The Power of Testimonials: How to Get and Use Them Without Feeling Weird
Let’s be honest: asking someone for a testimonial can feel a bit like saying, “Hey, can you write me a love letter?” It’s awkward, mildly desperate, and sometimes ends in ghosting.
But here’s the truth—testimonials are gold for digital marketers and entrepreneurs. They build trust, squash doubt, and do your selling for you. And when done right, they don’t have to be weird at all.
So grab your metaphorical megaphone—we’re diving into how to get killer testimonials and use them to boost your brand without breaking into a cold sweat.
💬 Why Testimonials Matter (More Than Ever)
In a world full of shiny ads and AI-generated everything, real voices from real people hit differently.
Here’s what testimonials do:
Build instant trust (social proof, baby!)
Overcome objections (“If it worked for them…”)
Increase conversions (up to 34%, according to some studies)
Make your website and sales pages 100x more convincing
People trust people. Especially when those people sound like them, struggle like them, and now rave about you like you invented Post-Its.
🧠 Step 1: Ask for Testimonials the Right Way
Timing is everything. Ask when your client/customer is happiest:
Right after a win
After completing your service
When they say something nice in an email (seriously, that’s your in)
📌 Template to Steal:
“Hey [Name], I’ve loved working with you and would be super grateful for a short testimonial about your experience. Just a sentence or two about what stood out or what results you saw would be amazing!”
Keep it short. Make it easy. Be cool.
🛠️ Step 2: Guide Them Without Putting Words in Their Mouth
People don’t always know what to say, even if they love you. Help them out with questions like:
What was life like before working with me?
What results did you get?
What would you tell someone thinking about hiring me?
Bonus: Use a form (Typeform, Tally, or Google Forms) with these questions baked in.
📌 Pro Tip: Let them know you might edit slightly for clarity—most people appreciate it, especially if they’re not professional writers.
🎨 Step 3: Design Testimonials That Actually Get Read
Nobody’s reading a block of text that looks like a wall of beige. Make your testimonials visually pop:
Add headshots (with permission)
Use bolding to highlight juicy bits
Break long quotes into short lines
📌 Tools: Canva, Notion, or your website builder can help you make testimonials look like mini case studies.
📍 Step 4: Place Them Where They Pack a Punch
Where you place testimonials matters just as much as having them.
Best spots:
On your homepage (above the fold if possible)
On your sales pages (near CTAs)
In your email sequences
On your checkout page (last-minute “yes!” fuel)
On your lead magnet pages
Don’t hide them in a dusty “testimonials” tab no one clicks. Pepper them throughout your content like seasoning. 🧂
🔄 Step 5: Repurpose Like a Pro
One good testimonial can go far:
Turn it into a quote graphic for social
Use it in an Instagram carousel
Add it to your proposals
Use in retargeting ads
Build it into a case study or video story
📌 Bonus Idea: Create a “Wall of Love” page—a visual buffet of rave reviews.
Final Thoughts
Testimonials are your business’s secret weapon. They speak to your dream clients in a voice that says, “Hey, this worked for me—it can work for you too.”
So ask with confidence, display with pride, and let your happy customers help you sell without lifting another finger.
Now go collect some love letters—er, testimonials. Your future self (and future customers) will be obsessed. 💌🚀