How to Get Testimonials From Clients: When to Ask, Request Templates, Question Prompts and Rules for Honest Reviews

The best way to learn how to get testimonials from clients is to ask at the right moment, ask in a way that is easy to answer, and ask for something specific. Do that within a few days of a good result, give the client a short template, and you will usually get a usable quote or review. Most clients are happy to help. They just need to be asked clearly.

I run Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team, and I see how much a single line from a past client changes a pitch. A buyer who has never heard of you trusts other people more than your own claims. This article covers when to ask, templates you can copy, questions that draw out good answers, video versus written proof, review sites, consent, the basic FTC rules and how to use testimonials inside Upwork proposals and portfolios.

Why do testimonials win more clients?

When a buyer is unsure, they look for proof from someone like them. A testimonial answers the quiet questions: Will this person deliver? Are they easy to work with? Did anyone get a good result?

It also saves you from bragging. A sentence from a past client carries more weight than a paragraph from you. In our experience, a short, specific quote beats a long, vague one every time.

Testimonials help in three places: your sales pages, your public profiles and your direct pitches. If you are still building a client base, our guides on how to find freelance clients and how to find clients as a freelancer show where proof fits into the bigger picture.

When is the best time to ask for a testimonial?

Timing is half of how to get testimonials from clients without pressure. Ask when the client feels the value, not weeks later when they have moved on.

Moment	Why it works	What to ask for
Right after you deliver a clear result	The win is fresh	A short quote about the outcome
After a compliment	The client has just said something positive	“Could I quote that?” or a review link
At project close	The whole experience is complete	A fuller testimonial with before and after
After a repeat order or referral	Loyalty is proven	A review or a video
A few weeks after delivery	Results have had time to show	A follow-up with real numbers, if the client shares them

Avoid asking in the middle of a problem, during a payment dispute or before you have delivered anything. A request at the wrong time feels like pressure.

How to get testimonials from clients step by step

Here is a simple process you can repeat for every project.

1. Decide what you need. A short quote for your website, a review on Google, or a video for your portfolio. Different goals need different requests.
2. Pick the right client. Choose people who got a good result and who like working with you.
3. Ask at the right time. Right after delivery or a compliment.
4. Make it easy. Send a direct link and two or three prompts. A blank page makes people put it off.
5. Offer to draft it. Some clients prefer to edit a draft than to write from scratch. Write down what they have already told you, send it and ask them to correct and approve it. The final words must be theirs.
6. Get written permission. Confirm they agree to publish the quote with their name, company or first name only.
7. Say thank you. A short, genuine note keeps the relationship warm.
8. Follow up once. If they do not reply, send one polite reminder after four or five days, then let it go.

Build the ask into your normal process. If you add a line to your final delivery email, you will not forget it.

Which request templates work by email, DM and text?

Keep each message short, personal and specific. Mention the project, say why you are asking and give the client an easy way to answer.

Email template

Subject: Quick favor after [project name]
Hi [Name], I’m glad we got [specific result] done. If you have two minutes, could you answer these three questions? 1) What was the problem before we started? 2) What did we do? 3) What changed afterwards? A few sentences is plenty. With your permission, I would like to use your answer on my website and in proposals. Thank you, [Your name]

DM template (LinkedIn, Instagram or Upwork message)

Hi [Name], thanks again for the kind words about [project]. Would you mind if I quoted that on my profile? If you prefer, I can send you a two-line draft to edit.

Text message template

Hi [Name], it’s [Your name]. I’m so happy [result] turned out well. Could I ask for a quick review? Here is the link: [link]. Even one or two sentences helps a lot. Thank you!

Do not offer a gift or discount in exchange for a positive review. If you do give any incentive, you need to follow the disclosure rules below.

Which questions draw out a useful testimonial?

A good testimonial has a story: a problem, an action and a result. Ask questions that pull each part out.

• What was the biggest challenge before we worked together?
• Why did you choose me or my team?
• What was it like to work with us, from first call to delivery?
• What result did you get? Please include numbers or time saved if you can share them.
• What would you say to someone thinking about hiring us?
• Is there anything you would improve? (Useful for you, not for publishing.)

Specifics persuade. “Great work, highly recommend” tells a buyer little. “The new product photos were ready in three days and our listings finally looked consistent” tells them a lot. Only publish numbers the client has given you and agreed to share.

Video or written testimonials?

Both work, and how to get testimonials from clients stays the same either way: ask, guide, confirm. The best choice depends on the client and where you will use it.

	Written	Video
Effort for the client	Low	Higher
Trust signal	Good, easy to scan	Strong, shows a real person
Best for	Websites, proposals, profiles	Landing pages, case studies, social posts
Risk	Can feel generic	Needs consent for recording and publishing
Tip	Ask for specifics	Send three questions and let them record on their phone

Start with written quotes, since almost every client can give one. Ask your happiest two or three clients for a short video, and make it clear that it is optional.

How do you collect Google reviews and other review-site ratings?

Testimonials on your own site are useful, but independent reviews carry extra weight because you do not control them. Google reviews also show up when people search for your business.

1. Claim your Google Business Profile if you serve customers locally. Read the rules in the Google Business Profile Help Center.
2. Copy your review link and send it directly to happy clients.
3. Ask for honest feedback, not “five stars”.
4. Reply to every review, including critical ones, in a calm and helpful way.
5. Collect ratings on the platform where you work, such as the feedback clients leave on Upwork after a contract, and on industry-specific sites if your field has them.

Do not post reviews yourself, ask friends who never used your service to post them or use a service that sells reviews. Review platforms have rules against these, and the FTC has rules too.

