Solodoer Tutorials | Testimonials Setup

Last Updated: Oct 30, 2025

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Solodoer Tutorials | Testimonials Setup

Testimonials Setup Tutorial

The Testimonials app allows you to collect and display customer testimonials and reviews on your website. Testimonials are powerful social proof that builds trust, credibility, and confidence in your business.

Note: Setting up Testimonials is optional but highly recommended if you want to showcase positive customer feedback and build trust with potential clients.

What You'll Learn

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to:

Understand what Testimonials are and why they're important for your business
Access the Testimonials app from your dashboard
Create your first testimonial with client details and ratings
Link testimonials to existing clients
Add star ratings to testimonials
Edit and update existing testimonials
Delete testimonials when needed
Search through your testimonial list
Best practices for collecting and displaying testimonials

Understanding Testimonials

What are Testimonials?

Testimonials are statements from satisfied customers that describe their positive experience with your business, products, or services. They serve as social proof that validates your business value to potential customers.

A testimonial typically includes:

Client Information - Who provided the testimonial
Rating - Star rating (1-5 stars)
Description - The testimonial text or review

Example Testimonials:

"Working with this team was an absolute pleasure. They delivered our website on time, within budget, and exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended!"

"Excellent service! The consultant provided valuable insights that helped us increase our revenue by 30%. Professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with."

"I've been using their services for over a year now, and I couldn't be happier. The quality is consistently excellent, and customer support is outstanding."

Why Are Testimonials Important?

Build Trust - Authentic reviews from real customers create credibility
Social Proof - Show that others have had positive experiences
Increase Conversions - Testimonials help convince prospects to become customers
Address Concerns - Reviews can answer questions potential clients have
SEO Benefits - Fresh customer content helps with search rankings
Showcase Results - Demonstrate the value you provide to clients
Competitive Advantage - Stand out from competitors without reviews

Before You Begin

To complete this tutorial, you should have:

Completed the Domain Setup Tutorial - Your domain must be configured
Completed the Clients Setup Tutorial - You need clients to link testimonials to
Access to your business dashboard at www.solodoer.com/dashboard
At least one client created in the Clients app
Permission from clients to use their testimonials publicly

Important: Testimonials are linked to clients in your Clients app. You must have at least one client created before adding testimonials. If you haven't set up clients yet, visit the Clients Tutorial first.

Accessing the Testimonials App

To access the Testimonials app:

Log in to your Solodoer Dashboard
Find your business card on the dashboard
Click the "Manage Apps" button on your business card
You'll be redirected to Manage Apps page
Click on the "Testimonials" card to open the Testimonials app
You'll be redirected to Testimonials page

If you haven't added any testimonials yet, you'll see an empty state with the message "No Testimonials here" and instructions to click "Add Testimonials" button.

Viewing Your Testimonials

The Testimonials page displays all your testimonials in a card-based layout.

Testimonial Card Display

Each testimonial card shows:

Rating - "Ratings: [X] / 5" as the card title
Action Menu - Three-dot menu with Edit and Delete options
Description - The testimonial text
Created at - When the testimonial was created
Modified at - When the testimonial was last modified

Searching Testimonials

Use the search bar at the top to find specific testimonials:

Type your search term in the search box
Testimonials are filtered by description text
Results update as you type

Step 1: Creating Your First Testimonial

Let's add your first client testimonial.

Navigate to Add Testimonial Page

Go to the Testimonials page
Click the "Add Testimonials" button at the top
You'll be redirected to Manage Testimonials page

Understanding the Testimonial Form

The testimonial form consists of one main card called "Testimonials Section" where you'll enter:

Client - The client who provided this testimonial (required)
Description - The testimonial text or review (3-250 characters)
Ratings - Star rating from 1 to 5 stars (required)

Important: The form will display the description: "Your website's testimonial section will be generated based on the information below. Ensure provided details are correct and up-to-date so customers can easily understand your services' testimonial."

Step 2: Linking to a Client

Every testimonial must be linked to a client in your Clients app. This associates the testimonial with a specific customer.

