The client testimonial video is great at providing assurance to prospective clients and customers about the benefits of your product or service.

People are heavily influenced by their friends, family and others who may have used your product or service.

A video review or testimonial from one or more clients and customers is more effective than any sales pitch or marketing gimmick. These are short videos that can range from 15 seconds to several minutes in length.

They are also pretty easy to get done; often you can have an appreciation party and bring everyone together.

Here are a few tips on how to make a great testimonial video.

Getting Started

More than likely you can think of at least a few customers or clients that would speak favorable about your business, product or service.

Don’t think so? Then think about any repeat customers or clients you may have. They returned for a reason. Ask them why. I understand it may be nervous, but folks are programmed to help and you would be surprised by how many agree to participate. As they say, quality over quantity counts and you just need a few good ones.

Shooting the Video

You can hire Seven G Media, or shoot these videos yourself with your smartphone. Again, the biggest considerations in making that decision are your available time, the cost of your time, your budget, and your comfort level with all the different technologies you will need to use.

Once you have your willing reviewers, it is best to give them some high-level bullet points of what you would like to cover in the interview (besides how awesome you are). If you have the ability, you would prefer to have testimonials that addressed different strengths of you and your business. Some points would be customer service, speed, accuracy, quality, and results.

7G clients have organized client/customer appreciation parties, where they were able to bring folks together for the video shoot. You can also offer to visit them at their workplace, or a place where you can capture video of them using your product or service. For example, a Realtor could consider shooting testimonials with clients that have purchased homes with them while in the new home.

Ultimately, you want to have a conversation with your client or customer providing the testimonial. This results in a video that feels natural, believable, and authentic. To see an authentic testimonial video, watch what Niaz Larsen has to say about Realtors Wick and Karoline Ashley.

Don’t worry too much about getting the perfect take on the first try when shooting your testimonial videos. More than likely, your customer will be a little uncomfortable in front of the camera or will overdo it by trying to talk in “marketing speak.” Rather, start the camera and ask a few easy questions and reassure them they are doing perfect. Then start asking about the high level points you want to cover.

And if you are asking questions (you can edit out your voice later on), consider asking open-ended questions instead of yes or no questions. For example, “Why did you hire Seven G Media to shoot your video?”

As a newspaper reporter, I would save all my hard questions for late in the interview. That way I knew I would have at least something to write about before they told me to shove off. Similarly, I would also end the interview and tell some joke or Navy sea story. The subject would relax because the “interview” was over and perhaps even laugh at my story. Then I would ask one or two follow-up questions. You would be surprised how perfect their answers would be. I bet the same could happen for you.