Scripts to say out loud
Ask for a Testimonial in Person
The moment a client says “this is brilliant” across the table is the best time to ask, and the worst time to improvise. These scripts are written to be spoken: short sentences, an easy way to say no, and a handover so the testimonial gets written later instead of promised and forgotten.
- Fifteen seconds, out loud
- An easy out, so yes means yes
- Hand over a QR code before they leave
Script builder
Build your spoken ask
Choose the moment, fill in the blanks, and read it aloud once before you use it. If a sentence feels unnatural in your mouth, change it.
- Catch the compliment
Say it while they are still smiling. Pause after the question.
“That means a lot, [Dana], thank you. Would you be up for saying that, about [the garden looks twice the size], in a couple of lines for other people thinking about [the garden redesign]? Totally fine if not.”
- If they offer to “leave a review”
“That would be great. The easiest way is this code, it takes you straight to a short form. You can type, or just record a quick video or voice note if that is easier.”
Scripts are put together in your browser. Nothing is saved.
The problem, solved
Why spoken asks fizzle, and how StoryProof catches them
Asking in person gets a yes more often than email. Turning that yes into a testimonial is where it slips.
- Problem 1
They say yes, then never do it
A verbal yes has no link attached, so by the time the client is home it is a vague promise with no next step.
How StoryProof solves it
Show your collection link as a QR code on your phone or a card, so they can open the form before you part.
- Problem 2
Clients hate writing but love talking
The client who praised you warmly for five minutes freezes in front of an empty text box.
How StoryProof solves it
The same link lets them record a short video or audio note in the browser instead of typing, with no app to install.
- Problem 3
I forget to follow up after the meeting
Back at your desk, the promised “I will send you the link” loses to the next client.
How StoryProof solves it
Add them to your contacts and send the request by email. On a plan with automations, reminders follow and stop as soon as they respond.
- Problem 4
A rushed answer is not ready to publish
Something recorded in a car park two minutes after the meeting can include names or details nobody meant to share.
How StoryProof solves it
Every submission waits in your queue until you approve it, so you can check it before it appears anywhere.
Prompts
Reading the room
A spoken ask is about timing as much as words. These cues help you choose the moment, or skip it.
Good moments to ask
- Right after they compliment the work unprompted
- When they sign off the finished job
- When they mention telling a friend about you
Leave it for another day
- Ask by email in a week instead
Leave out
- While an invoice or a complaint is still open
- When they are clearly in a hurry
- In front of their colleagues or family, where saying no is awkward
In StoryProof
Before and after the conversation
Step 1 of 4
Have the QR code ready before the meeting
Save the QR code for your collection link to your phone, or print it on a card you carry.
Step 2 of 4
Ask once, then hand over
Use the script, pause for an answer, and if it is yes, show the code. They can record, type or leave an audio note later.
Step 3 of 4
Email the link the same day
Add the client as a contact and send the request so the link is in their inbox, with reminders on a plan with automations.
Step 4 of 4
Approve and thank
Read what comes in, approve it, and thank them the next time you see them.
Before you start
Limits worth being honest about
StoryProof does not record the conversation
What a client says to you in person is not captured. They submit their testimonial through the link afterwards.
A spoken yes is not consent to quote
Do not write down what they said and publish it. Ask them to submit it, so the words are theirs and they chose to share them.
Reminders go by email
If you only have a phone number, the follow-up is yours to send by hand.
Ask each client once
One spoken ask and one written follow-up is enough. Asking again at every visit turns a favour into pressure.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Short answers to what usually comes up next.
Is it awkward to ask for a testimonial face to face?
Less than you expect, if you ask right after they have praised you and give them an easy way to say no. The awkward part is usually the silence after the question, so let it sit.
Should I ask them to record a video right there?
Only if they offer. Most people prefer to do it later, somewhere quiet. Hand over the link and let them choose.
Can I write down what they said and use it?
Not without their agreement to that exact wording. The cleaner route is asking them to submit it through your form.
What if they say no?
Say “no problem at all” and move on. Do not follow up by email unless they said yes or “later”.
Still have a question? Ask the StoryProof team or book a demo.
Get your QR code before the next meeting
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Last updated 2026-11-05.