How do you get consent and permission?

Part of how to get testimonials from clients the right way is consent. A testimonial is someone else’s words, and often their name, face or company. Get permission first.

• Ask in writing. A reply to your email is enough, as long as it clearly says yes.
• Say where you will use it. Website, proposals, social media, ads.
• Agree how to name them. Full name, first name and initial, or company only.
• Check confidentiality. If your contract or the client’s company policy forbids it, do not publish it. Some clients need approval from their legal or marketing team.
• Allow removal. Tell the client they can ask you to take it down.

Rules on consent and privacy differ by country and industry. If you work in a regulated field, such as finance, health or law, check the current rules before you publish client feedback.

What do the FTC endorsement rules mean for you?

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission treats reviews and testimonials as advertising. The main ideas are simple and mostly common sense. This is general information, not legal advice, so check the current rules.

• Be honest. A testimonial must reflect a real customer’s real experience.
• No fake reviews. Do not write reviews yourself, buy them or ask others to post made-up ones.
• Disclose incentives. If you gave a discount, a gift or any payment in return for a review, say so clearly where the review appears.
• Do not hide the bad. Avoid suppressing or deleting honest negative reviews on platforms you control just to look perfect.
• Do not overpromise. If a client got an unusual result, do not suggest everyone will get the same.

Read the FTC’s pages on endorsements, influencers and reviews and its Endorsement Guides Q&A for the official explanation. Other countries have their own advertising rules, so check those where you work.

How should you display testimonials?

Collecting quotes is only half the job. A great quote hidden in a footer does nothing. Put it where the buyer makes the decision.

• Near the call to action. Place a quote next to your contact button or pricing.
• Use real names and details. Name, role, company and a photo, if the client agrees, make it more believable.
• Lead with the result. Pull the most useful sentence out as a headline.
• Match proof to the offer. Show a product-photo testimonial on the product photography page, not on every page.
• Do not edit the meaning. You can fix typos or shorten with the client’s approval, but never change what they said.

A short page with quotes, review screenshots and mini case studies works well. For more on presenting your offer, see how to market freelance services to attract clients.

How do you use testimonials in Upwork proposals and portfolios?

This is where how to get testimonials from clients pays off in daily work. On Upwork, you meet a buyer for the first time in a proposal. They have little time and many options. Proof helps you stand out, as long as it is short and relevant.

What should you put in a proposal?

• One line from a past client that matches the job, such as “delivered ahead of schedule” for a deadline-driven job.
• One relevant sample, such as a before and after. See how to add the right work samples.
• A short result in plain words. Do not stack five quotes.

Read how to write an Upwork proposal that gets a reply and why the right sample wins more jobs than a long proposal for the full approach.

What should your Upwork profile and portfolio show?

• Completed contracts with client feedback.
• Portfolio items with a short description and, where allowed, a quote.
• A profile overview that mentions the type of result you deliver.

Use only feedback and quotes you are free to share, and follow Upwork’s rules on confidentiality and off-platform contact in the Upwork Help Center.

How do BidStaff users use testimonials and results?

BidStaff builds on proof you already have: your past winning proposals and your work samples. The wins page shows how BidStaff users bring past results into new proposals. The extension writes proposals in your own tone from your past winning proposals and attaches the best work sample, so the proof you have already earned shows up in the pitch. It also scores each job from 0 to 10 and checks the client before you apply, so you spend your best proof on jobs worth winning. You still copy and submit the proposal yourself.

Agency admins set client standards for the whole team, so every bidder judges jobs the same way. Learn more on the features page or see the extension. Before you apply, check the client.

Frequently asked questions

How do I ask a client for a testimonial?

Send a short, personal message soon after a good result. Mention the project, ask two or three simple questions and give a link or an offer to draft it. Ask permission to publish.

When should I ask for a testimonial?

Ask right after you deliver a clear result or receive a compliment. Waiting too long makes the memory fade.

What should I say in a testimonial request?

Thank them, name the project, explain where you will use the quote and ask what problem you solved and what changed. Keep it under 100 words.

Can I write a testimonial for a client to approve?

You can offer a draft based on what the client has already said, but they must edit and approve it, and it must reflect their real experience. Never publish a draft they have not approved.

Is it legal to offer a discount for a review?

Rules differ by place and platform, and many review sites ban paid reviews. If you give any incentive, disclose it clearly. Check the FTC guidance and the platform’s rules first.

What if a client gives a negative review?

Reply calmly, thank them for the feedback, offer to fix what you can and keep it short. Do not argue in public. A professional reply can build trust with future buyers.

Conclusion

Knowing how to get testimonials from clients comes down to timing, clarity and honesty. Ask soon after a win, make it easy to answer, keep the words real and show the proof where buyers decide.

Your action list:

1. List your last five happy clients today.
2. Send the email or DM template to two of them this week.
3. Ask for permission in writing, and note where you may use each quote.
4. Send your best clients a Google review link.
5. Add one quote to your website and one to your next proposal.
6. Add a line to your delivery email so you never forget to ask.
7. If you pitch on Upwork, see how BidStaff users bring their wins into proposals.

Other related articles

• How to get clients photography: niche, local SEO and pricing
• How to write an Upwork proposal that gets a reply
• Add the right work samples for Upwork
• How to check an Upwork client before you apply
• How to find freelance clients

About the Author

Muhammad Shahzad is the founder of BidStaff and Leadslancer. He runs Upwork accounts for a freelance and agency team, and builds BidStaff around that daily work.