customers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\">Giving<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\">\u00a0a testimonial to a\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\">company you ha<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\">ve\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\">availed service from<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW52287250\">\u00a0or purchased from can be a great way to get a link back to your site.\u202f<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP BCX0 SCXW52287250\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW71426458\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW71426458\">It\u2019s such a simple and straightforward method, which may be one of the\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX0 SCXW71426458\">reasons\u00a0<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun Highlight BCX0 SCXW71426458\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX0 SCXW71426458\">\u202f<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun BCX0 SCXW71426458\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2 BCX0 SCXW71426458\">why<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun BCX0 SCXW71426458\">\u00a0your business should implement testimonials and reviews into your link building strategy.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP BCX0 SCXW71426458\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In this analytical age, brands are competing on the minutest details. Targeting the right keywords, creating campaigns targeting the right demographic, coming up with effective CTAs, and all those technicalities. However, amidst all that, there is still an element that cannot be measured using an existing tool. That&#8217;s where testimonial link building comes into the picture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Word of mouth from customers can end up making or breaking all the efforts brands put in their campaigns. You as a brand can do everything right but a negative experience by a customer can create negative brand equity that\u2019ll be hard to shed. In the same way, positive word of mouth can boost up your sales manifolds. This why testimonial link building is seen as a great way to harness this raw strength of positive experiences by customers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Continue reading below to learn what exactly is testimonial link building, how to get started, and what rules you need to abide by during the entire process.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">What is testimonial link building?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In laymen terms, testimonial link building is using a positive comment from customers that have used your service or product and featuring them on your website. At its core, testimonial link building is meant to provide genuine positive word of mouth for website owners in exchange for a link. In the end, everyone\u2019s happy and it helps brands grow and gain brand recognition.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There are some finer details involved too such as relevance. Think about it, if you\u2019re a software company, do you want a testimonial from a caf\u00e9 from a completely different country? Relevance is key. Just like textual content, you can\u2019t overdo the use of testimonial\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">link building<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0as it\u2019ll end up hurting both parties instead of helping them. There\u2019s no perfect recipe for success in testimonial link building apart from ensuring clarity and relevance.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jayson Demers, CEO of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Email Analytics<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> says testimonials really fruitful strategy to build links, <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWith every testimonial, you will receive Search Engine Crawlers will recognize that your site has an authority\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Perfection on those true fronts will yield great results for both parties. So, how does it work, and more importantly, how do you get started? Continue reading below to learn more.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">How to build testimonial links<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Without beating around the bush, the whole process boils down to 5 crucial steps that anyone can follow. These are as follows:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">1. Create a target list of products\/services<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This is where you\u2019ll need to do the most homework. I\u2019d advise you to keep your range of targets as wide as possible but avoid venturing into irrelevant fields.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Some other things to keep in mind include targeting solution-based\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purevpn.com\/blog\/independent-praise-for-purevpn-validation-and-success\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">products and services<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. The potential customers looking at this are already at a high engagement point and they\u2019re more likely to convert. I\u2019d also advise making sure you target products and services that you\u2019ve actually used. It would be futile to skip this part as it is a legal requirement. You can still choose to move ahead<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0with this but it\u2019s unlikely any product<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0or service will entertain your testimonial requests if you\u2019re not an existing customer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jay Eckert,\u00a0Founder\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">Parachute Design<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">also recommends using testimonials for your services, <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201c<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When you write honest reviews for products or services you are\u00a0using,\u00a0it is ultimately benefiting your\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">we<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">bsite\u2019s exposure and visibility in the form of backlinks or through Brand mentions\u201d<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">2. Find their contact information<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you\u2019ve identified the best possible leads, it\u2019s time to start contacting them. Again, this step requires a lot of elbow grease, so bear that in mind. However, some extensions and tools can help you in this regard and make your job a little easier.