How Writing Testimonials for Others Can Grow Your Business

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The Other Side of the Testimonial Equation

In my most recent post, I wrote about how testimonials add credibility to your website and why collecting social proof should be part of your web design strategy. But there’s another side to the testimonial equation that’s equally valuable: giving them. Writing testimonials strategically is something most business owners overlook entirely.

I’m that person who actually writes reviews, often without even being asked. When I love a product, course, or service, I don’t just quietly appreciate it. I tell people about it. This helps the business owner and others who are deciding whether it’s right for them.

I do this not just because I’m generous with my time but because I’ve learned that writing thoughtful testimonials is a genuinely smart business strategy.

Most business owners think about testimonials as something they need to collect. But strategically giving them can boost your SEO, expand your network, and position you as someone worth knowing in your industry.

Here’s why writing authentic reviews has become part of my business strategy, and how it can become part of yours, too.

The SEO and Visibility Benefits You Actually Get

Backlinks That Build Authority

The first time I realized one of my testimonials had generated a backlink to my website, I’ll admit I was more excited than I probably should have been. But then I started paying attention to my backlinks, and those little SEO wins began adding up.

Every time you write a testimonial that includes a link back to your website, you’re potentially earning a backlink from another business’s site. Not the spammy kind that search engines ignore but rather authentic links from real businesses, often in related industries, with context. When someone includes your testimonial on their sales page, they’re vouching for your credibility while linking to your site. Search engines notice that kind of authentic endorsement.

Brand Recognition Through Strategic Placement

When you provide a testimonial with your photo, name, and business details, you’re getting brand exposure on someone else’s platform. Your face and business name appear in front of their entire audience—people who might never have found you otherwise, including through their social media channels.

Over time, as you build a habit of reviewing products and services you genuinely love, your name starts appearing across multiple platforms in your industry. This creates a compound effect where people begin to recognize you as someone who’s actively engaged and supportive of quality work.

It’s like being known as the person who always has great restaurant recommendations. Eventually people start seeking out your opinion before they make a decision.

The Networking and Opportunity Benefits

Beta Testing and Early Access

Not long ago I received an invitation to beta test a new program from a brand I love. I can’t say for certain, but since this offer was only extended to a small number of people, I have a hunch they reached out because of a testimonial I’d left on one of their other programs. The business could see that I was able to give valuable feedback.

I honestly would have paid hundreds of dollars for the program after it launched because the topic was totally up my alley. As a beta tester, I kept access after the course launched. A win-win in every direction!

Building Genuine Business Relationships

When you write a specific, helpful testimonial, you’re starting a conversation. Business owners notice when someone takes the time to share detailed feedback. That attention often leads to deeper professional relationships.

I’ve had business owners reach out to thank me for reviews, which led to collaborations, referral partnerships, and genuine friendships. Unlike transactional relationships that start with a sales pitch, these relationships begin with me genuinely supporting their work.

Moving From Customer to Collaborator

There’s something powerful about being known as someone who actively supports other businesses in your industry. When partnership or collaboration opportunities come up, you’re more likely to come to mind if you’ve established yourself as someone who celebrates others’ success.

Businesses want to work with people who understand the value of what they’re building. Your testimonials demonstrate that understanding in a way that cold outreach never could.

Strategies for Writing Testimonials That Actually Get Featured

My Process

I certainly don’t write testimonials for everything I buy. When something genuinely makes a difference in my business or saves me significant time, I make a point to share that experience.

My approach: focus on the specific result or transformation. Instead of ‘This course was amazing!’ I’ll mention exactly what I learned or how it changed my workflow. The more specific, the more helpful it is for potential customers and the more credible it sounds. Some platforms also accept video testimonials, which can add an extra layer of authenticity when you have the time to record one.

I also try to include context about where I was before using the product or service. This helps readers determine if they’re in a similar situation and whether the solution might work for them, too.

When I Decide to Write a Review

I typically write a testimonial when one of three things happens:

1. Something saves me significant time or money (like a tool that streamlines a process I was doing manually)
2. I have a particularly great experience with customer service or support
3. The business owner specifically asks and I loved what they created

Taking Advantage of Review Incentives

Sometimes business owners offer incentives like store credit or discounts for helpful reviews. I take advantage of these when I genuinely love the product or service—the enthusiasm has to be real regardless of the incentive. If I wouldn’t naturally recommend something, no amount of store credit will make me write a testimonial for it.

What I Include When I Can

• My name and business name (for brand recognition)
• A link to my website (for the SEO benefit)
• My photo if they request it
• Specific details about my experience or results
• Context about my situation or business before using the product or service

Not every platform allows all of these, but I include what I can.

Turning Your Reviews Into Marketing Content

Authentic Content for Your Own Channels

Here’s something I didn’t anticipate when I started writing more testimonials: they became content for my own social media and email marketing. And now, a whole blog post.

Instead of constantly creating content about my own services, I can share discoveries that have genuinely helped my business. My audience learns about resources they might find useful, and I create content that doesn’t feel salesy or self-promotional. It practically writes itself because the enthusiasm is real.

Showing What You Actually Use

When you regularly share what tools, courses, or services you’re investing in, you’re giving your audience insight into how you run your business. This transparency builds trust in a way that polished marketing content can’t match. People want to work with someone who’s actively learning and growing.

The Affiliate Marketing Angle

If you recommend products as an affiliate, there’s nothing more persuasive than sending people to a sales page with your own testimonial already on it. When potential customers see that you’re not just promoting something for the commission but actually use and love it, your recommendation carries significantly more weight.

Your testimonial on their page becomes proof that you practice what you preach. It’s the difference between saying ‘this tool is great’ and demonstrating ‘this tool is so great that the business owner featured my review on their website.’

Why Raw Screenshots Sometimes Beat Polished Graphics

I used to be hesitant about using screenshots of testimonials in my marketing. I worried they might look off-brand. After going through a mini training called Screenshot Savvy, I realized raw screenshots often feel more authentic than anything created in Canva.

And to get a little meta about it: here’s a screenshot of my testimonial on Nadine Nethery’s Screenshot Savvy sales page.

Your emails are another great place to share screenshots from testimonials you’ve given—with permission, of course. It’s social proof that works in two directions at once.

The Standards I Hold Myself To

Only What I’d Genuinely Recommend

My rule is simple: I only write testimonials for things I’d recommend to a friend. This isn’t just about maintaining authenticity (though that matters). It’s about protecting my own reputation. When someone sees my testimonial on a sales page, they’re trusting my judgment. A mediocre recommendation for the sake of being nice potentially damages that trust in ways that are hard to rebuild.

There’s also a practical legal note worth mentioning: the FTC requires that testimonials be honest and that any material connections (like affiliate relationships or free products) be disclosed clearly. Writing only for things you genuinely love takes care of the honesty requirement automatically, and the authenticity shows.

When I only share what I’m genuinely excited about, those recommendations carry more weight, and that weight compounds over time.

Supporting Small Business (Because You Are One)

As a business owner, I understand how challenging it is to gather social proof, especially early on. A thoughtful testimonial for another entrepreneur might be exactly what they need to land their next client.

The businesses I support often become my biggest cheerleaders. It’s not a calculated exchange, but there’s a natural reciprocity that happens among entrepreneurs who celebrate each other’s work.

Here’s me being a fangirl of Faith Lee from Faith’s Biz Academy. Who says you can’t leave more than one testimonial if you love everything someone does?

Frequently Asked Questions