How Can Writing Testimonials for Others Help Grow Your Business?

In my last 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 for your business: giving them.

I’m that girl who actually writes reviews—sometimes 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 both the business owner and others who are deciding whether or not it’s right for them.

I do this not because I’m overly generous with my time (though my friends might disagree), but because I’ve learned that writing thoughtful testimonials is a smart business strategy.

Most business owners think about testimonials as something they need to collect. But what if I told you that strategically giving testimonials could boost your SEO, expand your network, and position you as someone worth knowing in your industry?

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full affiliate disclosure for further information.

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

The first time I realized that 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.

Backlinks That Build Authority

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. These aren’t the spammy kind that search engines ignore, either. They’re authentic links from real businesses, often in related industries.

Even better, these links come with context. When someone includes your testimonial on their sales page or testimonials section, they’re essentially vouching for your credibility while linking to your site! Search engines notice this 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, which likely includes people who might never have found you otherwise.

Consistent Visibility Across Your Industry

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 businesses.

It’s like being known as the person who always has great restaurant recommendations, and eventually, people start seeking out your opinion.

The Networking and Opportunity Benefits

Beta Testing and Early Access Opportunities

Not long ago, I received an invitation to beta test a new program from a brand that 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 that they reached out to me 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, which is especially important if you’re planning to release a course to a wide audience. Honestly, I would have paid hundreds of dollars for the program after it was released because the topic was so up my alley, but as a beta tester, I was able to keep access to the program after the course launched. Definitely a win-win!

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 about their work. 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 positioning yourself as someone who actively supports other businesses in your industry. When opportunities for partnerships or collaborations arise, you’re more likely to come to mind if you’re known 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.

Practical Implementation

My Process for Writing Impactful Testimonials

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

Here’s my simple approach: I focus on the specific result or transformation I experienced. Instead of writing “This course was amazing!” I’ll mention exactly what I learned or how it changed my workflow. The more specific I can be, the more helpful it is for potential customers and the more credible it sounds.

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 and How 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 genuinely loved what they created

Taking Advantage of Review Incentives

Sometimes business owners offer incentives like store credit or discounts for leaving helpful reviews. You bet I take advantage of these opportunities! As long as I genuinely love the product or service, these incentives make it even easier to share my authentic experience.

The key is that my 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 Elements I Include

When possible, I include:

• 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

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

Turn Your Reviews Into Marketing Gold

Authentic Content for Your Own Marketing

Here’s something I didn’t think about 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 actually helped my business. My audience gets to learn about resources they might find useful, and I get to create content that doesn’t feel salesy or self-promotional.

Building Trust by 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. When you share what you’re using to improve your own business, you’re demonstrating that commitment to excellence.

The Ripple Effect of Authentic Recommendations

I’ve noticed that when I share genuine enthusiasm about something I’m using, it often sparks conversations with my audience. They’ll ask follow-up questions, share their own experiences, or tell me about similar tools they love.

This creates engagement that feels natural because it started with something I was already excited about. It’s content that practically writes itself because the enthusiasm is real.

The Affiliate Marketing Advantage

If you recommend products to people (this section’s for you, affiliate marketers), there’s nothing more powerful than sending people to a sales page with your own testimonial as a consumer of the product. When potential customers see that you’re not just promoting something for the commission but actually use and love it yourself, your recommendation carries significantly more weight.

Your testimonial on their sales 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.”

The Win-Win Psychology

Why I Only Review What I Actually Love

I have a simple rule: I only write testimonials for products or services I genuinely recommend to friends. This isn’t just about maintaining authenticity (though that matters). It’s about protecting my reputation and ensuring that anything associated with my name reflects my actual standards.

When someone sees my testimonial on a sales page, they’re trusting my judgment. If I recommend something mediocre just to be nice, I’m potentially damaging that trust. But when I only share what I’m genuinely excited about, my recommendations carry more weight.

Supporting Small Business (Because You Are One)

As a business owner, I understand how challenging it can be to gather social proof, especially when you’re just starting out. A thoughtful testimonial for another entrepreneur might be exactly what they need to land their next client.

I’ve found that the mindset of abundance in business creates opportunities for everyone. By actively supporting others who are building something meaningful, you’re contributing to an ecosystem where everyone can thrive together.

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

Here’s me being a super fangirl of Faith Lee from Faith’s Biz Academy… who says you can’t leave more than 1 testimonial if you love everything someone does in their business? 😉

Real Examples and Results

When Screenshots Beat Perfect Design

I always used to be hesitant about using actual screenshots of testimonials in my marketing. I worried they might look messy or off-brand, but after going through a mini training called Screenshot Savvy, I realized raw screenshots feel more authentic than anything I could create in Canva.

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

Here are a few times (that I’ve noticed) my testimonials as screenshots inside others’ emails—your emails are a great place to share screenshots!

Your Next Steps

If you’re already someone who loves sharing what works, consider being more strategic about it. Include your website link, mention your business name, and don’t be afraid to use those raw screenshots that show your genuine excitement in your own marketing.

If you’ve been quietly appreciating great products and services without saying anything, try this:

• Pick one thing you’ve used recently that genuinely saved you time or helped your business.
• Write a specific testimonial about your experience and send it to the business owner.
• Include your website link in your signature.

You don’t need to start writing testimonials for everything you buy. But when something truly makes a difference in your business, sharing that experience creates value for everyone involved.

For a more complete picture on testimonials, check out my previous post on how testimonials add credibility to your website. Between collecting social proof and strategically giving it, you’ll have a powerful combination for building trust and growing your business.

The next time you find yourself genuinely excited about a tool, course, or service you’ve invested in, don’t just keep that enthusiasm to yourself—share it! You might be surprised by the doors it opens.

Frequently Asked Questions