Prerequisites

Before linking a testimonial to a client:

Ensure you've created clients in the Clients app
Visit the Clients Tutorial if you haven't set up clients yet
Make sure the client has given permission to use their testimonial

Adding a Client to Your Testimonial

On the Manage Testimonials page, find the Client field:

Click the "Choose Client" button
The Client Dialog will open showing all your existing clients
Click on any client card to select it for your testimonial
The dialog will close and the client will be linked to your testimonial

Client Dialog Features:

Refresh Button:

Located at the top left
Click to reload the latest clients from the server
Useful if you just created new clients in another tab

Add Client Button:

Located at the top right
Redirects you to the Add Client page
Use this to create new clients without leaving the testimonial form
After creating a client, return to the testimonial form and click Refresh in the Client Dialog

Selecting Clients:

Browse the scrollable list of available clients
Click on any client card to select it
Each client card shows the client name and has an edit option

Important: Each testimonial must be linked to exactly one client. You cannot save a testimonial without selecting a client.

Step 3: Writing the Testimonial Description

The description is the testimonial text - the actual words your client said about your business.

Description Field

Find the Description field on the form
Enter the testimonial text (3-250 characters)

Description Writing Tips

Capture Authentic Client Voice:

Use the client's exact words when possible
Keep their natural language and tone
Don't overly edit or "marketing-ify" the testimonial
Authentic testimonials are more believable

Get Specific Details:

Encourage clients to mention specific results
Include numbers, timeframes, or outcomes when possible
Specific testimonials are more credible than generic praise
Address particular benefits or features

Keep It Concise:

Focus on the most impactful parts of the review
Edit for clarity but preserve meaning
Break long testimonials into key highlights
Stay within the 250-character limit

Address Key Concerns:

Include testimonials that address common objections
Cover different aspects of your service
Showcase various benefits (quality, speed, support, value)
Help prospects see themselves in the testimonial

Example Testimonial Descriptions:

Good - Specific and Detailed:

"Our website traffic increased 150% in just 3 months after working with this team. They delivered exactly what they promised - on time and within budget. The design is beautiful and our customers love the user experience. Highly recommended!"

Good - Problem-Solution Format:

"We were struggling with our old website - slow, outdated, and hard to update. This company transformed our online presence. The new site loads instantly, looks professional, and we can easily make updates ourselves. Game changer for our business!"

Good - Results-Focused:

"Best investment we made this year! Our online sales doubled after launching the new site. The team was professional, responsive, and really understood our industry. Worth every penny."

Less Effective - Too Generic:

"Great service. Very professional."

Less Effective - Too Vague:

"They did a good job on my website. I'm happy with it."

Asking Clients for Testimonials

Best Practices for Collecting Testimonials:

Timing Matters:

Ask when the client is most satisfied (after successful project completion)
Send request shortly after positive feedback or milestone
Don't wait too long - capture enthusiasm while fresh
Follow up if needed but don't be pushy

Make It Easy:

Provide specific questions to guide their response
Offer to write a draft they can approve/edit
Keep the process simple with minimal effort required
Allow various formats (written, video, audio transcription)

Ask Specific Questions:

"What specific results did you see?"
"What was your biggest concern before working with us?"
"How did our service help your business?"
"Would you recommend us? If so, why?"
"What stood out most about working with us?"

Get Permission:

Always ask permission to use testimonials publicly
Clarify where testimonials will be displayed (website, marketing)
Offer option to use first name only or remain anonymous
Respect privacy preferences and be transparent

Step 4: Adding Star Ratings

Star ratings provide a quick visual indicator of customer satisfaction.

Ratings Field

Find the Ratings field on the form
You'll see 5 star icons in a row
The stars are interactive and respond to hover and click

Rating Guidelines

When to Use Each Rating:

5 Stars - Exceptional:

Client extremely satisfied and enthusiastic
Results exceeded expectations
Would highly recommend without hesitation
No complaints or issues

4 Stars - Very Good:

Client very satisfied with minor suggestions
Results met or slightly exceeded expectations
Would recommend with confidence
Small areas for improvement

3 Stars - Good:

Client satisfied but not enthusiastic
Results met basic expectations
Might recommend with caveats
Room for improvement

2 Stars - Fair:

Client somewhat dissatisfied
Results below expectations
Would not recommend strongly
Significant issues occurred

1 Star - Poor:

Client very dissatisfied
Results failed to meet expectations
Would not recommend
Major problems

Best Practice: Only showcase 4-5 star testimonials publicly on your website. Lower ratings can be kept private for internal feedback and improvement purposes.

