How to Ask For a Testimonial From a Client (+ Free Templates!)
Client testimonials are the best form of social proof.
But figuring out how to ask for a testimonial isn’t always that simple.
Ideally, you should tailor the testimonial requests to suit your clients’ temperaments – without sounding pushy. Your requests, just like testimonials, must be genuine and communicated clearly.
If you want to find out how to ask for a testimonial from a client, keep reading.
In this updated guide, you’ll access the various creative testimonial request methods, the testimonial collection process, testimonial request templates you can copy-paste, and explore Trust – the leading, fully automated testimonial collection tool.
Table of contents
Why should you ask for a testimonial from a client?
15 steps to launch a testimonial campaign
- Step 1. Mind the timing
- Step 2. Identify the right clients to ask
- Step 3. Build rapport with clients
- Step 4. Offer an incentive
- Step 5. Identify the testimonial type
- Step 6. Create a testimonial submission form
- Step 7. Explain the purpose of the testimonial
- Step 8. Provide a template or guidelines
- Step 9. Ask open-ended questions
- Step 10. Choose and set up a testimonial collection channel
- Step 11. Follow up
- Step 12. Show appreciation
- Step 13. Create a testimonial page
- Step 14. Use the client testimonials effectively
- Step 15. Monitor feedback
7 ways to ask for a testimonial (examples included!)
- #1. Ask for a testimonial in an email
- #2. Ask for a testimonial for social media
- #3. Ask for customer testimonials via a messaging app
- #4. Ask for a testimonial on your website
- #5. Video testimonial interview
- #6. In-person
- #7. Co-write method
5 testimonial request email examples to steal
- End of year
- Formal
- Informal
- Incentive
- Automated
Why should you ask for a testimonial from a client?
For starters, not every client will go out of their way to submit a great testimonial without being asked for one.
Sometimes they need a little nudge to take that first step into submitting a positive testimonial, especially one that’s trustworthy and has all the key elements.
So, it’s always best to ask for a testimonial instead of assuming that a happy client will always submit a testimonial after a great experience.
A well-captured customer testimonial also paves the way for more high-quality conversions because it instills a feeling of trust in your potential clients.
So, the first step is to put a top-notch testimonial request process in place. That’s what our next section is all about.
15 steps to launch a testimonial campaign
Customer testimonials are must-have marketing assets to build brand credibility and trust.
But not just any testimonials. Genuine, precise, and engaging ones from the best customers.
This section of the article outlines the steps involved in asking customers for testimonials.
1. Mind the timing
Analyze your consumer base and their journey to determine the best time to send testimonial request letters.
Ideally, this would be after the user has seen success with the service or product and is happy with the results.
You can use customer health information to see the signals that indicate customers are experiencing success. For example, target customers who’ve used your SaaS product for over 30 days.
2. Identify the right clients to ask
The next step in asking clients for testimonials is to identify those who are most likely to provide a valuable testimonial.
Look for clients who have had a positive experience with your product or service and who are likely to provide a thoughtful and detailed testimonial.
For example, reach out to clients who have recently left a 5-star rating for your customer support agent.
3. Build rapport with clients
Before asking for a testimonial, it’s important to build a strong relationship with your clients.
This can be done by providing excellent customer service, following up with clients regularly, and offering helpful advice and support proactively.
4. Offer an incentive
The next step is to motivate customers to give you a testimonial by offering an incentive, such as a gift card or a free plan upgrade.
If this isn’t possible, write out a request email explaining how both parties will benefit from the testimonial. For example, explain how you would include their social credentials on your website along with the testimonial and give them more exposure.
5. Identify the testimonial type
Testimonials are more than just feedback. They are extremely versatile.
For instance, you can use a video testimonial as an ad on YouTube, use star ratings to display on Google, upload reviews to your landing page, and so much more.
So, before collecting testimonials, you must define the type of testimonial you wish to collect from a particular client.
Here are a few for inspiration:
- Star, PMF, and NPS ratings to display on sites such as Google, G2, Facebook, etc.
- Video or text testimonials for a more in-depth, personal review
- Text reviews for your brand’s social pages on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms
Once you’ve made your decision, let’s move on to learning how to create an easy testimonial request form using Trust.
6. Create a testimonial request form
The testimonial submission process must be as simple and clear as possible for your clients. And Trust makes this happen.