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For instance,\u202f&#8217;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">FindThatLead&#8217; is a tool that <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202fallows you to find your target\u2019s contact details almost at a click of a single button. Just enter the domain you\u2019re targeting and it\u2019ll provide you the details of the right person to contact for your request. Some other similar apps include\u202f<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hunter.io<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202fand\u202f<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Voila Norbert.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">3. Pitch your testimonial via email<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This is a crucial part that a lot of people mess up. This is the point where you pitch your testimonial, do not send your testimonial. There is a clear difference between the two and it could save you a lot of time.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You\u2019re supposed to pitch the idea of giving them a testimonial on the site. While nothing is stopping you from writing up a testimonial and sending it to them, if they reject it, you\u2019ve wasted all that hard work for nothing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Write a short and to-the-point email to pitch your testimonial and how it can add value to their overall site.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">4. Write a relevant testimonial<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you\u2019ve received a green-light to go ahead with a testimonial, you can start working on it. The intent of each testimonial matters a lot, so you must understand what the site owner\u2019s intent is. For instance, if they\u2019re a no-profit organization, they don\u2019t want to sell anything but rather raise awareness. Similarly, a start-up would want to encourage a maximum of new customers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tailor your testimonial based on what the intent of that testimonial on the site is supposed to be.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">5. Create a video backing up that testimonial<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:40,&quot;335559739&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Okay, fair disclaimer, this last step is more of a bonus step. You can skip it if you want but I\u2019d advise against it. There\u2019s a pearl of old internet wisdom to be skeptical of everything you see on the Internet. Put yourself in the shoes of a potential customer. If you\u2019re someone that\u2019s looking at these testimonials, how do you know they\u2019re real. Yes, they all sound convincing and they have the verification mark guaranteeing they\u2019re real customers. However, there will still be an iota of doubt in their minds. This doubt can be the obstacle between a potential customer converting into an actual customer.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0You can use\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">video or visual<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0testimonial as well.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Laws and regulations to consider<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Even though testimonials present a tremendous opportunity to sell your product and service using your previous sales\u2019 as proof, there are some strict guidelines on how you need to present them.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Federal Trade Commission has an entire set of laws on how businesses can use endorsements and testimonials in their advertising. I wouldn\u2019t go as far as to call these to be stifling but they do require some strict criterion to be followed. The entire document can be found and studied\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/attachments\/press-releases\/ftc-publishes-final-guides-governing-endorsements-testimonials\/091005revisedendorsementguides.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But in case you\u2019re looking for a short rundown of what this means, there are three things you need to be careful about when using testimonials.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The context needs to be clear. You can\u2019t throw in a testimonial that was given to you for a different version of the service or the app for instance. If you still want to use that testimonial then you\u2019ll have to specify the details. This is primarily why on the App Store when reading reviews for apps, you\u2019ll find reviews marked \u201creview for a different version\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In case the testimonials were for quid pro quo, you can still use them but you\u2019ll have to provide all customers full disclosure. This means any behind the scenes deals to prop each other up by brands is a big no-no.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This should go without saying, but all testimonials you choose to use must be genuine. If found guilty of cultivating fake testimonials, your brand can face heavy fines depending on which\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">state you\u2019re in. Steer clear of quantities when it comes to testimonials and focus on delivering quality and earning genuine, organic testimonials that you can use.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guide on how to create effective testimonial link building and how they can end up getting your brand authoritative links from other businesses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1092,"featured_media":141547,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[27839,27214,50,22],"content_type":[],"class_list":["post-141546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seo","tag-client-testimonials","tag-link-building-techniques","tag-link-building","tag-seo"],"acf":{"tad_independentcommercial":false,"tad_content_format":false},"post_info":{"name":"idris.nagri@blenheimchalcot.com idris.nagri@blenheimchalcot.com","title":"","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/testimonial-link-building.jpg","category":"SEO","timeago":"6y"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1092"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141546"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141546\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/141547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141546"},{"taxonomy":"content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/searchenginewatch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_type?post=141546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}