Right after I wrote my two part post on why all good freelance writers need to ask for testimonials, I came across a post on WebWorkerDaily about constructing a client feedback form. This is another route to take in asking for feedback, especially if you are technical or do not want to ask the client directly for feedback. It can also be a useful tool if you are requesting anonymous feedback.

I still prefer to ask for my clients’ feedback directly though, for two reasons:

• Sending and email asking for feedback is more personal. Filling out a form will never be a substitute for human interaction. Think about all the forms you fill out at the doctor’s office or DMV. They are often used to depersonalize and quantify you.  Something like 15% of people answer market research surveys. That’s not a great success rate, and your web form may come across to your clients as a market reseach survey.
• Asking for feedback directly also allows for a continued dialogue with the client. Clients need to feel human, too. Maybe they didn’t like something and you get the chance to make it right. Or maybe asking for feedback makes you stand out from the crowd. I know that when I was a manager I always gave special consideration to candidates who wrote me a thank you letter after an interview.  And it wasn’t that I liked flattering suck ups — when I had a great pool of candidates to chose from, those small details helped push some candidates over the top.

One reader, Stephen, had a great idea for getting feedback from clients. He and his wife own a writing company specializing in press releases, and so when they get feedback from a client, they ask permission to write the partnership up as a press release. In Stephen’s own words, “The PR works as great advertising not just for us but for them as well. We post these on the sidebar of our website so whenever someone visits us, they immediately get the sense that the company is advancing.”

This is a a great tactic. It makes the partnershp official, gets the testimonial across to others, and the company looks duly successful. 

Whether you choose to ask clients for feedback directly or use a web form, getting testimonials is crucial to improving as a writer and a businessperson. Does anybody else have any effective ways to obtain feedback? Questions for me or for Stephen? Let me know in the comments.

For further reading:

Testimonials: A Freelance Writer’s Evidence, Part 1

Testimonials: A Freelance Writer’s Evidence, Part 2

*Worthy Wednesday was pre-empted yesterday in favor of an even worthier task — allowing Jenn to finish writing a grant without distraction. No worries, everyone’s favorite weekly RSS feed recommendation will be back next week.