How to get Testimonials in Dubsado; Offboarding Workflow Examples

You’ve wrapped up a dreamy project, your client’s basically frothing at the mouth with love for your work, and you know you should ask for a testimonial.

But instead of swooping in with confidence, you’re sitting there thinking:

“Ugh, is it weird to ask?”

“What if they say no and I spiral into self-doubt and eat an entire pack of biscuits while questioning my life choices?”

Yeah. Been there.

But testimonials aren’t just feel-good fluff (although hey, we love a good ego boost). They’re one of the most powerful, FREE sales tools you’ve got in your business toolkit. 

In this blog, I’m gonna show you how to ask for testimonials without feeling like a needy weirdo, how to set up a totally stress-free system using Dubsado, and how to turn that client feedback into marketing gold.

Why Testimonials Are a Game-Changer

You can shout about your services ’til you’re blue in the face, but when your actual clients do the talking for you? That’s when people really start listening. 

Testimonials are more than just “nice words” or feel-good pats on the back, they’re one of the most powerful conversion tools in your entire business.

Need proof? Thought you’d never ask…

• 92% of consumers read online reviews and testimonials before making a purchase decision.
• 95% of people say that reviews … influence their purchasing decisions.
• Adding testimonials to your sales pages can boost conversions by up to 34%. 
• 72% of people trust a business more after reading positive testimonials. 
• 63% of consumers indicate that they are more likely to purchase from a site if it has product ratings and reviews. 

So yeah, they matter.

They build trust, help people overcome their objections, and make potential clients feel like they’re getting the inside scoop from someone who’s been there, done that, and got the 5-star result. 

They create emotional connection. They act like automated referrals. And honestly? They’re reusable AF –  from your website to social posts to sales emails and beyond.

So no, asking for testimonials isn’t “cringe.”

How to Ask for Testimonials Without Feeling Awkward

Asking for a testimonial can feel like a rom-com plotline in the making. It’s giving Notting Hill energy:

“I’m just a business owner, standing in front of a client, asking them to say nice things about me…”

Cringe? A little.

Necessary? Absolutely.

But, you can do it without the sweaty palms and awkward energy. Here’s how to keep it slick, skimmable, and 0% desperate:

1. Lead with gratitude. Tell them how much you loved working together. Make it warm and genuine, not transactional.
2. Set expectations. “This takes less than 5 minutes” works wonders. Your clients are busy, tell them up front that this won’t eat into their day.
3. Automate the whole thing. Set up a beautiful Dubsado workflow that sends your testimonial request at the right moment – complete with reminders and a thank-you message baked in.
4. Link to your Google Reviews. Drop your Google Review URL in the form or follow-up email and encourage them to copy + paste their answers. 
5. Add a little cherry on top. Want to boost responses? Offer a small thank-you like: a discount on future services, a cheeky freebie, or even just a “you absolute legend” message with a fun GIF. It’s not bribery, it’s brand love.
6. Most importantly, normalise it. This isn’t awkward. This is what pros do. Asking for feedback is part of a polished, professional client experience.

If you delivered a 5-star service, asking for a 5-star review is just closing the loop.

When to Ask for Testimonials

Spoiler alert: asking at the wrong time is what makes it awkward.

You know that moment when the project technically wraps, but your client’s still basking in the afterglow of “OMG this has changed my life”? THAT’S your golden window.

Timing is everything. So here’s when to strike, without looking thirsty or annoying:

For event-based services 

(think: wedding planners, photographers, celebrants)

Ask around 7–14 days post-event.

Give them a moment to come down from the confetti high, but not so long they forget your name. Bonus points for sending a lovely follow-up email that makes them smile before sliding in the form link.

For project-based work 

(like designers, copywriters, branding pros)

Ask 1–2 days after delivery, and follow up around day 7 if needed.

They’ve just seen the final result. They’re buzzing. Don’t wait until they’re knee-deep in the next thing – get in while you’re still top of mind (and their inbox).

