When is the best time to ask for a testimonial?

The best time is right after a positive interaction — when a customer achieves a result, completes onboarding, renews their subscription, or tells you they're happy. Avoid asking during billing issues or when they haven't had enough time with your product.

How many follow-ups should I send?

One follow-up is the sweet spot. Send it 3-5 days after your initial request. More than one follow-up crosses the line from helpful reminder to spam, and can damage the customer relationship.

What if a customer says no?

Respect their decision gracefully. Thank them for considering it, and don't ask again. Some customers may be willing later — if they share positive feedback organically in the future, you can gently ask then.

Testimonial Request Email Templates

Proven email templates you can copy, personalize, and send to your customers to collect authentic testimonials.

Before you send: key principles

Personalize it — use their name and reference something specific about their experience
Keep it short — your email should take less than 30 seconds to read
Make it easy — include a direct link to your testimonial form
Time it right — send after a positive interaction, not randomly
One follow-up max — respect their time and inbox

Template 1: The simple ask

Best for: customers who have recently expressed satisfaction.

Subject: Quick favor — would you share your experience?

Hi [Name],

Thanks for being a [Product] customer! I noticed
[specific positive signal — e.g., "you've been with
us for 6 months now" or "you mentioned you loved the
new feature"].

Would you mind sharing a quick testimonial about your
experience? It takes less than a minute:

[Link to testimonial form]

Just 2-3 sentences about what you like or how it's
helped — that's it. No pressure either way.

Thanks,
[Your name]

Template 2: After a support win

Best for: customers whose issue you just resolved successfully.

Subject: Glad we could help — one small ask

Hi [Name],

Really glad we got [issue] sorted out for you!

If you have a moment, would you mind leaving a quick
testimonial? It helps other people like you feel
confident about choosing us.

Here's the link: [Link to testimonial form]

Totally optional — just appreciate you considering it.

Best,
[Your name]

Template 3: The milestone celebration

Best for: customers who have hit a usage milestone or anniversary.

Subject: You've been with us for [X months]! 🎉

Hi [Name],

Just noticed you've been using [Product] for
[X months/years] now — that's awesome, and we really
appreciate your loyalty.

Would you be open to sharing a quick testimonial
about your experience? Even 2-3 sentences would mean
a lot to us:

[Link to testimonial form]

Thanks for sticking with us!

[Your name]

Template 4: The follow-up

Send this 3-5 days after your initial request if you haven't heard back. Only send one follow-up.

Subject: Re: Quick favor — would you share your experience?

Hi [Name],

Just a quick follow-up on my earlier email. Totally
understand if you're busy — here's the link again in
case you get a moment:

[Link to testimonial form]

Thanks either way!

[Your name]

Template 5: The results-focused ask

Best for: customers who have achieved measurable results with your product.

Subject: Your results with [Product] are impressive

Hi [Name],

I saw that [specific result — e.g., "you've collected
50+ testimonials this month" or "your response rate
jumped to 40%"]. That's really great to see.

Would you be willing to share a quick testimonial
about your results? Specifics like numbers or
before/after comparisons are incredibly powerful for
other potential customers.

Here's the link: [Link to testimonial form]

Appreciate your time,
[Your name]

Tips for higher response rates

Send from a real person, not a no-reply address. People respond to people.
Use a plain-text style email instead of a fancy HTML template. It feels more personal.
Mention how long it takes — “less than a minute” removes the mental barrier.
Include the link prominently — make it stand out so they can click without re-reading.
Send at the right time of day — Tuesday through Thursday mornings typically get higher open rates.

Automate the process

Instead of sending these emails manually, use a tool like Testimonial Collector to create a shareable collection page with guided prompts. Send the link once, and customers can submit a testimonial anytime — no back-and-forth required.

For more on collection strategies, see our guide on collecting customer testimonials.