🫣 Stop hiding your wins

The Progress Report | February 4, 2025

Nobody likes asking for compliments. It's that moment of cringe that makes your stomach do a little flip, like when someone starts singing Happy Birthday to you in public.

But testimonials aren't compliments—they're proof. And when you're building a business, proof matters more than promises.

WEEKLY INSIGHT

Sara Blakely wasn't born comfortable with self-promotion. When she first created Spanx, she did something that would make most people cringe: she started hanging out in department store bathrooms.

Not to be weird—to get feedback. She'd wait for women to enter the changing rooms, then ask if they'd try her product and share their honest thoughts. No fancy surveys. No automated emails. Just authentic conversations about what worked and what didn't.

That “unprofessional” approach built a billion-dollar brand, all because Blakely understood something crucial: your customers' voices are more powerful than your own. 

Those early bathroom conversations weren't just feedback. They were real-time market research that shaped everything from product design to sales strategy. 

When you know exactly how your ideal customer describes their problems, you never have to guess what to say; your marketing writes itself and your sales conversations feel like déjà vu.

Blakely turned awkward bathroom conversations into a system for growth. While you don't need to stake out changing rooms, you do need a reliable way to capture and leverage customer feedback. 

Luckily, modern tools make this process far less cringeworthy than impromptu bathroom chats.

INTENT TO ACTION

Asking for testimonials doesn’t have to feel like asking for a favor. Here are two approaches that work (that you can do within 30 minutes):

The Direct Approach (Blakely Style. Better for early-stage ventures)

Reach out directly, right after your customer's moment of success. “Hey [name], I noticed you just [achieved specific result]. Would you mind sharing how this helped you? Your experience could really help others who are facing similar challenges.”

The Automated Approach (Better for ventures who’ve already found PMF)

Use a tool like Boast.io or AskNicely to automatically request testimonials after key milestones (like a successful project completion or positive support interaction). 

The magic here is timing. You're intending to catch people when they're already feeling good about your work.

Structuring Your Request

Regardless of your approach, touching on these three questions will consistently deliver powerful testimonials:

1. What challenge were you facing?

2. What changed after working with us?

3. What would you tell someone considering this solution?

This framework creates a natural story arc within testimonials that future customers can relate to.

You don’t need to be embarrassed when asking for testimonials. Your customers want to share their wins—it makes their investment in you look smart. All you have to do is make it easy for them.

Next week, we'll explore how to turn these testimonials into content that converts.

See you then.