I tried to search for a form/example of this in the documents section but didn't see anything.

How do you request testimonials that you can use on your marketing materials without sounding too desperate or needy? I'm just not sure how to word it?

Or is this something that you just wait til somebody says something and then ask if you can use it on your website, etc.?

There are a few ways I've gathered testimonials over the years - one is to recognize a great snippet when a client emails you ecstatic about your finished project. Email the client back and say 'you wrote X. Y, Z... I'd love to use this as an official testimonial - would you mind? I'd like to include your name and company name, and possibly a link back to your site if I use it on my own website. Any thoughts?'

Or, just ask for one! Try something like this 'Client X, I'd love to be able to include a testimonial or statement from you about our work together these past X months in the new brochure/website/marketing whatnot I'm creating for my company. It could be about a particular project I completed for you or just a general overview of your opinion of my work ethic, business standards, etc. Your quote would be followed by your name and company name, and a link to your website if used online. Thanks so much for your consideration! I appreciate you as a client and am looking forward to your feedback...' [I just wrote this so if it's too wordy, or needs editing by all means pick it apart so it sounds like your own voice ]

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I just called my old bosses in Florida today and they have my testimonial on the top of their list as soon as Tony gets back from San Francisco. I told Lisa, since I had no response to my email requests, that even "one little sentence with one nice thing about my work" and she said, "Oh, no! I have ALOT of nice things to say about your work!" So that worked out well. As for clients that I am not on a friendship basis with, I have a form that I use. It is a simple questionaire about what the client found most useful, would they refer me to their friends, what would they say about my services, etc. At the bottom of the form I have a place that they sign for me to use in my marketing materials. This way I am legally covered.

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Serita Diana, the List 2 Close Assistant
REVA Academy

Most of mine were things clients said in emails and I just emailed them back and asked if it was ok to put the quote on my website and in my marketing materials.

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Kathy
www.theofficevirtuoso.com

Yep, I use the same 'tactics' as Tess does... I haven't been turned down yet.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

If you're just starting out with no clients to give you a testimojial ask former colleagues if they would provide one.

Lynne

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The Wordpro Wizard
www.wordprowizard.com

Much like the others that have posted in the thread so far, I have gone about asking clients for testimonials in the same way. Whether it was right after I received positive feedback from them or at a later time, they have all obliged.

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

Thank you so much, this is extremely helpful!

Originally Posted by executive_assist

As for clients that I am not on a friendship basis with, I have a form that I use. It is a simple questionaire about what the client found most useful, would they refer me to their friends, what would they say about my services, etc. At the bottom of the form I have a place that they sign for me to use in my marketing materials. This way I am legally covered.

Hi ... could I ask if you wouldn't mind posting that questionnaire to the Free Virtual Assistant Forms and Contracts section, or here in a reply, so I can get some ideas? I'm new and trying to figure out how to word my questions so I can get about 6 friends who I've done work for to supply testimonials that I can use for my new business. It would be so helpful if you were able to post it.

zippy