Nobody Trusts “Nice” Testimonials. Here’s How to Make Yours Actually Matter.

You’ve probably read testimonials like this before:
“She’s amazing!”
“This changed my life.”
“I couldn’t recommend him more.”

It feels good to receive praise.
But when the words are vague or generic, they don’t build trust.
They create a moment of appreciation, not a reason to say yes.

If you want your testimonials to work, really work, they need to do more than sound nice.
They need to speak to what your future client is afraid to ask:
Will this actually work for me?

Let’s make sure your testimonials answer that clearly.

Most testimonials are too polite to be powerful

A kind testimonial is flattering.
But a helpful testimonial is specific.

The difference is this:

▪ Kind: “I loved working with her.”

▪ Helpful: “I was stuck rewriting my offer for months. Within a week of working with her, I booked two clients using the new version.”

See the shift?

One compliments you.
The other reassures the next buyer that change is possible.

Guide the story, don’t just request feedback

Most people don’t know what to write in a testimonial.
They’ll default to “You’re amazing!” unless you ask something better.

Try this instead:

“Would you be open to sharing what things felt like before we worked together, what changed for you, and what you’d tell someone thinking about working with me?”

This gives them structure.
It helps them tell the story that builds trust, without putting pressure on them to “say the right thing.”

Make the shift visible: from before to after

Your future clients want to see a transformation.
Even a small one.

Powerful testimonials don’t list features.
They name the before and after clearly.

Examples:

▪ “Before working together, I was overthinking every post. Now I have clarity and a consistent plan that actually brings people in.”

▪ “I didn’t believe I could charge more. After one session, I raised my prices and got a yes without hesitation.”

▪ “I had no confidence in how I looked online. After launching my new brand, I started showing up again.”

These aren’t long.
They’re real.

Want to see what powerful testimonials actually look like? This video shows real examples of social proof that builds trust without sounding salesy.

 

Balance emotional and tangible results

Some people care about numbers.
Others care about how something feels.

Use both.

Emotional examples:

▪ “I finally feel like myself online.”

▪ “I stopped doubting everything I posted.”

▪ “I feel seen, not sold to.”

Tangible examples:

▪ “I signed 3 clients in 10 days after updating my offer.”

▪ “My first reel hit 100k views after applying what we talked about.”

▪ “I filled my program without a single ad.”

Both are true.
Together, they build trust faster.

Don’t bury your testimonials

The best proof should never be hidden on a separate tab.

Place them:

▪ Under each offer

▪ In your About section

▪ In between key sections on your homepage

▪ Inside launch emails

▪ As carousel posts

▪ In the caption of a reel

▪ In story highlights

When someone is thinking, “Could this work for me?”
Put someone else’s voice right there to say, “It worked for me.”

What we help clients do at Avramify

At Avramify, we help brands build visible, believable trust, the kind that moves quietly but powerfully.

That means:

▪ Asking the right questions to collect strong testimonials

▪ Shaping them into short, high-impact stories

▪ Placing them exactly where they reduce doubt and increase action

You don’t need to beg for feedback.
You need to guide the words that create clarity and confidence for the next person reading.

We’ll help you do that.

Final Thought

A vague compliment might make you feel good.
But a specific story can make someone say yes.

Your testimonials don’t need to be longer.
They need to be clearer.
They need to speak to the truth your audience is hoping to believe.

Someone is already thinking about working with you.
Let your past clients finish the sentence for them.