Why a Good Request Email Matters
The difference between a 5% and a 25% testimonial response rate often comes down to one thing: how you ask. A generic "please leave us a review" email gets ignored. A specific, well-timed, easy-to-act-on request gets results.
Below are five proven email templates for different situations. Each one is designed to be personal, low-friction, and respectful of your customer's time. Copy them, customize them for your brand, and start collecting.
Template 1: Post-Purchase Request
Best for: E-commerce, SaaS, or service businesses, 7-14 days after purchase.
Why it works: The customer has had enough time to use your product but the experience is still fresh. Tying the request to their specific purchase makes it feel personal rather than automated.
Subject line: How's everything going with [Product Name]?
Hi [First Name],
I hope you've been enjoying [Product Name]! You've had it for about a week now, and I'd love to hear how it's working out for you.
Would you mind sharing a quick testimonial about your experience? Just a sentence or two about what you liked or how it helped you is all it takes.
[Share Your Experience] (button/link)
It takes less than 2 minutes and helps other customers like you make confident decisions.
Thank you!
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Tips for this template:
- Reference the specific product they purchased
- Send on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday morning for best open rates
- Keep the call-to-action button prominent and above the fold
Template 2: Milestone Celebration
Best for: SaaS products and services where you can track customer achievements.
Why it works: Celebrating a milestone puts the customer in a positive mindset. They are more likely to share feedback when they feel accomplished and valued.
Subject line: You just hit [milestone]! We're celebrating with you.
Hi [First Name],
Big news: you just [hit milestone, e.g., "completed your 100th project" / "been with us for 6 months" / "processed your 1,000th order"]. That's a real achievement, and we're thrilled to be part of your journey.
Since you've had such a great run with [Product Name], would you be open to sharing a quick testimonial about your experience? Your story could inspire others who are just getting started.
[Share Your Story] (button/link)
No pressure at all. But if you have 2 minutes, we'd genuinely appreciate it.
Cheers,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Tips for this template:
- Be specific about the milestone, use real data if possible
- The celebration tone makes this feel like a reward, not a request
- Works especially well with automated triggers based on usage data
Template 3: After a Great Support Interaction
Best for: Any business with a customer support team.
Why it works: A resolved support issue creates a strong emotional moment. The customer just went from frustrated to relieved, and that gratitude is a powerful motivator for leaving positive feedback.
Subject line: Glad we could help! One quick favor?
Hi [First Name],
I'm happy we were able to resolve your recent [issue type] quickly. Making sure you have a great experience is always our priority.
Since you mentioned things are working well now, would you be willing to share a brief testimonial about your experience? It helps other customers know they can count on us.
[Leave a Testimonial] (button/link)
Totally optional, of course. Either way, don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything else.
Best,
[Your Name / Support Team Name]
[Company Name]
Tips for this template:
- Only send this after clearly positive support outcomes
- Reference the specific issue to show you are paying attention
- Keep the tone warm and grateful, never transactional
Template 4: Re-Engagement Request
Best for: Long-term customers who have never been asked, or inactive customers returning.
Why it works: Long-term customers have deep experience with your product. Their testimonials tend to be more detailed and credible because they can speak to sustained value, not just first impressions.
Subject line: Your experience matters to us, [First Name]
Hi [First Name],
You've been with [Company Name] for [time period], and we truly value having you as a customer. Your experience and perspective mean a lot to us.
We'd love to hear from you. Would you be open to sharing a short testimonial about your experience with [Product Name]? What's worked well, what results you've seen, or why you've continued using it are all great things to mention.
[Share Your Thoughts] (button/link)
It takes about 2 minutes and helps us reach more people who could benefit from [Product Name] the way you have.
Thank you for being part of our community.
Warmly,
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Tips for this template:
- Personalize the time period ("You've been with us for 2 years...")
- Suggest specific topics to make it easier to write something
- This template has slightly higher word count, which is fine for long-term relationships
Template 5: Video Testimonial Request
Best for: Your most enthusiastic customers, brand advocates, or case study candidates.
Why it works: Video testimonials are the most persuasive form of social proof, but they require more effort. This template reduces the intimidation factor by providing clear structure and setting expectations about length.
Subject line: Would you share your story on camera? (It's easier than you think!)
Hi [First Name],
You've had some incredible results with [Product Name], and I think your story could really resonate with others who are considering [your solution category].
Would you be open to recording a quick 60-second video testimonial? No fancy equipment needed, your phone works perfectly. Here are a few prompts to guide you:
- What challenge were you facing before using [Product Name]?
- How has [Product Name] helped you?
- What specific results have you seen?
Just hit record, answer those three questions, and you're done. It usually takes 2-3 minutes total.
If you'd prefer text instead, that's completely fine too. The link above supports both.
Thanks so much, [First Name]. Your story genuinely matters to us.
[Your Name]
[Company Name]
Tips for this template:
- Only send to your happiest, most engaged customers
- The three guided questions make video feel approachable instead of open-ended
- Explicitly mention that phone quality is fine to lower the barrier
Automate Your Testimonial Collection
Writing and sending these emails manually works, but it does not scale. As your customer base grows, you need a system.
PraisedBy lets you create shareable testimonial request links and customizable collection forms that you can embed in your email sequences or link from any campaign. When customers submit, PraisedBy's AI automatically enhances grammar, tags by topic, and analyzes sentiment, turning raw feedback into polished, organized social proof.
The platform handles both text and video submissions through a single link, so templates 1 through 5 all point to the same easy collection experience. No switching tools, no manual processing.
You can get started for free and have your first collection link ready in under two minutes.