How to Get Reiki Reviews

Christian Stone

What is the best way to get testimonials from your Reiki clients? I’m revamping my website and want to include powerful and genuine testimonials and success stories. I’m planning on sending previous clients a text or email (maybe with a video) and am wondering if I should include a format/outline to make it simpler for them?

Reviews and testimonials are important to our Reiki business because social proof is important in the purchasing process. People will often read reviews before making a purchase. This social proof impact is more important for some people than others. For instance, I was once entering the lobby of a restaurant my friends and I had never been to while one of them pulled out her phone and said, "Let me check the reviews." I was ready to walk in and give it a try, but she wanted to see what others thought as we were literally walking in the door. So social proof is a real thing and reviews really do have an impact. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to do this.

Video is always the most powerful medium, so getting clients talking about their experiences with you on video is the best. It's harder to fake video testimonials (which, by the way is illegal: it's illegal to write fake reviews or testimonials) because we can see and hear a real person talking about their experience working with you. Admittedly, I am bad at remembering to ask for video testimonials. |

I like to send out anonymous surveys after my courses to get student feedback. I feel it's the most honest feedback because I don't know who they are and they're free to say what they want knowing that I won't know they said it. I do it to improve my courses, but I also will use some of the quotes. The anonymous quotes maybe aren't as impactful as having a name attached to them, but they're honest and real.

Another way I have gotten reviews and testimonials is that I send a follow up e-mail after every appointment requesting a review. I tell clients exactly how to leave a review. Some practitioners give clients a format or outline for reviews, which can be helpful if your clients don't know what to say. I personally allow clients to say whatever they wish, though best practices for reviews include having the client talk not about how nice you are, but about how impactful the session with you was and what a difference it made in your life. The best reviews talk about the impact and benefits of their experience working with you. This is because results are always powerful in reviews. Some would say it's the only kind of review that matters. I disagree, but if there's something in specific you want from your client in the form of a format, then definitely ask for it.

If you find yourself asking for reviews and not getting them, everyone has had this experience, so you're not alone and it's not you. I've had plenty of clients say they will write a review and then don't. I've even had other Reiki practitioners promise to write a review and then not, and practitioners know it's important and helpful to get reviews. So even practitioners who know the impact of reviews and who want to leave a review might not follow through. People get busy and forget. It's ok to ask again and to let them know that it's really helpful for you as you start out in your business. For me, at this point I have so many reviews and positive feedback that I don't "chase" anyone, but I do automatically ask for a review on my follow up e-mail after a session.

Reviews are so important that I have a whole section on them in the Build Your Reiki Business program, the world's most comprehensive Reiki business program. Full of Reiki business essentials, 1-on-1 support, and an encouraging community of other Reiki practitioners building their business.  

But of course please feel free to grab the free Reiki Biz Kit full of lots of Reiki business information.