Steal These Testimonial Hacks to Skyrocket Trust and Sales

Let’s be real for a second: people don’t trust marketing copy, but they do trust other people. That’s why testimonials are the ultimate cheat code. If you’re not using them—or worse, using boring ones—you’re leaving money on the table.

The good news? Great testimonials aren’t hard to get when you know what you’re doing.

Let’s look at how to turn “It was great!” snooze-fests into trust-building machines that actually get people to press “buy.”

1. Ask Better Questions (No More “It Was Great”)

If you ask vague questions, you’ll get vague answers. Your customers aren’t mind readers—they need a little direction to give you those gold-star testimonials.

Instead of saying, “How was your experience?” try this:

• “What was life like before you started using this?”
  → This gives people something relatable to grab onto.

• “Why did you pick us over the other options?”
  → Now you’re showing off your edge without being pushy.

• “What specific results did you get?”
  → Specific = believable. Bonus points for numbers.

• “How do you feel now compared to before?”
  → This hits the emotional side (aka the side that makes people buy).

Pro Tip: Send these questions right after someone’s had a big win or a “wow” moment with your product. Strike while the excitement’s still fresh!

2. Show the Before-and-After (That’s What Sells)

A good testimonial tells a story—where your customer started, what they struggled with, and how your product saved the day. Without that, it’s just fluff.

Here’s an example:

• Boring Version:
  “I love this product and highly recommend it!”

• Testimonial That Converts:
  “Before I found [product], I was wasting hours every day trying to organize my tasks. Now? I save 10+ hours a week, and everything’s streamlined and stress-free. It’s been a game changer!”

See the difference? The second one:

• Starts with a relatable problem.

• Explains exactly how you helped.

• Ends with a clear win (bonus points for the number).

Hack: If customers forget the details, just ask them: “Can you give me an example or a number to show the impact?” People are usually happy to elaborate.

3. Get Them on Video (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Text testimonials are great. Video testimonials? Even better. Seeing a real person’s face, hearing their voice, and watching their excitement? That’s pure trust magic.

Here’s how to get video testimonials without making it weird:

• Keep it simple: “Can you record a quick 60-second video sharing what you loved?”

• Give them a guide: Send a quick outline (e.g., problem → solution → results). This helps avoid rambling.

• Don’t overthink the tech: A selfie video works perfectly. No need for lights or fancy cameras—authentic > polished.

Bonus Hack: Tools like Loom or Zoom make it crazy easy for people to record and share a video without any hassle.

4. Turn Testimonials Into Eye Candy

Nobody wants to read a wall of text. You’ve gotta make your testimonials pop.

Here’s how to make them look good:

• Quote Cards: Pull out a juicy line, slap it on a clean design (Canva works wonders), and post it on social media.

• Before-and-After Images: Got a product with a visual impact? Show it off with side-by-side photos. (Interior designers—this one’s for you!)

• Video Snippets: If you’ve got a longer video, pull out the best 15-30 seconds and share it as a clip.

Not only do these look better, but they’re also way more scroll-stopping than plain text.

5. Put Testimonials Where They’ll Work

You don’t want your best testimonials buried on some forgotten “Reviews” page. Place them where they’ll do the most convincing:

• Homepage: Hit new visitors with a standout testimonial right off the bat.

• Product Pages: Use ones that highlight results people got from that exact product.

• Emails: Include a quick quote in your launch campaigns or abandoned cart emails.

• Checkout Pages: A testimonial right next to the “Buy Now” button can crush any last-minute doubts.

Think of testimonials as little trust nudges. Drop them in wherever people might hesitate.

6. Don’t Have Testimonials Yet? No Problem.

Starting out and don’t have a ton of feedback? Here’s how to get the ball rolling:

• Early Adopters: Give a few people free access to your product in exchange for honest feedback.

• Case Studies: Write up a detailed “before-and-after” story from one of your first customers.

• Shoutouts from Trusted Names: If someone well-known loves your product, even a short mention can work wonders.

The more familiar or credible the source, the faster people will trust you.

If you’re not using testimonials to their full potential, you’re missing out. They’re one of the easiest ways to build trust, and trust = sales.

Here’s the plan:

1. Ask better questions to get better answers.

2. Highlight the transformation (not just the praise).

3. Get videos to capture real emotion.

4. Make your testimonials look good.

5. Place them where they’ll pack a punch.

6. Borrow credibility if you’re just getting started.

The stories your customers tell are more powerful than any sales pitch you can write. So start collecting and sharing those wins—they’ll do the selling for you.

You’re sitting on a goldmine of happy customers. Book a free 30-minute consultation today and let’s build a testimonial strategy that drives you more revenue!