Guide
How to collect customer testimonials that actually sell
The best testimonials are specific, attributed and collected at the moment a customer is happiest. Here is when to ask, what to ask and how to make saying yes easy.
1. Ask at the right moment
People write the best testimonials straight after a good experience:
- Right after they give you a 9 or 10 on an NPS survey
- After a support ticket they rated highly
- When they hit a milestone, like a first result or a renewal
- When they praise you unprompted, in an email, chat or social post
2. Ask questions that get specific answers
“Can you write us a testimonial?” gets vague praise. Prompts get stories:
- “What problem were you trying to solve before you found us?”
- “What has changed since you started using us?”
- “Is there a number you can share, like time saved or sales won?”
- “What would you tell someone who is thinking about trying us?”
Ask for a name, role, company and photo too. Attributed testimonials are far more convincing than anonymous ones.
3. Make it easy to say yes
Use a short form rather than asking people to write an email. Two or three prompts, a star rating, and the details above are enough. Here is an email you can adapt:
Hi [first name],
Thanks for the kind words in your feedback, it made our week. Would you be happy to share a couple of sentences about your experience? It takes about two minutes, and it really helps other people decide whether we are right for them.
[link to testimonial form]
Thanks,
[your name]
4. Get consent
Before you publish someone’s words, name or photo, make sure they have agreed to it. A consent checkbox on the form is the simplest way, and it gives you a record you can point to later.
5. Approve and tidy
Not every testimonial needs to be published. Pick the most specific ones, and lightly edit for length or typos without changing the meaning. If you change more than that, check with the customer.
6. Put them where people decide
- Pricing and signup pages, where doubt is highest
- Your homepage, near the main call to action
- A dedicated Wall of Love page with all of them
- Sales emails and proposals, as a link
How Rirofeed helps
Rirofeed can ask for a testimonial in the same survey as your NPS question, and show it only to customers who score you highly. Consent is recorded with every testimonial, a review inbox lets you approve, feature and lightly edit them, and approved testimonials appear on an embeddable Wall of Love. See testimonials.
How do I ask a customer for a testimonial?
Ask soon after a positive moment, such as a high NPS score, with a short form and two or three specific prompts. Explain that it takes a couple of minutes and helps others decide.
Do I need permission to use a testimonial?
Yes. Get the customer’s consent before publishing their words, name or photo, and keep a record of it.
Can I edit a customer testimonial?
Light edits for length, grammar or typos are normal. Don’t change the meaning, and check with the customer if you make bigger changes.
What makes a good testimonial?
A specific problem, a specific result and a real name, role and photo. “We cut onboarding time in half” beats “Great product!”
Find out how customers really feel.
Start free with ready-made NPS, CSAT and testimonial forms. Upgrade when you’re ready.