Here’s what an Interactive testimonial request form looks like in Trust:
These conversational forms make testimonial requests a breeze by letting you set customer questions for each of your clients. All they have to do is record their responses to each of them one by one and hit submit instead of recording a lengthy video testimonial.
If you want a simpler testimonial form, you can use Smart forms instead and collect a text or video response without a survey-like structure:
Trust’s unique testimonial features like enabling a teleprompter, customizing video testimonial request messages, optional AI help, collecting customer consent, etc., make it one of the most versatile tools out there.
7. Explain the purpose of the testimonial
When asking for a testimonial, be clear about why you are requesting it.
Explain that you are looking to showcase the positive experiences of your clients and to help others make informed decisions about your product or service.
If you’re using Trust, you can record a video welcome message for each customer and guide them better.
8. Provide a template or guidelines
To make the process of providing a testimonial easier for clients, provide a customer testimonial template or guidelines that they can follow.
This will ensure that you get the information you need and that the testimonial is structured in a way that is useful for potential customers.
9. Ask open-ended questions
When asking clients for a testimonial, ask open-ended questions that allow them to provide detailed feedback.
This will help ensure that the testimonial is useful for potential customers and provides a full picture of the client’s experience.
10. Choose and set up a testimonial collection channel
Having an incredible testimonial request form is of no use if you’re not sure how to ask and collect testimonials in the first place.
Choose the channel that feels most comfortable for both you and the client.
There are many different channels you can use to ask for testimonial blurbs, and we’ll cover them later in the article.
Depending on your relationship with the client, you may want to ask for a testimonial in person, over the phone, or through email.
11. Follow up
If a client agrees to provide a testimonial, follow up with them regularly to ensure that they are making progress and to answer any questions they may have.
This will help ensure that the process is smooth and that you get the testimonial in a timely manner.
12. Show appreciation
When a client provides a testimonial, be sure to show your appreciation by thanking them and letting them know how much their feedback means to you.
This will help build a strong relationship with the client and encourage them to recommend your product or service to others.
13. Create a testimonial page
Prepare a dedicated testimonial page on your site to showcase the testimonials you receive.
The page can be a long one with all of the testimonials or a grid or gallery linking to individual testimonials.
Each testimonial should highlight different aspects of the product or service and provide a chance for potential customers to envision themselves benefiting from the product or service.
Trust has “Wall of Love” testimonial page widget templates where you can simply assign your collected testimonials and copy the readily available code to upload your very own Wall of Love on your website.
14. Use the client testimonials effectively
Once you have received a testimonial, use it effectively by sharing it on your website, social media accounts, and other marketing materials.
This will help showcase the positive experiences of your clients and encourage others to try your product or service.
15. Monitor feedback
After receiving a testimonial, be sure to monitor customer feedback regularly to ensure that your product or service continues to meet the needs of your clients.
This will help you identify any areas for improvement and ensure that you continue to provide excellent service to your clients.
Pro tip: Automation vs manual
Depending on the best time to request a testimonial, businesses can decide whether to use automation or send requests manually.
If customers use free software and don’t interact with your customer support team, deploying an automated email when they achieve success with the product is a good idea.
7 ways to ask for a testimonial (examples included!)
Here are seven ways you can ask your clients for testimonials along with examples. You can choose one or a combination of these:
#1. Ask for a testimonial in an email
Email is a fast and effective way to request testimonials from clients.
Most requesters downplay the need to create a well-structured testimonial email request.
To receive great testimonials, you must use the right words to entice your clients into submitting their best opinions.
But before you draft your message, you can copy the created submission form as a URL to add it to your email.
To do this, Trust provides a super simple method through which your clients can submit their testimonials at the click of a button without having to download the app.
To access it, navigate to Forms > Active forms > click “Copy Link”:
Now that you have the form’s link, let’s draft your email using one of the below templates:
Testimonial request email template #1
Dear [client name],
Thanks for being our customer. We’d like to hear how your experience is with [Product].
Do you mind taking just a few minutes to leave feedback? You can do it by visiting this [link].
Testimonial request email template #2
Hey [client name],
How’d we do? Please take a moment to let us know. We’ll use your review to improve our services and products for you and customers like you.
[Link]
Advantages of email requests:
- It’s faster.
- Clients don’t have to sign up.
- Personalized communication increases the likelihood of them providing a testimonial.
