Testimonial Request Email: 5 Templates Clients Actually Answer
A testimonial request email that clients answer is short, personal and sent within a day or two of the job. Name what went well, ask for two or three sentences, put one link near the top, and ask permission to share. Send one friendly follow-up a few days later, then stop.
A testimonial request email is easy to write badly. It ends up long, formal and full of "we value your feedback", and the client leaves it for later, which means never. The emails that get answered read like a note from a person, ask for very little, and make answering a two-minute job.
Below are five testimonial request emails you can copy, each with a short text version for clients who live on their phone, plus subject lines, timing and how to follow up without nagging.
What makes a testimonial request email work?
A testimonial request email works when it is short, specific and easy to act on. Clients are not refusing you. They are busy, and anything that looks like a chore gets put off. So every line has to make the job feel smaller.
- It sounds like you. First name, plain words, no company newsletter tone.
- It names the job. "The new deck" or "your year-end return", not "our recent services".
- It asks for a little. "Two or three sentences" is far easier to say yes to than "a testimonial".
- It has one link, near the top. They should not have to scroll or hunt.
- It asks permission. Say where the words may appear and that they choose how their name shows.
Weak email vs. strong email
The opening lines a client sees in their inbox
"Dear valued customer, at [business] we strive for excellence and would appreciate your feedback on our services..."
"Hi Karen, thanks again for trusting us with the bathroom. Would you share two or three sentences about how it went?"
Five testimonial request email templates
Pick one, change the words in brackets, and send it from your own email address. Each one comes with a short text version, because many clients answer a text faster than an email.
1. The day after the job
Your default. Use it when the client was clearly happy and the job is fresh.
Email 1: the day after
When: the day the job is done, or the next morning
2. With the questions in the email
For clients who would freeze at a blank box. The questions do the hard part for them.
Email 2: with guiding questions
When: any time you suspect the client "isn't a writer"
If you want the questions as fill-in-the-blank sentences instead, our testimonial templates have five versions clients can finish in two minutes.
3. Quote them back
For clients who already said something lovely in person or in a message. You just ask to use it.
Email 3: quote them back
When: a client said or wrote something kind during the job
4. After a milestone (professional and ongoing services)
For accountants, lawyers, consultants, cleaners and anyone with an ongoing relationship. Ask after a natural milestone instead of "the end of the job".
Email 4: after a milestone
When: after a deadline is met, a first season, or a renewal
If your profession has confidentiality duties, keep client details private and follow your profession's own rules on what you may share. An email like this one never asks for specifics, which keeps it simple for everyone.
5. The one follow-up
For clients who meant to answer and forgot. Send it once, about three days after the first email, as a reply to it so they see the original.
Email 5: the gentle follow-up
When: about three days after the first email, and only once
What subject line should a testimonial request email have?
Use a subject line that sounds like it came from a person: short, with their name or the job in it. Words like "feedback", "survey" or "request" make it look automated, and automated emails get skipped.
Subject lines to use and to avoid
Short and personal beats formal
| Use | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Thank you, [name] | Feedback request |
| A small favor, [name]? | Please rate your experience |
| How is [the new kitchen]? | Customer satisfaction survey |
| Can I share what you said? | We value your opinion! |
| Three quick questions about [the job] | IMPORTANT: Action required |
When should you send a testimonial request email?
Send it the day the job is done or the next morning, while the client is still pleased with the result. The longer you wait, the vaguer and rarer the answers get.
When to send, and when to stop
Two messages at most
A tip that helps a lot: tell the client in person that the email is coming. "I'll send you a quick link tonight, would you mind writing a line or two?" Once they've said yes out loud, they are much more likely to follow through.
How do you follow up without being pushy?
Follow up once, keep it shorter than the first email, and give them an easy way out. "No pressure at all" and "thanks either way" are not filler. They tell a happy client you respect their time, which keeps the relationship warm even if they never write.
- Reply to your first email so the original ask is right there.
- Don't add new requests. A follow-up is not the moment to also ask for a referral.
- Thank them when it arrives. A quick "this made our day" goes a long way.
Once the words come in, use them where new clients are deciding: on your site, in a post, or next to the quote you send. For the full routine, from the moment to ask to where to use what comes back, see our guide on how to get testimonials from clients. And if you want to see what a strong answer looks like, browse our client testimonial examples.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a testimonial request email be?
Short enough to read in under thirty seconds, usually five to eight lines. Say thank you, name the job, ask for two or three sentences, give one link and mention that they choose how their name appears. Anything longer starts to feel like a chore.
Should I send a testimonial request by email or text?
Use whichever the client already uses with you. Many homeowners answer a text faster, while professional clients often prefer email. Each template on this page has a short text version so you can do either.
How many times should I follow up?
Once. Send one gentle follow-up about three days after the first message, then stop. One reminder catches the people who simply forgot, and more than that starts to feel like pressure.
Should I offer something in return for a testimonial?
It is better not to. A testimonial means most when it is freely given, and a sincere thank-you is enough. Some professions and industries have rules about rewarding clients, so check what applies to your field.
Can I send the same email to every client?
You can use the same template, but change the name and the job every time. A line that mentions their actual project is what makes it feel personal and gets it answered.