Creating and sharing testimonials will amplify your efforts, your voice, and your impact.

There’s a reason why Amazon, Google, and Yelp reviews are so popular. It’s the same reason why word-of-mouth is still the most valuable form of advertising, despite all of today’s sophisticated targeting options.

Before we invest our time and/or money in a product, service, or mission, we all want to know what people like us think and feel about it and how it has helped others. It may sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread in the description, but if your mom, best friend, or neighbor had a bad experience, you’ll likely say, “No, thanks.”

This same principle applies to your organization.

Marketing your organization and spreading your mission is incredibly important, but what will really make it stand out is having stellar testimonials from real, enthusiastic people. It’s fine for you to say how amazing your work is and how it helps others, but it means even more when you allow other people to say it for you.

If you want to gain more loyal supporters and customers, and draw more potential stakeholders to your organization, empower current and former stakeholders to speak on your behalf.

Included in this guide:

• Sample questions for nonprofits to ask

• Sample questions for for-profits to ask

• Tips on how to gather amazing testimonials

• Advice on how to ask for a testimonial

• Explanations for how to choose between written and video testimonials for your needs

• A template for asking for a testimonial

• What to do when you receive a poor review or testimonial

• Tips for sharing and marketing your testimonials

• Examples of strong testimonials