Disadvantages:
- Sending mass emails could lead to spam issues.
- Sending emails to all clients can be time-consuming.
- A lot of back and forth is involved in the process.
Keep these tips in mind while sending a request:
- Send a personal message and customize your emails.
- Send emails only to those customers who have granted permission.
- Ensure customers can unsubscribe from your newsletter.
- Send more emails, spaced out, for effective testimonial gathering.
#2. Ask for a testimonial for social media
Utilize social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn to communicate with your customers.
Encourage happy customers to share their experience with your services on social media platforms.
Using Trust, you can import your existing ratings and reviews from your social media platforms onto your website.
But before doing so, you must have your client’s permission.
A convenient way to get this and to further entice them into submitting a written or video testimonial, is to send a request email and use an appropriate social media testimonial template.
Testimonial request email template for social media
Subject line: Thanks for the shoutout! Can you give us a testimonial?
Hi [Client name],
I saw that you gave us a shoutout on [Instagram/Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn]. That made our day! We were absolutely delighted! Thanks for your kind words. This is really valuable to us, and helps us keep improving!
I actually want to ask for a small favor: we’re putting together a series of testimonials for our website and we’d love to have yours included.
Could we use your feedback on our website? Or would you be interested in providing a few more words on how you’ve been using our [product/service] and the value you’re seeing?
Thanks again.
#3. Ask for customer testimonials via a messaging app
Considering the number of emails your client might receive daily, your testimonial request emails could get lost in their inbox.
A better, less talked about alternative to emails is messaging apps.
Apps such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, Whatsapp, etc., help you stay in touch with clients more regularly.
So, why not use them to your benefit to request testimonials?
An instant message to your client as soon as they make a purchase or complete a usage term makes them more likely to happily drop in a testimonial.
Testimonial request email template for a messaging app:
Hey [Client name],
Thank you so much for choosing us and being a loyal customer. We would highly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to drop us a testimonial to help us provide a great service for you! [request link]
Consider these tips if using text messages to ask for a testimonial:
- Ensure that you actually have permission to send a text message before sending one.
- Keep the message simple, short, and to the point.
- Don’t send too many messages.
- Ensure that you don’t send text messages to clients who have already provided feedback.
Advantages of using text messages for a testimonial request:
- You can automate the sending process.
- They are fast to reply to.
Disadvantages:
- Some clients may not be willing to give open feedback through text messages.
- Due to SMS costs, you may not get a response.
#4. Ask for a testimonial on your website
Be it through pop-up notifications, or a testimonial request page, asking for a testimonial on your website shows that you truly care about listening to what your clients say about your brand or service.
With Trust, you can ask for a testimonial on your website and design it effortlessly.
Once you’ve created a testimonial request form, navigate to Forms > Active forms > click on the three dots next to the form to select “Embed to website”:
Once done, you get a pop-up message with a code snippet with options to add your testimonial request form. Copy and paste it into your website builder.
Select Copy to Clipboard and paste it into your website builder app, such as Wix, for example.
Here’s a sample testimonial request snippet on a website page:
Check out our demo website to see it in action!
Pro tip: Be sure to follow up with your clients until you receive a testimonial. If the first collection channel fails to collect a testimonial from multiple clients, use a combination of the other request methods.
#5. Video testimonial interview
Request an interview through a video call or other methods to get direct feedback from clients about your services.
Ask open-ended questions to make a comprehensive video testimonial, and also find out why they chose you over others and how your product or skills helped their company.
#6. In-person
If you can’t reach your clients via text or email, in-person communication is a more genuine method for customer interaction.
And if you need video testimonials, ensure that you have tested your camera before joining the meeting.
Here are some things to consider if the client agrees to do it right away:
- Have some questions prepared in advance.
- Keep it casual.
- Make sure the client feels at ease.
#7. Co-write method
Finally, in case your client doesn’t know what to say in the testimonial, help them create the testimonial.
For instance, they can send you a draft video or written testimonial which you can then build on.
Using this information, you can work together to create a testimonial and have them approve it before posting it on your social media or website.
5 testimonial request email examples to steal
Finally, here are five more email templates you can use to ask clients for testimonials depending on the occasion and the customer.
End of year
Hi [CUSTOMER],
I hope this email finds you well! I want to take a moment to thank you for being with [COMPANY] this year. It’s been a pleasure working with you, and we are proud of the progress we’ve made together.
