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How to Use the Testimonials Tool in Connect

Collect and Display Testimonials to Build Trust and Engagement

 

The Testimonials Tool in Connect allows you to gather, manage, and showcase testimonials from your church members and visitors. These testimonials help build trust, inspire new visitors, and create a sense of community and authenticity around your church’s mission.

1. What Is the Testimonials Tool?

With the Testimonials Tool, you can:
✅ Manually add testimonials from members and visitors.
✅ Allow users to submit their own testimonials via an online form.
✅ Showcase video or text-based testimonials directly on your website.
✅ Customize how testimonials appear in your Connect panel.

💡 Why It Matters: Testimonials reinforce credibility and encourage engagement, helping new visitors feel confident in connecting with your church.

2. Adding the Testimonials Tool to Your Panel

Step 1: Enable the Tool

  1. Log in to your Connect Dashboard.
  2. Navigate to Customize Tools.
  3. Click “Add Tool” and select Testimonials.
  4. Click the down arrow next to the tool to open settings.

3. Customizing the Testimonials Section

Step 2: Naming and Display Settings

  • Tool Title – This appears in the Connect panel.
    ✅ Example: “Testimonials” or “What People Are Saying”
  • Panel Title – The text that appears inside the tool when users open it.
    ✅ Example: “See what others have experienced at [Church Name]!”
  • Visibility Settings – Choose when the tool is available:
    • Always (Recommended for continuous engagement.)
    • Working Hours Only (Hides testimonials outside office hours.)
    • After Hours Only (Displays testimonials only outside office hours.)

💡 Tip: Keep this set to "Always" unless you have a specific reason to restrict access.

4. Manually Adding Testimonials

Step 3: Entering Testimonials Yourself

If you have received testimonials through email, conversations, or social media, you can manually add them to your Connect panel.

To Manually Add a Testimonial:

  1. Click “Add Testimonial”.
  2. Fill in the details:
    ✅ Headline – A short title summarizing the testimonial.
    ✅ Testimonial Text – The full written testimonial.
    ✅ Video URL (Optional) – If the user provided a video testimonial, paste the link here.
    ✅ Author Name – The name of the person giving the testimonial.
    ✅ Church Name/Title (Optional) – Any additional details.
  3. Click Save.

💡 Tip: Video testimonials are extremely powerful! Encourage church members to record a short video sharing their experiences and upload it to YouTube or Vimeo.

5. Enabling User-Submitted Testimonials

Step 4: Creating a Testimonial Submission Form

You can allow visitors to submit their own testimonials through an easy-to-use form.

To Enable the Form:

  1. Scroll down and click “Testimonial Settings”.
  2. Navigate to “Testimonials Capture”.
  3. Click “View Form” to see how it looks.
  4. Customize the form fields:
    ✅ First Name & Last Name (Required by default.)
    ✅ Title (Optional) (Can be changed to "How long have you attended?" or another custom question.)
    ✅ Video Upload Option (Allows users to submit a video testimonial.)
    ✅ Text Testimonial Option (For written responses.)
  5. Click Save.

💡 Tip: Customize the intro text at the top of the form to encourage visitors to leave a review. Example:
"We’d love to hear how [Church Name] has impacted your life! Please share your story below."

6. Sharing the Testimonial Submission Form

Step 5: How to Share the Testimonial Form

Once your testimonial form is set up, you can share the link to gather responses.

To Share the Link:

  1. Click “Copy Link” in the Testimonial Settings section.
  2. Use this link in:
    ✅ Emails to church members ("Share your story with us!")
    ✅ Social media posts ("We’d love to hear how God has moved in your life!")
    ✅ Website buttons ("Submit Your Testimonial" button on the homepage.)

💡 Tip: Make it easy for people to submit testimonials after big events like baptisms, retreats, or community outreach.

7. Approving and Publishing Testimonials

Step 6: Managing Submitted Testimonials

When a testimonial is submitted, it does not automatically appear on your website. You must review and approve it first.

To Approve a Testimonial:

  1. Go to Customize Tools → Testimonials.
  2. New submissions will appear under “Hidden Testimonials”.
  3. Click a testimonial to review the content.
  4. Click “Make Public” to display it on your website.

💡 Tip: Always review testimonials to ensure they align with your church’s message and values before publishing.

8. Customizing the Appearance of Testimonials

Step 7: Adjusting Display Settings

Make sure your testimonials match your church’s branding and website style.

To Customize the Appearance:

  1. Navigate to Testimonial Settings.
  2. Add your church logo to the form.
  3. Adjust button colors to match your website’s theme.
  4. Click Save.

💡 Tip: Video testimonials can be pinned to the top for better engagement.

9. Best Practices for Gathering Testimonials

✅ Ask for testimonials at the right time – After events, baptisms, or impactful sermons.
✅ Encourage video testimonials – Video adds authenticity and emotion.
✅ Follow up with users who submit testimonials – A simple "thank you" email goes a long way.
✅ Use testimonials in multiple places – Display them on your website, social media, and emails.
✅ Rotate testimonials regularly – Keep your content fresh and engaging.

10. Saving and Testing Your Testimonial Tool

Step 8: Save and Preview

  1. Click “Save” to apply all changes.
  2. Open your website and test the Testimonials Tool to ensure:
    ✅ Testimonials display correctly.
    ✅ The submission form works properly.
    ✅ The review and approval process is smooth.

Next Steps

Your Testimonials Tool is now set up and ready to help build trust and engagement in your church! Looking for more ways to connect? Explore additional Connect tools, or contact support@ministrydesigns.org for assistance. 🚀