The ultimate Reference Questions

Your guide to effective customer references

A frequent ask from reference providers in B2B SaaS surrounds the issue of security and encryption. Vendor onboarding can be a tedious process - and your prospects' security team likely needs to know if and how your product fares in key compliance areas like GDPR and SOC2.

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Customer support & onboarding
Were there any challenges during onboarding, and how were they addressed?

This question sheds light on potential difficulties and how they were resolved, helping prospects set realistic expectations.

Core
How long have you used the product?

Understanding the length of time the users have interacted with the product provides insight into the depth of their experience. Long-term users share the full scope of benefits, while newer users offer fresh perspectives.

User experience (UX) & usability
How much training did your team need to become proficient with the product?

This focuses on the amount of training required, helping prospects understand the commitment needed.

Integration
Did the product’s API documentation provide sufficient support for custom integrations?

APIs are crucial for flexibility, and this question ensures the product can accommodate custom needs.

Product scalability & growth
Were you able to easily upgrade or add features as your needs expanded?

Understanding how smoothly new features can be added helps gauge whether the product can grow with the company.

Product scalability & growth
What challenges, if any, did you face when scaling the product, and how were they addressed?

It’s important to know potential pain points as companies scale their operations.

Core
What was your primary reason for choosing this product?

This question helps prospects understand the motivations behind the decision, offering relatable insights if their challenges align with those of the referee.

Core
What feature do you find most valuable?

Understanding which features provide the most value can help prospects identify whether the product aligns with their needs.

Customer support & onboarding
How smooth was the onboarding process?

This question helps assess the ease of implementation and the support offered to new users.

Product scalability & growth
Did the product help you manage an increase in workload or customer base without major issues?

This assesses how well the product handles growing demands.

Integration
How easy was it to integrate the product with your existing systems?

Integration ease is a big concern for B2B SaaS companies. This question targets that aspect.

Innovation & product roadmap
How well do the updates align with your evolving business needs?

This assesses how closely the product team listens to its user base and adapts.

Integration
What third-party tools did you successfully integrate with this product?

Prospects can get a sense of the product’s compatibility with other essential tools.

ROI & cost-effectiveness
How quickly did you see a return on your investment?

This gives insight into how fast the product starts delivering tangible benefits.

Core
What is your full name?

Your users likely come from various industries and backgrounds. RefVault automatically shares the LinkedIn profile of the professionals (where available).

User experience (UX) & usability
How has the user interface evolved during your time using the product?

This helps prospects understand how responsive the company is to improving usability.

Innovation & product roadmap
Have there been any standout innovations or features introduced since you started using the product?

Identifies whether the product is keeping up with trends and solving emerging pain points.

Innovation & product roadmap
How transparent is the company regarding its product roadmap?

This addresses how well the company communicates upcoming developments and features.

Vendor security
Were there any security audits or assessments involved before adopting the product?

A vital concern for enterprise clients, this question looks into the due diligence process.

Vendor security
How does the product ensure compliance with industry-standard security protocols (e.g., GDPR, SOC 2)?

This question addresses security compliance, a critical factor for B2B SaaS.

Vendor security
What kind of support is provided in case of a security breach or vulnerability?

A key question for assessing responsiveness and readiness for security incidents.

Core
How has the product impacted your daily operations?

This question provides concrete examples of how the product integrates into workflows, helping prospects visualize its potential impact.

Core
Would you recommend this product to others in your industry? Why or why not?

This question indicates overall satisfaction and also explores industry-specific suitability.

ROI & cost-effectiveness
Would you consider the product to be cost-effective in the long term? Why or why not?

This question addresses long-term value versus short-term gains.

Integration
Were there any integration challenges, and how were they resolved?

This question addresses potential roadblocks and the support provided to overcome them.

ROI & cost-effectiveness
How does the cost of this product compare to others in the market?

Helps assess whether the product is competitively priced and delivers better value than competitors.

User experience (UX) & usability
How intuitive was the product when you first started using it?

This gives insight into the initial learning curve and usability.

Product scalability & growth
How has the product adapted as your business has grown?

This focuses on the product's scalability and flexibility as the business evolves.

Innovation & product roadmap
How frequently are new features and updates released?

Helps prospects understand the pace of innovation.

Core
What measurable improvements have you seen since using the product?

This question focuses on quantifiable outcomes, offering more concrete evidence of the product’s value.

ROI & cost-effectiveness
Did the product reduce your operational costs? If so, by how much?

This focuses on cost reduction, a key selling point for many B2B products.

Vendor security
How does the product handle data encryption and secure communication?

This question explores how well the product protects sensitive information.

User experience (UX) & usability
Were there any features or areas of the product that were difficult to navigate?

Helps pinpoint any aspects of the user interface that may need improvement.

Customer support & onboarding
How well did the product’s training materials (documentation, tutorials, etc.) prepare you to use it?

Understanding the quality of the training materials can help new users anticipate the learning curve.

Customer support & onboarding
How responsive has the customer support team been?

Customer support responsiveness is key for troubleshooting and maintaining user satisfaction.

Core
What is/was your position title when you used the product?

Knowing the role of each referee helps determine if the reference is comparable to a prospect's business needs. Knowing the background of the refer helps persons in similar positions relate to the feedback.

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