What other people say about your work carries a weight that even your best copy can’t hold.
A testimonial isn’t just a nice review. It’s proof of resonance. It’s the echo of transformation, captured in someone else’s words.
But here’s the hard truth: most testimonials never actually say that.
You know the kind… Short, vague, a polite “she was great!” that doesn’t come close to the depth of the experience you created. And while gratitude is beautiful, “fine” doesn’t move the needle for your brand.
The right testimonial, though? It can make someone feel instantly seen. It can answer the invisible objections in their mind. It can turn hesitation into a clear yes.
That’s why I created The Art of Getting Great Testimonials Guide, to help you go beyond asking for “a review” and instead gather words that actually reflect the depth of your work, the change you create, and the story you’re here to tell.
Why Testimonials Matter More Than You Think
We make thousands of decisions every single day. And when someone is deciding whether to hire you, buy your product, or join your program, they’re looking for the path of least resistance. The choice that feels safe. The option that feels like it’s already been proven by someone like them.
Testimonials reduce that decision fatigue. They offer a sense of belonging. They show what’s possible.
But only if they’re done right.
That’s where these seven questions come in.
7 Questions to Get Reviews that Have New Clients Saying “Where do I sign???”
These are the exact questions I use to guide my clients from “meh” remarks into powerful, story-driven testimonials.
1. Where were you before we worked together?
Before-and-after storytelling starts here. Invite your client to name the moment before transformation — the friction, confusion, or longing that made them reach out. This is about illuminating the truth of their starting point. Their words reveal the real challenges and emotions your future clients will relate to most. The language that says, “That’s me.”
Pro tip: Ask follow-up questions like, “What felt hardest at that stage?” or “What were you hoping would change?”
2. What led you to choose me instead of someone else?
This is where your differentiation comes to life — straight from your client’s perspective. Their answer uncovers what made them trust you: your energy, your ethos, your approach, or even your aesthetic. When you see what they noticed and valued, you learn how to speak to that in your marketing without guessing. These words are often gold for your website’s “Why Us” section, sales calls, or service descriptions.
Pro tip: If you sense they’re not sure how to answer, prompt them: “Was there something about my process, portfolio, or energy that stood out?”
3. Where are you now? How do you feel about the results?
Numbers are nice, but feelings move people. Encourage your clients to name the internal shifts that came with the tangible results. Things like confidence, clarity, excitement, or a renewed sense of ownership. Emotional outcomes make your work relatable and human. They turn testimonials from data into transformation stories.
Pro tip: Ask, “What’s happening in your business now that wasn’t before?” or “What’s changed for you beyond the deliverables?”
4. What was your favorite part of the process?
This is the heartbeat question, where they tell you what made the experience memorable. Maybe it was your clarity, communication, or the way you made them feel seen and supported. These specifics bring your brand to life and paint a vivid picture of what working with you feels like. You’ll learn what moments in your process create the most delight, so you can keep amplifying them.
Pro tip: You can make this more sensory by asking, “What moment during our work together stands out most when you think back?”
5. What would you say to someone considering working with me?
This question turns their testimonial into a conversation between peers. You’re no longer the one convincing. They are. It becomes social proof with heart, giving future clients the nudge of reassurance they need to take action. Often, their words will sound exactly like the inner dialogue of someone on the fence, which makes this testimonial one of your most powerful marketing tools.
Pro tip: Ask, “What would you tell a friend who’s thinking about investing in this work?”
6. Did you see any opportunities for improvement?
This is the question that builds trust and longevity. It shows you’re not just after praise, but that you care about growth and refinement. It gives your clients a chance to voice constructive feedback in a way that strengthens your relationship and your process. When you handle this with openness and gratitude, it turns clients into collaborators and advocates who respect your integrity.
Pro tip: Phrase it gently if it feels more right: “If there’s anything you think could make this experience even better next time, I’d love to know.”
7. What future offerings, products, or resources would you love to see next?
Your clients are your best focus group. They already understand your magic and your gaps. This question transforms your testimonial form into a co-creation portal, where you get to see what they’d love to learn or experience next. The insights you gather can shape new offers, passive income products, or educational content that keeps your audience engaged long-term.
Pro tip: Ask, “If we were to work together again, what would you love to explore next?” or “What resource would make your life easier right now?”
Why These Questions Work
Each of these prompts does more than gather feedback. They uncover story.
And story is what sells.
Not persuasion, not pressure. Story. The truth of what your clients have experienced, in their own voice.
But here’s the part most people miss: asking the questions is only the beginning. What you do with the responses is where the transformation really happens.
Taking It Deeper with The Art of Getting Great Testimonials
Inside The Art of Getting Great Testimonials Guide, I walk you through:
- The five types of testimonials every business needs (and how to ask for each).
- 80 (!!!) questions you can ask as either a service-based or product-based business
- How to use feedback not only for marketing, but also for refining your offers.
- Where to weave testimonials throughout your brand journey (beyond the “testimonials page”).
- Case studies showing how the right words can double inquiries, build trust, and open doors to new opportunities.
- Practical scripts and email templates that make the ask simple, natural, and non-awkward.
I need you to know that this is not just about collecting words. It’s about curating proof of transformation that feels undeniable.
Because when potential clients read a testimonial that mirrors their exact struggles, emotions, and desires back to them, they don’t just see your past client’s results. They see themselves in that story.
That’s when they say yes.
Ready to Turn Your Clients Into Your Best Storytellers?
If you’ve ever felt like the magic of your work wasn’t fully showing up in your testimonials, this guide is your next step.
It’s the same process I use with my one-on-one clients, now available as a digital workbook and video walkthrough for $47.
Go from: “I’m doing meaningful work, but I don’t know how to show it.”
To: “My testimonials finally reflect the real impact of what I do and attract the right people because of it.”
I wanted to find examples of this for you in action for Unbridled Form, but I’ve been using this approach to turn my clients into my best storytellers for years, so long that I literally cannot find a testimonial that’s surface level. These days, I get responses like:
“Amy takes care of her own unlike anyone else I have ever worked with. Period. Right away it was very clear to see that we shared similar values, roots and passions. But most importantly, she took the time to genuinely connect with me as a woman and learn about the intricacies and nuances of my business. The truth is that when a multidimensional creative or entrepreneur comes to a web & brand designer, they are going through a transitional phase full of just as much evolution and becoming as growing pains, doubts and fears. Since the day I met Amy she has reflected my imperfect beauty and divine talents right back to me. I felt seen & supported & it shows in the final product.” — Chelsea, copywriter
“Absolutely amazing. Only choose to work with Amy if you are ready to dive deeper into the meaning of your brand, your business and yourself. To give 1000% of yourself to the process because she will take that and create magic. Everything she does has a meaning, a purpose. This whole process is amazing, it’s for the people who want to reimagine how they want to be seen.” — Taylor, boudoir photographer
“Booking Amy with Unbridled Form in my event planning & design services was the best investment I could have made! I was blown away at her organization, workflow and creativity brand strategy & web design. I’ve been elevated and expanded immensely. I felt 100% understood and heard throughout the entire process. 5+ stars and look forward to re-booking her in the future for other brand strategy projects.” — Tiffany, event designer
Get The Art of Getting Great Testimonials Guide here and start collecting testimonials of your own like this.
