---
name: testimonial-request
description: "Ask happy clients for a testimonial or review the right way — timed well, easy to give, and specific enough to actually persuade future clients. Use when asked to get testimonials, ask for a review, how to request a testimonial, or get social proof from clients. Produces the right moment and channel to ask, a message that makes saying yes effortless, guiding questions that yield specific results-based testimonials (not 'great to work with'), how to handle a written vs video ask, and permission/usage basics — without being pushy or fishing for praise."
---

# Testimonial Request

Testimonials are the highest-converting marketing you have, and most freelancers/businesses never collect them — or collect vague "they were great!" ones that persuade no one. The fix is asking at the right moment, making it effortless, and guiding the client toward a specific, results-focused answer. This does that without feeling like you're fishing for compliments.

## What This Skill Produces

- **The right moment & channel** — when to ask (right after a win/result) and how (email, call, form)
- **An effortless ask** — a message that makes giving a testimonial quick and low-effort, including an offer to draft or prompt
- **Guiding questions** — prompts that yield specific, results-based testimonials ("cut our onboarding time in half") instead of generic praise
- **Written vs. video** — how to ask for each, and when video is worth it
- **Permission & usage** — getting the OK to use it, with name/role/company, and where you'll feature it
- **A graceful tone** — confident and appreciative, not needy or pushy

## Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:
- **The client & result** — who, and the concrete outcome you delivered
- **The relationship** — how warm, and how the project ended
- **What you want** — a written quote, a review on a platform, a video, or a case study
- **Where it'll be used** — website, proposals, a specific review site
- **Timing** — just wrapped, or an older happy client

## Framework: Right Time, Easy Yes, Specific Answer

1. **Ask at peak goodwill.** Right after a delivered result or a moment of client delight is when a yes (and enthusiasm) is highest.
2. **Make it effortless.** Busy clients skip open-ended asks — offer a couple of guiding questions, or even a draft they can edit, and keep it a 2-minute favor.
3. **Guide toward specifics.** Prompt for the concrete before/after and results; a specific outcome persuades future clients far more than "highly recommend."
4. **Match the format to the value.** Written is easy and flexible; video converts harder but asks more — choose deliberately and make the video ask especially low-effort.
5. **Get clear permission.** Confirm you can use it with their name/role/company and where — a testimonial you can't attribute is weaker.
6. **Stay gracious.** Confident and appreciative; one polite follow-up if needed, never nagging.

## Output Format

### Testimonial request: [client] · result [x] · want [written/review/video]

**When/where to ask:** [peak-goodwill moment · channel].
**The message**
> [Warm, specific to the result, effortless ask + guiding questions or an offer to draft, and where it'll help].

**Guiding questions (for specifics):** ["what was the problem before?" · "what changed / what result?" · "what would you tell someone considering me?"].
**Format note:** [written vs video — the ask + effort].
**Permission:** [OK to use with name/role/company on [placement]].
**Tone:** appreciative, not needy; one gentle follow-up max.

## Quality Checks
- [ ] Times the ask to peak client goodwill
- [ ] Makes giving it effortless (prompts or a draft offer)
- [ ] Guides toward specific, results-based content
- [ ] Chooses written vs video deliberately
- [ ] Secures usage permission with attribution
- [ ] Tone is gracious, not pushy or praise-fishing

## Anti-Patterns
- **Asking too late** when the goodwill has faded.
- **An open-ended ask** that yields "great to work with!"
- **No guiding questions** — vague, unpersuasive quotes.
- **Making it high-effort** for a busy client.
- **Using it without permission/attribution.**
- **Nagging** for it.

## Example Trigger Phrases
- "How do I ask a client for a testimonial?"
- "Write a message requesting a review from a happy customer."
- "Get me a specific testimonial, not just 'they were great'."
- "Should I ask for a written or video testimonial, and how?"
- "How do I request a case-study quote after finishing a project?"