As we approach the end of the year, I want to ask if you would like to share your experience with [PRODUCT] with others. We believe that video testimonials from satisfied customers like you are the best way to showcase the benefits of our products to others. If you’re willing, we would love to feature your testimonial on our social media and website.
You can share your thoughts and feedback using this link [LINK TO TESTIMONIAL FORM], which will allow us to publish your testimonial on our website. Of course, this is completely voluntary, and we understand if you’re not comfortable sharing your experience publicly.
Once again, thank you for your partnership this year, as well as for being [COMPANY] customer. We wish you a happy and joyful holiday season, and we’re happy to continue our partnership next year.
Best regards,
[YOUR NAME]
Formal testimonial request email
Subject: Thank You for Being so Loyal
Dear [CUSTOMER],
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for your continued support as a loyal customer of [COMPANY]. Your trust in our [PRODUCT/SERVICE] means a lot to us, and we strive to continue providing you with excellent service.
I noticed that you recently achieved [MILESTONE], so I want to extend my warmest congratulations to you on this success. It has been a pleasure having you as our customer.
As a company, we appreciate sharing customer success stories both on our social accounts and website to inspire others to achieve their goals. Therefore, I wanted to inquire if you would like to provide a testimonial about your experience with [PRODUCT/SERVICE]. Your testimony can be in the video or written format. If you are interested, please click this link to submit your testimonial.
As a sign of appreciation, I would like to send you a gift card, courtesy of [COMPANY].
Once again, thank you for your partnership, and congratulations on your achievement. In case you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best regards,
[YOUR NAME]
Informal testimonial request email
Hey [CUSTOMER],
Wow, I just checked out the results for May and you absolutely nailed it! Your hard work on [PROJECT] really paid off.
Since we’ve reached our target, I was wondering if you’d like to share your experience with [PRODUCT/SERVICE] by providing a testimonial? It can be a short video or written testimonial, and it would be fantastic to have your feedback on our website.
If you’re interested, just follow this link to submit your testimonial. Let me know if you have any questions about the process.
Thanks for your hard work and congratulations on smashing the goal!
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
Incentive
Subject: Share Your Feedback and Enjoy a 50% Discount!
Dear [CUSTOMER NAME],
As the holiday season approaches, I wanted to express my gratitude for your continued loyalty to [COMPANY]. As a token of our appreciation, we are offering a special promotion for our loyal customers like you.
We would love to hear your feedback on your experience with our [PRODUCT/SERVICE]. By submitting a video or written testimonial featuring your thoughts about the reasons you enjoy using our [PRODUCT/SERVICE], you will receive a 50% discount on your January subscription.
Submitting a testimonial is quick and easy and should take you no more than 15 minutes. Just follow this link to share your thoughts, and we will apply your discount when we receive your testimonial.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and we hope you take advantage of this special promotion. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me directly.
Happy holidays!
Best regards,
[YOUR NAME]
Automated testimonial request email
Dear [CUSTOMER],
Thank you for using [PRODUCT/SERVICE] from [COMPANY]. We hope you like our product and that it has met your expectations.
We value our customers’ opinions, and we would love to hear your thoughts on your experience with our product. Your feedback helps us to improve our services and better meet your needs.
Would you be willing to share your feedback by leaving us a testimonial on our website? You can follow this link to submit your thoughts. It will only take a few minutes of your time, and we would be grateful for your feedback.
Thank you for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
[YOUR NAME]
Check out this practical guide on increasing email response rates with customer testimonials.
Start requesting testimonials and boost your brand’s credibility
By showcasing the positive experiences and results that your customers have achieved with your products or services, you can attract new customers, increase sales, and strengthen customer loyalty.
When asking for testimonials, it’s important to make the process as easy and convenient as possible for your customers.
Whether you’re using automated emails, incentive offers, or personal requests, be sure to provide clear instructions and make it clear why their feedback is valuable.
Finally, once you’ve received positive testimonials back from your customers, be sure to make the most of them.
Feature them prominently on your website, social media, and marketing materials to show potential customers the positive impact that your product or service can have.
By following these tips, you can effectively learn how to ask for a testimonial from a client to boost your business and establish your reputation as a trusted provider of high-quality products or services.
Using Trust, make the process of leveraging social proof a breeze.
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