How to Collect Better Testimonials from Clients and Partners

2/23/2026, 6:14:00 AM

Testimonials are one of the most underused assets for small nonprofits and neighborhood businesses. A few clear, authentic quotes from clients and partners can do more than a polished mission statement.

Student teams working with organizations through Volta NYC often help collect and format testimonials as part of website and marketing projects. Here are some simple practices you can adopt.

1. Ask specific questions

Instead of "Can you write us a testimonial?", guide people with prompts:

  • What problem were you facing before working with us?
  • What changed after we worked together?
  • What would you tell someone thinking about working with us?

This leads to more concrete, persuasive quotes.

2. Make it easy to respond

Keep the process low-friction:

  • Send a short email with 2–3 questions
  • Offer a 10-minute phone call or voice note option
  • Let people respond in the language they’re most comfortable with

You can lightly edit for clarity, but keep their tone.

3. Get permission and use names carefully

Always ask for permission to publish testimonials and confirm:

  • How they want to be named (full name, first name, initials)
  • Whether you can mention their organization
  • If you can use their photo

Respect privacy concerns, especially for sensitive services.

4. Place testimonials where they matter

Don’t bury quotes on a separate "Testimonials" page.

Instead, integrate them:

  • On your homepage near your main call to action
  • On program or service pages, next to relevant descriptions
  • In grant applications and reports, where allowed

A single strong quote in the right place can significantly increase trust.

Good testimonials don’t require fancy production — just thoughtful questions, respect for your partners’ time, and clear placement on your site and materials.

If you’d like help setting up a testimonial collection process, consider working with student teams through Volta NYC to design forms, templates, and follow-up workflows that fit your capacity.