Before you publish
Score a testimonial before you put it on your website
Some testimonials persuade and some just take up space. Rate one against seven plain criteria and you get a score, a verdict and the specific fix for anything that falls short.
- Seven criteria buyers notice, scored in a minute
- A fix for every weak spot
- Copy the result into your review notes
Free scorecard
Rate one testimonial
Have the testimonial in front of you. Answer yes, partly or no for each line.
Scored in your browser. Nothing is sent or saved.
The problem, solved
Where picking testimonials by gut feel goes wrong, and how StoryProof backs the score
- Problem 1
Vague praise ends up in the best spots
Chosen on instinct, a “love it, highly recommend” line sits under the hero while a testimonial with a real result waits in the archive.
How StoryProof solves it
You decide which approved testimonials go into each widget, so a high scorer can lead the homepage while the middling ones live on your Wall of Love.
- Problem 2
Submissions go live before anyone rates them
If testimonials publish themselves, nobody gets the chance to confirm permission or notice a price you dropped last year.
How StoryProof solves it
Nothing a customer sends or you import is shown anywhere until you approve it, which gives the scorecard a fixed place in the routine.
- Problem 3
Last month’s verdicts are already forgotten
You scored forty testimonials in March, and by April nobody remembers which ones were cleared for the pricing page.
How StoryProof solves it
Tags are included on every plan, so the verdict and the intended placement stay attached to the testimonial itself.
- Problem 4
The customer’s answer was too thin
A one-line reply cannot name a result, and rewriting it to sound stronger would put your words in their mouth.
How StoryProof solves it
A fresh StoryProof collection link with one pointed question lets them add the missing detail in the browser, as a video, an audio note or typed lines.
Prompts
Questions that turn a weak testimonial into a strong one
If a testimonial scored low on specificity, send the customer one of these. Most people are glad to add a sentence.
It is vague
- What were you doing before you used it?
- What is one thing that is easier now?
It is generic praise of the team
- Was there a moment the team made a difference? What happened?
It is all features
- What did that feature let you stop doing?
- Who on your team noticed first?
In StoryProof
Use the score in StoryProof
- 1
Score before you approve
New testimonials wait in your inbox until you approve them, which is the natural moment to run the scorecard.
- 2
Tag by verdict
Tags such as “feature”, “wall only” or “needs follow-up” make the next decision quick.
- 3
Ask for more where the score was low
Send the customer a follow-up question through a collection link. They can answer by video, audio or text.
- 4
Put the top scorers in your prominent widgets
You pick which approved testimonials each widget shows, so the strongest ones go where most buyers will see them.
What happens next: Score a handful together with a colleague the first time. Agreeing on what “specific” means makes everyone’s later scores consistent.
Before you start
What a score cannot tell you
What this does not cover, and what to check on your side. Better to know now than after launch.
- 01
It is a judgement aid
The scorecard structures a decision. It does not measure how a testimonial performs with your visitors; only testing does.
- 02
Low scores are not bad customers
A vague testimonial usually means a vague question. Improve the prompt for next time.
- 03
Never improve the words yourself
Fixes come from the customer. Rewriting their testimonial to score higher makes it yours, not theirs.
- 04
Score it for one placement
The same testimonial can suit a reviews page and fail next to a pricing button. Decide where it will go before you rate the length and buyer-question lines.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Short answers to what usually comes up next.
Is a short testimonial worse than a long one?
No. A short testimonial with a specific result often beats a long, general one. Length only matters relative to where it will appear.
Can I edit a testimonial to make it clearer?
Trimming for length is common, but the meaning must not change. If you need to change more, ask the customer to approve the new version.
Should I score mixed or critical testimonials too?
Yes, the same way. A mixed review with a specific result and clear permission can read as more credible than unqualified praise, so do not drop it for its tone alone.
When should a published testimonial be scored again?
Whenever something it mentions changes, such as a price, a feature or the customer’s job title. The attribution and “today” lines are the ones that go out of date.
Still have a question? Ask the StoryProof team or book a demo.
Publish only the testimonials that earn it
Review every submission before it goes live, tag it by verdict and put the best where buyers decide.
Last updated 2026-11-04.