Hey Freelance Friends!
If you’re out here freelancing in South Africa without a solid bank of testimonials, you’re basically braaing without the fire. You’re doing all the work, but no one’s seeing the sizzle. 🥩🔥
A good testimonial is more than just a compliment. It’s social proof, and social proof sells. Whether you’re a designer in Durban, a writer in Jozi, or a VA hustling from your Airbnb in Plett, testimonials build trust and tell the world, “Hey, this freelancer is the real deal.” And trust me, in a country full of pyramid schemes and ghost clients, showing receipts (aka glowing reviews) is the move.
In this edition of Freelance Forward, we’re giving you a no-BS, step-by-step strategy to collect, manage, and showcase testimonials. Because it’s not just about getting praise, it’s about using it strategically.
Ready to turn your clients into your hype squad? Let’s get into it.
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Why Testimonials Matter (Especially in Mzansi)
Let’s be real, when someone lands on your site or sees your service, their first question is: “Can I trust this oke?” And they’re right to ask. Scams are rampant, options are overwhelming, and the freelance market is noisy AF.
Enter: testimonials. These beauties do the selling for you.
🔹 88% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
🔹 90% of buyers check testimonials before buying
🔹 Testimonials with names, faces, or social handles convert WAY better
And the best part? They’re free. You already earned the praise, now we’re gonna collect it properly.
Step 1: Build Your Feedback Form Strategy
Let’s start by setting up a feedback form that’s easy, fast, and feels like you. You don’t want your clients writing 3-page essays or wondering, “What must I say?”
Use a tool like:
Google Forms – Free, slick, and sends results to a spreadsheet.
Typeform – Great if you want a fancier UX.
Senja.io – Built for testimonials. Collects, organizes, and displays them beautifully (free plan available!).
Ask 3–4 questions like:
“What was the biggest change you noticed after working with me?”
“What did you love most?”
“Would you recommend me to others? Why?”
Bonus: Ask for their name, social handle, or photo (totally optional).
Don’t forget to include:
✅ A permission checkbox so you’re legally in the clear
✅ A sprinkle of SA-flavour: use local slang or emojis in the form, “Spill the tea on your experience👇” hits harder than “Please fill in the survey.”
Step 2: Craft Sleek Email Templates for Testimonial Requests
Now that your form is ready, it’s time to ask. But here’s the deal: ask after a win, not when they’re ghosting you or mid-project stress.
🛠️ Freebie Alert: Download our Step-by-Step: Build Your Testimonial Form in Google Forms Guide 👇🏼
When to ask:
✅ After they say “thank you”
✅ After a launch or client win
✅ When they reply to your newsletter raving
✅ After they use your tool/template and love it
Example Email (If Profreelance had to request a testimonial):
Hey [Name],
Hope you’re smashing those freelance goals! I’m buzzing that you found [template/product/advice] useful.
Can I ask a tiny favour? Would you mind sharing a quick testimonial? It helps other Saffa freelancers find real, no-BS support, and fuels my mission to end underpayment and overwhelm 😅
Just 2 minutes: [Insert your form link here]
No pressure, but I’d seriously appreciate it.
You rock,
[Your Name]
Pro Tips:
Keep it short and friendly
Add a touch of humour: “Promise it’s not a pyramid scheme 😜”
Personalise where you can, mention something they gained
Step 3: Master the Timing & Approach
Timing isn’t everything, but it’s close. Your goal is to ask when your client or subscriber is still riding that dopamine wave.
Best Practices:
Ask while the win is fresh (within a few days of a good outcome)
Keep the ask relatable and local, don’t switch into “Dear Sir/Madam” mode
Remind them that it helps the community, not just you
Make it easy. Don’t say, “Write a paragraph.” Say: “One sentence is perfect!”
Incentivize Lightly:
Offer a small discount, a small shoutout, or even a custom digital product.
Step 4: Where & How to Flaunt Your Testimonials
Once you’ve got those juicy reviews, it’s time to put them to work. Display them in smart ways that grab attention and build trust.
Add testimonials to:
Your website – Create a Testimonial page or drop quotes across your home/services pages.
Instagram stories – Highlight them under “Testimonials”
LinkedIn posts – Share a win, tag the client (with permission)
Want to go fancy?
Senja.io lets you embed a slick carousel or grid of testimonials on your site (no dev skills needed).
Canva has free testimonial post templates, just pop in your client’s quote and boom, you’ve got social proof with style.
Step 5: Create a Follow-Up System That Doesn’t SuckLet’s be honest, sometimes people don’t reply. Life happens. But a gentle nudge can go a long way.
Try this:
Wait 5–7 days, then send this follow-up:
Subject: Just checking in 👀
Hey [Name], just wanted to check if you saw my email last week!
Would still love your feedback (promise it’s not a pyramid scheme 😜).
Here’s the link again: [Insert form link]
Either way, you’re a legend.
If they still don’t respond after one or two tries, move on. Focus on those who are ready to sing your praises.
Track It:
Use a Notion board or Google Sheet with:
Who you asked
When you followed up
Whether they responded
Where their testimonial is displayed
Keep it simple, but consistent. Over time, you’ll have a whole library of trusted content at your fingertips.
Your Turn: Build Your Testimonial Engine
If you’re tired of telling people what you can do and ready to start showing them, this is your sign to start collecting testimonials. Not next month. Now.
🔹 Set up your form
🔹 Draft your request email
🔹 Ask after your next client win
🔹 Turn your testimonials into content gold
🔹 And don’t forget to tag me when you launch that, I wanna see it!
Your future clients are lurking. Let your past ones do the talking.
You’ve got this.
— The Profreelance Crew
🛠️ Tool of the Week: Senja.io
Peep the testimonials on their site 👀
What it does:
Senja is a free (yup, free!) tool that helps freelancers collect, manage, and beautifully display testimonials, without needing a designer or a developer.
🔥 Why freelancers love it:
⚡️ Super-easy testimonial collection forms (with image/video support!)
🎨 Auto-generates social media graphics for Insta, Twitter & LinkedIn
🌈 Embeddable “Wall of Love” widgets for your website (no code needed)
📦 Organizes all your testimonials in one central hub
💸 Price:
Free plan includes unlimited testimonials, unlimited forms, and social post exports
Paid plans unlock branding and widgets, but you can totally thrive on free
🎯 Use it for:
Sharing success stories from clients
Collecting praise after a coaching session or product download
Making your portfolio or website shout “I’m legit” without you saying a word
Resource Archive
🔗 Sign up for Fiverr - Powerful Freelance Platform
🔗 Freelance Rate Calculator Bot - AI Chat Bot created just for SA Freelancers
🔗 Clockify - World’s #1 free time tracker trusted by millions.
🔗 Freelancer Spotlight - Be considered to be featured in an upcoming issue of Freelance Forward
🔗 Freelancer Stalker Mode Tracker - Notion template used to study your competitors ethically
🔗 Pumble - Free all-in-one team communication app
🔗 Proposal Assistant Bot - This little legend drafts your proposals for you
PROFREELANCE (Pty) Ltd
2023/279056/07
The content in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or professional advice. Pro Freelance and Freelance Forward are not affiliated with or endorsed by the platforms or tools mentioned (unless stated otherwise), and we are not liable for any losses, damages, or issues arising from your use of them. Always do your own research before making decisions related to your freelance business.