For ongoing services 

(coaches, retainer clients, monthly support packages)

Your sweet spot is 4–6 weeks in, and then every 3–6 months.

Long enough for results to kick in, but not so long that it feels stale or “uh, what have you done for me lately?”

If you’re using Dubsado (which you should be), this timing can be baked right into your workflow. No guesswork. No forgetting. No “should I follow up again or leave it?” drama.

What Makes a Good Testimonial

It’s so tempting for clients to write stuff like:

“She was lovely to work with. So friendly! Super responsive! 10/10 vibes.”

Awww. Cute.

But also? Not helpful.

Because nice doesn’t sell.

If someone’s on the fence about investing in you, knowing you’re “really nice” isn’t going to make them click ‘book now’. What they really want to know is:

• Did you deliver results?
• Did you make their life easier?
• Did they get what they came for (and then some)?
• Will hiring you actually be worth it?
  

Without guidance, your clients will skip over the juicy stuff (the real transformation) and just tell the world how fun you were on Zoom calls. And while that’s lovely for your ego, it does NOTHING for your sales page conversion rate.

So here’s what makes a testimonial actually work:

• What were they dealing with before you swooped in like the business fairy godmother you are?
• What changed after working with you? What got better, faster, easier, less chaotic?
• The numbers and results. Time saved, money made, confidence boosted – anything you can put a real number or feeling behind.
• If they were nervous to invest, unsure about tech, or thought it was too expensive (and they still say it was 100% worth it), THAT is the gold dust.
• How did the experience feel? Were they supported, empowered, blown away? These emotional nuggets matter more than you think.

What Questions to Ask on Your Feedback Form

If you’re relying on an empty text box and crossing your fingers that your client magically writes a conversion-boosting testimonial… babe, we need to talk.

Guided questions = better answers. Full stop.

Without them, you’ll get generic fluff like “you’re amazing!!” and miss the juicy details that actually move the needle.

Here’s what to ask if you want testimonials that don’t just stroke your ego, they sell your service:

1. What were you struggling with before we worked together?

This helps highlight the problem your dream client is currently facing, and sets up the transformation story beautifully.

2. What made you choose me over others? 

This gets to the heart of why your offer stood out, great for identifying your key selling points straight from the client’s mouth.

3. 3. What was the experience like? What stood out to you?

This brings in the emotion and helps reflect the overall journey and vibes. 

4. What results have you seen since we wrapped up?

Time to shout about those results – time saved, leads gained, stress reduced. This is prime copy-and-paste material for your sales page.

5. Would you recommend me? And if so, why? 

Simple. Clear. Great for confidence-building quotes.

6. Can I share this testimonial publicly? Please. Always. Ask. This. And while you’re at it? Link them to your Google Reviews form so they can pop the same feedback in twice for double the SEO love.

7. Bonus Q: Is there anything I could have done better? Don’t skip this one. It shows professionalism, helps you grow, and (bonus!) makes the positive feedback feel even more legit.

These questions take away the pressure, make your client look good and help you collect testimonials that feel real, warm, and full of value.

How to setup an offboarding workflow to collect your testimonials 

The easiest way to not feel awkward about asking for a testimonial?

Automate. It. Babe.

The first time you’ll even think about it is when that sweet, sweet reply lands in your inbox.

Here’s how I build it:

• First, your client gets a “Yay we’re done!” offboarding email with next steps.
• 24 hours later, they get a beautifully branded feedback form (not a sad Google form)
• Didn’t fill it in? No worries, the system checks in again 4 weeks later with a polite “hey babe, remember me?”
• When they do submit, it adds a tag like “Left Review” so you can track who’s done what.
  

Wanna see what this looks like in real life?

Wedding Venue example: 

This setup is a total powerhouse. It sends a thank-you, requests feedback, adds a little reminder nudge if the form’s not filled out, AND throws in a photo gallery follow-up. Fully automated, fully fabulous.

