Testimonial request generator

The same ask fails in the wrong shape. An email can carry a greeting, a reason and a sign-off, and nobody minds; that structure in a LinkedIn DM reads like a form letter, and in a text it reads like a scam. So these are not one message reformatted three ways — the email opens with why you are writing now, the DM opens mid-conversation because you are already connected, and the text does the whole job in a sentence and a link.

Pick by where you last spoke to them, not by which channel you prefer. A client you have only ever emailed gets an email. Someone who replies to your LinkedIn posts within the hour gets a DM. A tradesperson’s customer, a coach’s client, anyone whose whole relationship with you lives in their phone — text them. How to ask for a testimonial covers the timing, which matters more than the wording does.

Every message here ends in a single link, and that is the whole design. The moment an ask contains two things to do — reply to this and think of what to say — the reply rate falls off, because you have handed someone a blank page and called it a favour. A link to three specific questions is a smaller ask than “could you write something?”, even though it is more work on paper.

Point it at a page that asks the questions for you and records the permission with the answer. That is what a Testymo form is, and the link shape the field above defaults to. If you are picking the questions yourself first, the question picker is the bank to pick them from; if you would rather send situation-specific emails — a renewal, an unprompted thank-you, a second nudge — the request-email templates cover seven of those in full.

The templates in full, with their placeholders showing. Lift any of them straight off this page — the tool above only fills in the four fields and hands you the result.

Subject: Thanks for {work}

Hi {name},

Now that {work} is wrapped up, I wanted to say thanks — [the one thing that went best].

If you have two minutes, would you write a few sentences about how it went? I have put three short questions here, so you are not starting from a blank page:

{link}

You will see exactly what gets published before it does, and you can strike out anything you would rather not have quoted.

Thanks,
{you}

Subject: Two minutes, {name}?

Hi {name},

Would you write a few sentences about {work}? Three short questions, here:

{link}

Nothing gets published without your say-so.

Thanks,
{you}

Subject: A short testimonial about {work}

Dear {name},

Following the completion of {work}, I am collecting short written testimonials from the clients I have worked with this year.

If you are willing to contribute one, the questions are here and take about two minutes to answer:

{link}

You will be asked to confirm that your words and name may be published, and nothing will appear anywhere until you have.

With thanks,
{you}

Hi {name} — I have been meaning to say thanks for {work}. [the one thing that went best].

If you are up for it, would you write a couple of sentences about working together? Three short questions, about two minutes: {link}

No pressure either way, and you approve the wording before it goes anywhere public.

Hi {name} — would you write a couple of sentences about {work}? Three quick questions here: {link}

Two minutes, and nothing gets published until you approve it.

Hello {name}, I hope you are well. I am gathering short testimonials from the people I have worked with, and {work} would be a valuable one to include.

The questions are here and take roughly two minutes: {link}

You will be asked to approve the wording before anything is published.

Hi {name}, it is {you}. Thanks again for {work}. Would you write two lines about it? Two minutes, and you approve it before it goes anywhere: {link}

Hi {name} — would you write two lines about {work}? Two minutes: {link}

Hello {name}, this is {you}. I am collecting short testimonials from recent clients. If you are willing, the questions are here: {link} (about two minutes, and you approve the wording).

Is anything I type here sent anywhere?

No. The whole generator runs in your browser — your customer’s name, your project and your link never leave the page. Close the tab and it is gone.

Should I chase a message that gets no reply?

Once, about a week later, and then stop. A single short nudge on the same thread recovers a real share of replies; a second one costs you the goodwill the testimonial was supposed to prove. The templates article has a nudge written for exactly that.

Can I send this to a whole list at once?

You can, and the reply rate will tell you that you did. These are written to be sent one at a time, which is also why the warm versions leave you a line to fill in. If you are asking twenty people, ask them in twenty minutes rather than one merge.

Do I need permission before I publish what comes back?

Yes — and the cleanest time to get it is in the same step as the words themselves, rather than in a second email a month later. Permission to use testimonials covers what to ask for and what to keep.