Let me guess: when it comes to talking about what they actually hired you for, you have ZERO issues chatting with clients… but when it comes to how to ask for testimonials, you suddenly forget how to interact with humans in general?
Because it is kind of awkward to be like, “Hey, could you say a bunch of nice things about me so I can put them on the Internet and other people will hire me, too?
But it’s also necessary for growing your business, especially if you want to be booking more clients at higher prices (instead of having to hand-hold through the entire sales/booking process).
Here’s how I advise my copywriting clients to sidestep the awkwardness (or rather, how I do it for them, since I offer past client interviews, testimonial analysis, and quote placement throughout your copy as part of my website copywriting services).
How To Ask For Testimonials: Backend Setup
The easiest way to actually collect testimonials, in my opinion, is to have a standardized form you send to clients at the end of your time together (or throughout the process). NEVER forget that they’re the ones doing you a favor by filling out your form – so keep it as short as possible!
I use Notion Forms to collect testimonials in my own business, but you can also use something like Google Forms, ClickUp, or Tally!
How To Ask For Testimonials: What To Actually Ask
Here’s a peek at what I ask on my own feedback form, and on behalf of copywriting clients:
- Some kind of question about their situation before working with you (What was your main problem? How did it make you feel?)
- A question about why they reached out, why they chose to work with you specifically, or anything that gives you insight into their decision-making process.
- How they’re feeling about their original problem/situation now that you’ve worked together, and
- Any results or wins they have, related to working with you
- For any feedback they have about how you could improve your process or their experience, and for things you shouldn’t change
- A direct request for a quote or testimonial
- Consent to lightly edit their quotes for clarity and grammar, and to share them on your site/in your marketing
How To Ask For Testimonials
Once your form is created, you can easily send it over to each client at a specific time in their process, like:
- When you’re done working together
- As you work together, at set intervals
- When your project goes live (this is how I do it as a copywriter whose deliverables aren’t “made public” until the website designer does their thing)
When you email and ask for a testimonial/review, I recommend:
- Telling people how much you loved working with them
- Asking them to fill out your form, and telling them how long that will take
- Explaining quickly why you want a testimonial from them specifically, and what you’re planning to do with it (example: I share that I use quotes on my website, or if I’m writing a full case study)
- Thanking them profusely for helping you out!
Once their feedback is in, you can add their quote to your website, your socials, your case studies, and wherever else you use social proof!
Need more help collecting (and using) testimonials?
>> Download The Copy Cache, a free resource for collecting better client reviews and using them to build a word bank you can use to write more effective sales copy!
>> Join Cook Your Copy and learn how to incorporate your testimonials strategically throughout your messaging and website.