Wedding Photographer: 

Post-wedding high? Captured. This one sends a “Post-Wedding Vibes Check” form a few days after gallery delivery, adds a reminder if needed, tags when feedback’s received, and follows up to ask for a Google Review. SO extra. SO effective.

Editor:

This flow builds in an “End of Project Survey” with a tag so you can track who gave feedback. It even adds quarterly check-ins – which is great for long-term client nurturing or retainer upsells.

Wedding Florist: 

This one’s beautifully simple but super smart. It times the testimonial form to go out just when the flowers have been admired (but not yet forgotten), and follows up with a sweet “send gift” moment a year later. Brand experience = nailed.

Leadership Coach: 

A slick combo of manual and automated touches. It includes scheduled follow-up calls, testimonial requests, and a 12-month check-in email to keep the relationship warm long after the initial win.

How to Use Testimonials in Your Marketing

You didn’t go to all that effort setting up your workflows, chasing feedback (or better yet, automating the chase), and getting golden reviews just to let them gather dust.

A good testimonial is a conversion tool.

And the more places you use them, the more chances you’ve got to make someone go: “Omg yes, I need this.”

Here’s how to squeeze every last drop of value from your testimonials:

Website

Pop them on your:

• Homepage (front and centre, please)
• Services pages (especially near pricing)
• About page (because who better to talk about you… than someone else?)
• Contact page (reassure them as they’re about to hit submit)
• Use them to build out your portfolio / case studies

Social Media

Turn your testimonials into:

• Graphics or carousels
• Reels (read the testimonial as a voiceover, yes TikTok-style)
• Stories (with a CTA to book)
• Behind-the-scenes posts (“Remember this dreamy Dubsado setup? Here’s what the client said…”)

Emails

Drop testimonials into:

• Your welcome sequence
• Inquiry replies or proposals
• Launch emails or sales funnels

Nothing says “proof” like a real person raving about you mid-email.

Proposals & Brochures

Slide in a testimonial right next to your packages or pricing.

It softens the “woah, that’s an investment” moment with “but look what happened for this client!”

Bonus: Video Testimonials

If your client’s up for it, even a quick selfie video can be absolute gold.

Why? Because people trust faces. Especially enthusiastic ones.

Websites with video testimonials see an average 80% boost in conversion rates. 

Use them on your sales pages, pop one in your Instagram bio link, or pin it to the top of your socials for maximum trust-building, scroll-stopping impact.

PRO TIP: Rotate them!

Don’t just use the same two reviews forever. Keep them fresh, repurpose them everywhere, and make them part of your regular content schedule.

Action Steps: Start Collecting Stronger Testimonials Today

Don’t just think about it. Don’t just bookmark this blog.

Let’s get your testimonial game sorted – today.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Create or update your testimonial request form. Make it branded, add your guiding questions, and include a permission tick box + Google Review link. Done is better than perfect.

2. Add it to your offboarding workflow. Use Dubsado (or whatever tool you love) to automate the request, reminders, and tagging. Your future self will thank you.

3. Make it part of your process. Testimonial collection shouldn’t be a one-off. Build it into your client experience, so it happens every time.

4. Add those testimonials to your marketing. Start with your website, sprinkle into proposals, repurpose on social, and plug into your email flows.

5. Rotate and reuse them regularly. Keep them fresh, up-to-date, and aligned with your offers. One strong quote can be used 10+ ways.

Final Thoughts

If you take one thing away from this post, let it be this:

Testimonials aren’t a vanity, they’re a sales tool.

Start small if you need to, update your form, tweak your workflow, pop one fresh review on your homepage. Then build from there.

Before you know it, your clients will be writing your sales copy for you. (Iconic behaviour, really.)

Want help setting all this up in Dubsado so you never have to chase another testimonial again?

Whether you’re starting from scratch or already have workflows that just need a good tidy and tune-up, I offer both full Dubsado setups and workflow audits to get things running smoothly