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- Video Testimonial
How Can I Collect a Video Testimonial from My Coaching Clients?
Yes you absolutely can collect a great video testimonial from your clients. They can be a very powerful tool for attracting clients and even though you may have a learning curve are well worth having.
On this page I'll show you how to make a video testimonial so that both the content and production work well, and your client makes you sound and look as good as you really are!
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If asking for a written or video testimonial from a client is something you find a challenge, be sure to read my page on Requesting a Testimonial with details of four stress-free ways to go about it.
How Do You Make Content of a Video Testimonial Powerful?
No matter how well your client thinks of you and shares their story, the benefit of a video testimonial can be ruined and lose its impact if it is poorly recorded and presented.
To make the message powerful, you want the client to deliver a brief, authentic account of how and why they recommend your coaching. Here are some ways to set this up.
1. Clarify with the client the desired emphasis of the testimonial
If you have your client's agreement, you can use your notes from their session to prompt the client to talk about anything you would particularly like them to mention.
Some video testimonial questions that could deliver excellent answers during the testimonial, may be:
- What results or changes did you achieve?
- How did you find my style of coaching?
- Was my experience in understanding your problem useful?
- What challenge were you facing before we started working together?
- What made you decide to work with me?
- What did you learn about yourself along the way?
- What would you say to someone thinking about working with me?
- Also have a look at Coaching Evaluation questions for some more question ideas.
2. How long should a coaching video testimonial be?
You will often see short lengths such as 30 to 60 seconds if you search online but if it is good quality a little longer is OK. You want the passion and authenticity to shine through and sometimes that can take longer than 30 seconds!
One way to ensure it won't be too long or too brief, is to coach the client before you or they record. Alternatively, you can be with them online and ask questions or give prompts (as covered in the previous step) and then edit the recorded file.
Sometimes a really long and valuable testimonial with a great story can be edited down to a few points with a link provided that takes the interested viewer to the complete, unedited version.
Remember that you may need to send your edits to the client for approval.
This is only a good approach if you are comfortable with editing video or have someone who can do it. If editing is not your skill then it would be a good and time-saving investment to do a search on Fiverr or Upwork for willing affordable freelance help.
Having said that, a video hosting service such as Wistia, which has no ads on your video has simple and effective editing system online that is easy to learn. You will need a free account to have access and the value is enormous.
3. What content should be included in a video testimonial?
The testimonial should sound like a brief story with a beginning, middle, and end. This basic framework will ensure you have it covered.
- The client briefly shares who they are and why they came to you for coaching.
- Then the story of how they found working with you and the results.
- They should finish with expressing how much they appreciated your coaching and that they would recommend you as a coach.
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How Do You Avoid Common Video Production Mistakes?
A few moments spent checking that you have covered the five points below before you or your client press the record button and again before you load it up to your website or social media platforms will be very well spent. These checks can make the difference between an engaging or potentially annoying video testimonial.
1. Make sure the audio quality is clear
Your client's voice shouldn't have an echo so it sounds as if it had been recorded in the bathroom.
Avoid a lot of background noise. We can block out things like traffic, dogs barking, kids whining, or lawnmowers — but the microphone won’t and will pick up every extraneous sound!
The result can be very distracting and take attention away from the positive message being delivered.
2. Keep the background simple and uncluttered
You need to think about the background or it can be an unfortunate distraction from what is being said.
Watch out for things like plants that look as if they are growing out of your subject's head! Or really interesting items like a dramatic picture in the background that could distract from the client's video testimonial
Even worse can be someone walking by, or maybe a pet that takes the eye away from the person giving the testimonial and their message.
3. Check that lighting works shows the client in a good light
The clients giving you a video testimonial can react in horror when they see how they look in the video. These simple checks can really make sure they come across in an authentic way.
You or they should ensure there are no shadows on their face and no reflections in their glasses if they are being worn. Lighting behind, especially from a window can completely destroy the image as it overwhelms the automatic settings on the camera.
Also watch out for poor lighting that makes the subject look as if they have had some serious Botox to smooth out all their natural features.
4. Make sure the client is positioned to camera correctly.
I doubt you like looking up people's noses. But this is just what can happen if the laptop or mobile camera is poorly positioned.
Recently, I was watching an online panel show on TV. Because of the way one panel member had positioned their laptop on their desk, every time she spoke I found myself looking up her rather large nostrils.
It was most distracting from what she was saying!!
To avoid this, the laptop camera should be positioned close to eye level. This is to ensure that the built-in camera is not recording at an upwards angle.
Advise your client that whether their laptop is on their lap or on a desk, it should be elevated so the camera is close to eye level.
Adjusting the screen position will also help with this and looking at any preview screen of how they look to the camera's "eye".
5. Make sure the video is recorded in landscape mode
Videos recorded on your phone shown on YouTube, Facebook or your website or other platforms will look a whole lot better if the camera position is sideways or what is known as Landscape or 16:9. They will still display well on social media too, because the side areas (for example the rest of a living room) will not display but your client will!
If the client is creating their own testimonial on a mobile phone without help or questions from you, ask them to ensure it is recorded with some space on either side of their head. Needless to say, the same guidance applies if you are recording it for them.
It goes without saying that if you or the client is using a mobile phone to record, the best result will be if it is stable and on a stand - not wobbling about in the hand.
Finally, once recorded and displayed on your website, one extra tip to give it more power is to also provide a text version. Not everybody (including me!) wants to take the time to watch a video. They just want a quick read.
So, it can pay to look after both preferences. Have fun!
Need Some Extra Video Testimonial Resources?
Even though helping your coaching clients create video testimonials may be new to you, there is plenty you can learn from the experts. The three resources I have listed below will advance your journey and help you develop an even greater depth of understanding and proficiency in helping your coaching clients.
Hubspot: Getting Clients to record their own testimonials
Wistia: Getting Started with Video Testimonials
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