Why Video Testimonials are Insanely Useful for Home Builders
Today's home buyer is skeptical. They know there are a number of builders out there looking to make a quick dime, and they won't even consider talking to anyone before they've done a great deal of research. They're looking for a home builder who understands the type of home they want to build, and one they can trust to get the job done in an honest way. If you're a home builder in today's market, you'll have noticed that it takes a bit longer to get clients on board, and you're probably looking for ways you can close sales more quickly. One of the absolute best ways to ensure your home building company stands out from the competition is to include video testimonials.
Why Video Testimonials?
Video testimonials offer the highest level of social proof to skeptical home buyers. Not only do they serve as a great way to get positive content up about your building abilities, but they also prove that the quality service you talk about on your website is a genuine benefit of working with you. It's a way of providing word of mouth referrals in a digital age.
Video testimonials give your company authority and credibility. Any home builder can say that they offer superior communication, and strive to build the dream homes that each of their clients are looking for. By providing video testimonials, you're proving that your company really is that great by offering a credible third-party review to your potential clients. Video testimonials function just like the online reviews you see on Amazon, but better. If you were purchasing a new blender on Amazon, it's likely that you'd select a few promising options, and then compare the reviews for each model.
That's exactly how video testimonials work, but the interesting thing about video testimonials is that they're irrefutable. Some consumers are still wary of written testimonials because, in reality, anyone could have written them. Video testimonials are much harder to fake, which makes them all that more credible. They're especially useful for home builders because choosing to build a new home is a major investment. New homeowners are going to want all the proof they can get that your company is legitimate and honest before they even consider calling up your sales department.
How to Get Video Testimonials
It's actually surprisingly easy to get video testimonials for home builders. If you think about it, you've worked closely with a homeowner for months while their home was under construction. You know the homeowners well, and you've provided them with the space they'll call home for decades. Most previous clients will be comfortable talking to you, since they know you well, and as long as they're satisfied with their home, most of them will be happy to provide a video testimonial.
To get video testimonials from previous clients, all you really need to do is ask. Think of the projects you're most proud of, and the homes you know your clients love. Then ask if they'd be willing to help your company out by offering a short video testimonial.
It's a good idea to encourage those giving testimonials to talk about the entire process. You want to leave the testimonial up to the client as much as possible because it should be authentic, but if they ask for a little direction, make it clear that they can talk about the process as a whole. How was it like to work with you through the building process, and of course, how did they feel about the end product? Consumers love a story, and the more information they can get on how your home building company functions throughout the process, the better.
Add Progress Photos
Your video testimonials can be relatively informal if you like, but it's also helpful to consider putting together images of the end product and adding them into the video. This way, potential clients watching your testimonial videos can see and hear from the client but also see visual proof of the work you did for that client. It's a great way to add another layer of authenticity and showcase the beautiful craftsmanship your company is known for.
Feature a Number of Testimonials
Be sure to feature testimonials that are relevant to each target persona. Whether you often work with doctors, wealthy stay-at-home moms, or new couples looking for that first home together, be sure to collect video testimonial from clients who fit into each of your target personas. The more testimonials you have, the better. If you start getting more testimonials than you know what to do with, make a separate page on your website that's dedicated to testimonials. You can still feature individual videos on other pages, but it's helpful to have a spot that's easy to find for those potential clients looking to hear from past clients.
Where Do I Put My Video Testimonials?
Once you have a few video testimonials put together, don't be afraid to share them anywhere and everywhere. Definitely put them on your website, consider featuring them on your blog, and share them on your social media accounts. Don't flood every channel of your digital platform with video testimonials all at once, but consider sprinkling those testimonials in anywhere it seems relevant, in a way that's not aggressive.
For example, you don't want every single Facebook post you make this month to be a video testimonial, but you might consider posting one new video each week. You won't want to have 15 testimonials on your homepage, but you could feature one or two in convenient locations, and link to the rest if potential clients want to learn more. It's also worth considering embedding a video in your regular email newsletter. The testimonial shouldn't be front and center, and it shouldn't overshadow whatever helpful content you're providing in the newsletter, but it's a good idea to include a testimonial at the end of the email, where people are sure to see it after they've gotten through your helpful content.
Use Video Testimonials to Shorten Sales Cycle
If you're a home builder looking to boost leads and shorten the sales cycle, video testimonials are one great way to do it. They offer credibility and authenticity to your home building company, and they help assuage the worries of skeptical consumers. While video testimonials alone can't get you more sales, they're an integral part of a comprehensive, effective digital marketing strategy for any quality home builder. If you've got more questions about growing your company's online presence, or you'd like to professionally implement video testimonials to your website, get in touch.
