Create a Testimonial Tracker in Google Sheets: Your Ultimate Guide

Picture this: You're rocking at your business, people love what you do and offer, you have glowing reviews coming from every corner of the internet, and now, how do you manage all these compliments? Tracking what your customers say about your business can feel overwhelming, but here's a simple solution you may not have considered: a Google Sheets testimonial tracker. By using Google Sheets, you can streamline the way you organize and access your business testimonials, all in one neat and tidy document.

Plus, a testimonial tracker can enhance your business's credibility by systematically showcasing your satisfied customers' praise. This approach could be the exact solution you've been searching for without the hassle of complicated systems.

What is a Testimonial Tracker?

A testimonial is a public tribute to someone and their attributes or achievements, for a business this is usually in the form of a compliment on a product or customer service given. A Google Sheets testimonial tracker is a digital spreadsheet designed to help you store, and manage testimonials received from clients or customers.

It typically includes columns for key details such as the date of the testimonial, the testimonial content, who gave the testimonial, an image of the testimonial, and the context or product/service related to the feedback. Additional features might include status indicators (e.g., “approved,” “published,” “needs follow-up”), links to where the testimonial is published, and fields for permission notes. This tracker ensures testimonials are easily accessible, properly credited, and effectively utilized in marketing materials.

Testimonial trackers are essential tools for building credibility and showcasing customer satisfaction. These systems or templates help you neatly organize and manage customer feedback.

Purpose of a Testimonial Tracker

Why should you care about a testimonial tracker? In the digital age, customers seek authentic reviews before making decisions. A systematic approach to presenting testimonials adds credibility to your business. It's not just about collecting praise — it's about leveraging it in meaningful ways:

• Credibility: Displaying genuine feedback builds trust with potential customers. A well-maintained testimonial tracker keeps all your positive reviews ready to share.
• Marketing: Testimonials can be the very thing to propel your marketing strategy. They provide social proof, convincing fence-sitters to choose your product or service.

Key Features of a Testimonial Tracker

Not all testimonial trackers are created equal. What should you look for in a template? Here’s a quick checklist to guide you:

• Ease of Use: A simple, intuitive interface for entering and managing testimonials.
• Search and Sort: Features that allow you to filter testimonials by date, source, rating, or whatever criteria you choose. This can save you tons of time.
• Custom Fields: Flexibility to add specific fields relevant to your business needs, such as customer demographics or product categories.

Benefits of Using Google Sheets for Testimonial Tracking

Choosing the right tool for organizing and tracking testimonials can make your life so much easier. Google Sheets offers a straightforward solution that keeps everything neat and within reach.

Here's why Google Sheets might just be the testimonial tracker you've been looking for.

Accessibility and Collaboration

With Google Sheets, collaboration becomes a breeze. Multiple users can access and edit data simultaneously, making it ideal for team efforts. This real-time editing feature means you can say goodbye to the hassle of sending versions back and forth. It's like everyone's sitting side-by-side working on the same document, even if they're miles apart.

Cost-Effectiveness

We all love saving money, right? Google Sheets won't cost you a dime. As a free tool, it offers all the core functionalities you need for testimonial tracking without denting your budget. While there are paid options out there, why shell out the cash when you have access to a solution that gets the job done efficiently?

Not only is it free, but Google Sheets also doesn't require any fancy installations or hardware. Since it's cloud-based, you can access it from any device with an internet connection. This means whether you're working from home or on the go, your testimonials are always just a few clicks away.

How to Create a Testimonial Tracker in Google Sheets

Creating a testimonial tracker in Google Sheets is pretty straightforward and you can make it as fancy as you want so there's really no right or wrong answer in terms of what to include, what colour, how many columns, etc. It's all up to you!

Setting Up the Spreadsheet

Building your spreadsheet begins with creating a new file in Google Sheets. Picture this as laying the foundation for your tracker, ensuring it's both sturdy and easy to navigate.

• Create a New Spreadsheet: Head over to Google Sheets (sheets.google.com) and click on “Blank” to start a new document.
• Name Your Spreadsheet: At the top-left, click on “Untitled Spreadsheet” and rename it to “Testimonial Tracker.”
• Set Up the Header Row: Think of your header as the roadmap. Enter column titles like “Client Name,” “Date,” and “Feedback.” This allows you to keep your data structured and easy to browse.
• Freeze the Header Row: Use the “View” menu and select “Freeze 1 row.” If your headers are on row 2, then it would be “Freeze 2 rows” This keeps your header visible while scrolling, making navigation a breeze.

A well-structured setup means less time searching and more time utilizing the feedback that matters.

Adding Relevant Columns

Choosing the right columns is crucial — it's about having the right tools for the job. Your columns should reflect what you want to learn from your testimonials.

• Name of the Client: Identify who's providing the feedback. This is handy for personal follow-ups.
• Date Received: When did you receive this praise? Tracking this can reveal trends over time.
• Feedback Text: This is the essence of your tracker. Give this column enough room to hold longer testimonials.
• Image of the Feedback: Let's say the feedback came from a Facebook comment: screen capture the comment. This way you can use the whole image, kind of like images of thought bubbles. I see this all the time and it's a nice look testimonials – not just plain old text.
• Source of Testimonial: Where did it come from? Email, social media, or another platform?
• Intended Use: Where are you going to use or where have you used the testimonial?
• Image of the Client: Make sure to ask if you can use their photo!

