What’s social proof, and why do I need it?
Social proof (AKA testimonials, referrals, recommendations, endorsements) is a measure of the trust you’ve built in the eyes of other credible people & organizations.
By endorsing you, they are putting their reputation on the line. That’s why it works wonders for positioning you as a valuable asset to any company, and eventually as an expert in your field.
Many people try to get hired at renowned companies like Google and Amazon because those logos (and companies) are widely recognized and respected. The more known and respected the organization/individual, the more credibility you earn from them.
But, even if you don’t have Big Name work experience, you can still gather your own social proof.
Gathering testimonials
The simplest & best way to get testimonials is to ask for recommendations on LinkedIn, because everyone knows it’s (currently) the #1 professional social network.
Requesting recommendations on LinkedIn is simple—just go to the person’s profile, click More, and Request a recommendation.
Not sure what to say? LinkedIn has default text, but here are some alternative templates:
Heyname! I’m trying to build my credibility as a[marketing]professional, and a testimonial from you would mean a lot. Would you mind writing a short recommendation about your experience working with me at[Acme]?
Hiname, I really enjoyed working with you onProject. Would you be open to writing me a quick recommendation about my contributions as theUX designeron the team?
When you have some time, I would love a short recommendation from you about your experienceworking on XYZwith me—hopefully focused on mycopywriting and brand strategywork. Thanks so much!
Once you’ve received the testimonials, it’s time to use them.
Using testimonials on your website
This step is crucial. Your personal website should always be the single, official, canonical source of information on you. It’s not enough to rely on LinkedIn only, anymore.
Whether you’re using my Notion Personal Website template or something else, copy & paste the testimonial content onto your website, including their name & photo:
You can also cherry-pick short phrases for a powerful rapid-fire effect, like how many books and films are marketed:
Have fun gathering & featuring your testimonials prominently on your website—they will do 80% of the work convincing others you’re worth hiring.
Don’t have a website yet? Duplicate Jérémy’s!