Step 5: Understanding Testimonial Visibility

Testimonials don't have their own public/private setting. Instead, they inherit visibility from the linked client.

How Testimonial Visibility Works

Important: Whether a testimonial appears on your website depends entirely on the client's Public setting in the Clients app.

If Client is Public:

Testimonial will be displayed on your website
Client name and information may be shown with the testimonial
Star rating and description will be visible to visitors
Perfect for showcasing social proof

If Client is Private:

Testimonial will NOT be displayed on your website
Testimonial remains in your dashboard for internal records
Useful for collecting feedback without public display
Client privacy is protected

Making a Testimonial Public

To make a testimonial visible on your website:

Go to the Clients app
Find the client linked to the testimonial
Click the three-dot menu and select "Edit"
Set the Public field to True
Click "Save & Submit"
The testimonial will now appear on your website

Important Considerations:

Always get permission before setting a client to Public
Making a client public will display:
- All testimonials linked to that client
- Client name (on testimonials)
- Client company information (if business client)
You cannot selectively make only certain testimonials public for a client
All testimonials for a public client will be visible

Best Practice: Only set clients to Public = True after they've explicitly given permission to showcase their testimonial and information on your website.

Step 6: Save and Submit Your Testimonial

After completing all fields, it's time to save your testimonial.

Review Your Testimonial

Before submitting, verify:

Client - Correct client selected
Description - Testimonial text is accurate and compelling (3-250 characters)
Ratings - Star rating reflects the client's satisfaction (1-5 stars)
Permission - Client has authorized public use of their testimonial

Submit Your Testimonial

At the top of the page, click the "Save & Submit" button
Your testimonial will be saved to the server
You'll see a success message
You'll be redirected back to the Testimonials page

Managing Your Testimonials

Editing a Testimonial

To update an existing testimonial:

Go to the Testimonials page
Find the testimonial card you want to edit
Click the three-dot menu icon on the card
Select "Edit Testimonial" from the dropdown menu
You'll be redirected to the Manage Testimonials page
All existing data will be pre-filled, including:
- Selected client
- Description text
- Star rating
Make your changes
Click "Save & Submit" when done

When to Edit:

Testimonial text needs correction or clarification
Client wants to update their review
Rating needs adjustment
Link to different client (if testimonial was misattributed)
Improve formatting or readability

Deleting a Testimonial

To remove a testimonial:

Go to the Testimonials page
Find the testimonial card you want to delete
Click the three-dot menu icon on the card
Select "Delete Testimonial" from the dropdown menu
A Delete Dialog will appear
Review the testimonial details in the dialog
Click "Yes, I'm sure" to permanently delete

Warning: Deleting a testimonial is permanent and cannot be undone.

When to Delete:

Client requests removal (privacy or business reasons)
Testimonial is outdated or no longer relevant
Client relationship ended poorly
Testimonial contains inaccurate information
Duplicate testimonial exists
Low rating (1-3 stars) that shouldn't be showcased publicly

Note: Deleting a testimonial does NOT delete the associated client from the Clients app. The client remains available for other purposes (projects, appointments, etc.).

Best Practices

Testimonial Collection Strategy

Proactive Collection:

Request testimonials from every satisfied client
Make testimonial requests part of your project completion process
Send follow-up emails asking for feedback
Offer incentives if appropriate (discount on future services)

Quality Over Quantity:

Better to have 10 excellent testimonials than 50 mediocre ones
Focus on collecting detailed, specific testimonials
Prioritize testimonials that address key concerns or objections
Feature your best testimonials prominently

Diversify Your Testimonials:

Collect testimonials covering different services
Include various client types (industries, sizes, locations)
Showcase different benefits (quality, speed, value, support)
Feature testimonials addressing different buyer concerns

Keep Testimonials Fresh:

Regularly request new testimonials
Update outdated testimonials
Archive old testimonials if circumstances change
Add recent testimonials to show current satisfaction

Displaying Testimonials Effectively

Star Ratings:

Only showcase 4-5 star testimonials publicly
Keep lower ratings for internal feedback
Don't fabricate or inflate ratings
Ensure ratings match testimonial sentiment

Client Attribution:

Always attribute testimonials to real clients
Include client name, company (if business client)
Only display client details they've approved
Never use fake or anonymous testimonials without disclosure

Testimonial Length:

Keep testimonials concise and scannable
Highlight key phrases or results
Edit for clarity but preserve authenticity
Stay within the 250-character limit for best display

Social Proof Elements:

Link testimonials to client logos (if public clients)
Include client role/company for B2B testimonials
Display star ratings prominently
Show variety of clients and industries

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: Cannot Save Testimonial

Possible Causes:

Required fields are empty
Description exceeds 250 character limit
No client selected
No rating selected (0 stars)
Internet connection lost

Solutions:

Check that all required fields are filled:
- Client (must be selected)
- Description (3-250 characters)
- Ratings (1-5 stars, cannot be 0)
Verify description length is between 3-250 characters
Ensure you've clicked on a star to set the rating
Select a client using the "Choose Client" button
Check your internet connection
Refresh the page and try again

Issue: Client Not Showing in Dialog

Possible Causes:

No clients created yet
Clients haven't loaded
Internet connection issues
Client was just created

Solutions:

Click the Refresh button in the Client Dialog
Ensure you've created clients in the Clients app first
Visit Clients app to create clients
Return to testimonial form and click Refresh
Check your internet connection
Close and reopen the Client Dialog
Refresh the page

Issue: Cannot Select Star Rating

Possible Causes:

Page not fully loaded
JavaScript error
Browser compatibility issues
Clicking too quickly

Solutions:

Wait for page to fully load
Hover over stars to see if they respond
Click directly on the star icon
Try a different browser
Clear browser cache and cookies
Refresh the page
Try clicking more deliberately (not too fast)

Issue: Testimonial Not Appearing on Website

Error: Created testimonial but it's not visible on website

This is the most common issue! Testimonials inherit visibility from their linked client.

Solutions:

Check Client Public Setting (Most Common Fix):
- Go to Clients app
- Find the client linked to the testimonial
- Verify the client's Public field is set to True (not False)
- If it's False, edit the client and change it to True
- Save the client - testimonial will now appear
Verify testimonial appears in the Testimonials list in your dashboard
Ensure testimonial has 4-5 star rating (lower ratings may be filtered out)
Clear browser cache or try incognito mode
Wait a few minutes for changes to propagate
Check website status in Website app
Ensure website is ACTIVE (not EXPIRED)
Verify DNS records are configured in Domain app

Remember: Testimonials don't have their own public/private setting. They always follow the client's is_public setting.

Issue: Cannot Edit or Delete Testimonial

Possible Causes:

Permission issues
Page not fully loaded
Browser compatibility issues
Network error

Solutions:

Verify you have "Manage All Apps" permission
Refresh the page
Try a different browser
Clear browser cache
Check your internet connection
Contact business owner if you lack permissions

Next Steps

Congratulations! You've successfully set up testimonials for your Solodoer business.

Continue Building Your Website

Now that you can showcase customer testimonials, consider adding these related apps:

Appointments Tutorial - Let clients schedule meetings
Client Appointments Tutorial - Manage client meeting details
Asset Manager Tutorial - Organize all your media files

Optimize Your Testimonials

Collect Regularly - Make testimonial requests part of your workflow
Diversify - Gather testimonials covering different services and benefits
Keep Fresh - Update testimonials regularly with recent feedback
Showcase Best - Feature your most compelling testimonials prominently
Ask Permission - Always get explicit consent before displaying publicly
Monitor Impact - Track how testimonials affect conversion rates

Testimonial Collection Workflow

Suggested Process:

Complete project or deliver service successfully
Wait 1-2 weeks for client to experience full results
Send testimonial request email with specific questions
Follow up politely if no response within a week
Receive testimonial text and rating from client
Get explicit permission to use publicly
Add testimonial to Testimonials app
Link to appropriate client in Clients app
Set client to Public if showcasing their name/company
Thank client for providing the testimonial

Additional Resources

Getting Started Guide - Complete overview of Solodoer
Clients Setup Tutorial - Required for linking testimonials

Need Help?

If you're having trouble with Testimonials setup or have questions:

Contact Us: www.solodoer.com/contact-us
Help Tutorials: View all tutorials

Our support team is here to help you succeed!

Next Tutorial: Appointments Setup