By carefully selecting these columns, your Google Sheets testimonial tracker will be something you can refer to easily when adding customer feedback to your sales pages, mockups, emails, etc.

Using Formulas for Automation

Formulas in Google Sheets can help automate processes and keep your tracker up-to-date without manual input.

• COUNTIF Formula: Easily count testimonials from different sources. =COUNTIF(range, "source")
• Auto-fill Dates: Use =TODAY() to automatically record the date a testimonial is logged. This is like adding a timestamp to every entry with zero effort.
• Concatenate Information: Merge text from different columns to create concise summaries with the =CONCATENATE() function.

These formulas let you streamline operations, turning a basic tracker into an intelligent, time-saving tool. Want to dig deeper into Google Sheets capabilities? Look into Google Sheets Second Brain Templates for more tips on organizing your data efficiently.

Sharing and Collaborating

One of the beauties of Google Sheets is its ability to facilitate collaboration. Imagine gathering everyone around a virtual desk, where everyone can contribute and refine data simultaneously.

• Share with Team Members: Click “Share” in the top-right corner, and invite team members by entering their email addresses.
• Set Permissions: Decide who can view or edit your tracker. Maybe some can only view, while others have editing rights.
• Real-time Updates: With every change, Sheets updates in real-time, ensuring everyone accesses the most current data.

Google Sheets transforms testimonial tracking into a collective project, where collaboration isn’t just possible — it’s seamless.

Remember, your Google Sheets testimonial tracker should serve you as an adaptable and dynamic resource. By customizing it to fit your specific needs, you ensure it remains invaluable in portraying your service or product in the best light.

Best Practices for Collecting Testimonials

Timing and Methodology

When's the best time to ask for a testimonial? Just like comedy, timing is everything! Ideally, you'll want to ask when your client or customer is most satisfied with your service. This could be immediately after a successful project completion or a positive interaction. The moment when they're still basking in the glow of a job well done is often the most opportune time to request feedback.

• Email Post-Service: A follow-up email one or two days after service is a gentle nudge.
• Surveys: Include a testimonial request in customer satisfaction surveys.
• During Positive Interactions: Compliments during check-ins? Use that opportunity to ask.

Both the timing and the method of your request will impact the quality and quantity of testimonials you receive.

Crafting Effective Requests

It's not just about when you ask but how you ask. A good request is like a friendly handshake — warm, inviting, and leaves a positive impression. Generic requests often end up in the trash bin, so make yours stand out.

Consider these examples of effective testimonial requests:

• Personalized Emails: “Hey [Name], we loved working with you! Would you mind sharing a few words about your experience?”
• Simple Form Links: Embed a quick form within an email: “Your feedback helps us grow. Could you share your thoughts here?”
• Express Gratitude: Be appreciative. “Thank you for being a valued client. Your feedback would mean so much to us.”

Get creative, but also keep it simple. The easier it is for them, the more likely they are to respond.

Following Up with Clients/Customers

A follow-up is your second chance at catching a testimonial if the first attempt fell flat. It’s about being politely persistent without becoming a nuisance. Think of follow-ups as a gentle reminder rather than a nagging afterthought.

• Be Timely: Wait about a week after the initial request before following up.
• Personal Touch: Reference earlier correspondences: “Just circling back on the feedback request. We value what you have to say.”
• Provide Incentives: Offer something in return — maybe a discount or exclusive content as a thank-you.

Sometimes a little reminder is all it takes to turn a pending testimonial into a shining review. Plus, ensuring your follow-up is as thoughtful and considerate as your initial request underscores your professionalism.

Building a healthy collection of testimonials through a structured approach not only enriches your Google Sheets Testimonial Tracker but also fortifies the foundation of trust and credibility with your clients.

Final Thoughts

A Google Sheets testimonial tracker is an essential tool for any business looking to efficiently manage and leverage customer feedback.

By organizing testimonials in one accessible place, you can easily showcase your business's credibility, boost your marketing efforts, and foster trust with potential clients. With its user-friendly features, cost-effectiveness, and collaborative capabilities, Google Sheets offers a powerful solution for tracking testimonials, helping you stay organized and focused on what matters most—growing your business.

Now is the time to create your Testimonial Tracker, you don't want to miss out on recording all the business love you're receiving. I would love to see what you build! Join the Facebook Group and post your newest spreadsheet!

Make sure to check out the other business templates you can create in Google Sheets, like a Second Brain Template (this is a must for any business), a Product Tracker template, a Business Branding Template, and a whole list of other Google Sheets templates!

Interested in a done-for-you Testimonial Tracker, among other business spreadsheets? Join my Efficient Biz Builder membership for $9/month and you'll have access to all of my Google Sheets business templates! These also come with PLR rights, meaning that you can sell them to your audience, give them away, use them as lead magnets, or whatever you want to do with them. See you in there!