How to Get Testimonials From Web Design Clients
A testimonial is a short, true statement from a customer. For a new web designer it is one of the best things you can have on your page, because a stranger has no other way to tell if you are real. It is also something many beginners are afraid to ask for, or fake.
I have run a marketing agency for 15 years and worked with 100+ agency clients. This guide shows how to ask for a testimonial in a way that is easy for a busy owner, how to do it when your first client was a discounted or free project, and what the rules say. It does not promise that any client will say yes.
What makes a testimonial worth having
A good testimonial is:
- True. It comes from a real person about real work.
- Specific. "She had my page up in two days and it works on my phone" says more than "Great job."
- Attributed. It has a first name, the business and the town, with permission.
- Short. Two or three sentences.
You do not need a big result or a number. A small business owner who says "I can finally send people a link to my business" has told your next customer something real.
When to ask
The best time is when the client is happy and the page is live. Good moments:
- The day the site goes live, when the owner sees it on their own web address.
- After the first compliment, such as "this looks great."
- After the first real inquiry from the site. If a customer calls because of the page, say so.
Do not ask before the work is finished, and do not ask when the client is unhappy. Fix the problem first. See how to handle website revision requests for keeping a project calm.
How to ask: three short messages
Make it easy to say yes. Do not send a long form. Ask two or three questions and let them answer in their own words by email or text.
Message 1: the simple ask. Names are made up.
Hi Pat,
I'm glad your site is live. Would you answer two questions in a reply? I would like to use your words on my page, with your first name and business.
- What was it like before you had the site?
- What is different now?
No pressure, and no problem if you would rather not.
Alex
Message 2: a gentle reminder, a week later.
Hi Pat, just a quick nudge. If you have a minute, a sentence or two about how the site is working would help a lot. Thank you either way.
Message 3: asking for permission, once they reply.
Thank you, this is great. May I put it on my website as: "[their words]," Pat, Creek Plumbing, Springfield? You can say no, or I can change a word.
Keep their reply. It is your proof that they said it and agreed to its use. Never fix their grammar so much that it no longer sounds like them. Small clean-ups are fine, but ask first.
Here are the three messages at a glance.
| Message | When to send it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The simple ask | When the site is live | Asks two short questions the owner can answer in a reply |
| 2. A gentle reminder | A week later | Nudges without pressure |
| 3. Asking permission | Once they reply | Confirms the exact words, name and business you may use |
If your first client got a free or discounted project
Many new designers do a first site at a low price or for free, to build a portfolio. That is fine. Be honest about it when you use the quote. A true line next to the testimonial, such as "First project, done at a reduced price," keeps the story straight. See how to get your first web design client when you have no portfolio for the full path.
The rules to follow
In the U.S., the FTC has rules on reviews and testimonials. The simple version:
- Never write a testimonial yourself and put a customer's name on it. Do not invent names, businesses or results.
- Never pay for a positive review, or tie a gift or discount to the review being good. A rule on fake reviews has been in effect since October 2024, and it bars rewarding someone on the condition that they say something positive.
- Disclose a thank-you. If you give something small for a testimonial no matter what it says, say so clearly. The FTC's Endorsement Guides say that a connection that could affect how people see the endorsement should be disclosed.
- Get permission before using a name, a business or a photo.
- Do not make up numbers. Use a figure only if the client gave it to you and it is true.
This is not legal advice. If you are unsure, read the FTC's guidance on reviews and endorsements, or ask a lawyer.
What to do if you have no clients yet
You can still build trust honestly:
- Use labeled samples. Build a sample page for a made-up business and call it a sample. Never present it as client work.
- Ask for feedback on a preview. When you send an owner a preview, ask "What would make this better?" Real feedback is useful. It is not a testimonial, and you should not present it as one.
- Describe your process. A short page that explains how you work earns trust without a quote.
- Add the first real quote when it comes. One true quote beats five invented ones.
Show a website preview to a business owner covers how to share a preview without pressure.
Where to put testimonials
- Home page, near the top, where a visitor decides to stay.
- Next to your price or offer, where a doubt appears.
- In your emails and proposals. A single line works. See web design proposal for small business.
- On a short "Clients" or "Work" page.
Show the name, the business and the town. If a client allows a photo or logo, add it. A real face or name makes a quote feel real.
Where SiteRevive fits
SiteRevive helps you reach the first clients that testimonials come from. You pick a trade and a U.S. state, and it finds local businesses with old or missing sites and takes the owner's email from the business's own website. With Run with your AI, you paste one prompt into your AI. It builds a one-page preview site for each business, then drafts or sends a short note from your own inbox, or saves drafts only.
Plans start at $97 a month, plus your own AI plan, which the AI company bills you for. No setup fee and nothing to install. There is a 7-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. It covers local U.S. businesses only, and it does not promise replies, sales or testimonials. SiteRevive's servers never send email; your own AI sends from your own account, or saves drafts.
Check any site free at siterevive.app/check, or visit the SiteRevive home page. For the bigger plan, read how to sell websites to local businesses.
Frequently asked questions
When should I ask a web design client for a testimonial?
When the site is live and the owner is happy. The day it goes live, after a compliment, or after the first real inquiry from the site are good moments. Do not ask while the project is unfinished or the client is unhappy.
What should I ask in a testimonial request?
Two or three plain questions, such as what it was like before and what is different now. Let the client answer in their own words by email or text, and then ask permission to use their first name and business.
Can I offer a discount for a testimonial?
Be careful. Under the FTC's rules you cannot tie a reward to the review being positive. A small thank-you for any honest feedback is allowed if you disclose it. When in doubt, skip the reward.
Can I write the testimonial and ask the client to approve it?
No. Put in the client's own words. Small edits for spelling are fine if they agree. Writing a quote and giving it to a client to sign risks being a fake testimonial.
What if I have no clients yet?
Use clearly labeled sample pages, ask real owners for feedback on a preview, and describe how you work. Do not invent quotes or names. Add the first real testimonial when you get one.
Does SiteRevive give me testimonials?
No. SiteRevive finds businesses and, with Run with your AI, builds preview sites and drafts or sends your notes. It does not promise replies, sales or testimonials. SiteRevive's servers never send email; your own AI sends from your own account, or saves drafts.