Most testimonials you see sound like polite thank-yous, but they rarely help you win new business. What if your testimonials actually became powerful proof points that made prospects say, “I want to work with them”? When done right, testimonials can be your quiet sales force—showing real results and building trust without any sales pitch. Here’s how to get those kinds of testimonials from your customers.
Getting strong testimonials starts with changing how you ask for them. Instead of begging for a generic “great job” review, think about asking your customers to tell you the story of how your work changed their business. When you hear stories about how you saved time, cut costs, or solved a tough problem, those words become more than just praise—they become proof.
Imagine a small job shop that struggled for months with late deliveries from their parts supplier. After switching to a new manufacturing partner, they suddenly hit 98% on-time delivery, reducing overtime expenses and stress on the shop floor. That story speaks volumes. It’s real, relatable, and tied directly to a business outcome—a story any manufacturing leader would want to hear. When you collect testimonials this way, they don’t sound like marketing fluff, they sound like results you can trust.
If you simply ask your customer, “Can you write a testimonial?” you’ll probably get back something like “Great quality and service.” That’s nice but not compelling. Instead, say, “Tell me about the problem you were facing before we started working together, and what changed after.” The difference is night and day, because it gets customers thinking about the real impact you made—and that’s what future buyers want to hear.
By guiding customers to share specific, measurable outcomes, you make their testimonials something you can proudly put front and center on your website, proposals, or even your sales emails. Instead of vague compliments, you get stories about how you helped save money, reduce downtime, or improve product quality—exactly what other manufacturers care about.
This approach also helps you build deeper customer relationships. When you ask them to share their story, you show you value their success, not just their praise. This makes customers more invested in your partnership and more willing to recommend you when others ask for a referral.
1. Make It Easy for Customers to Share Their Story
Even if your customer loves working with you, they’re busy. Asking them to write a testimonial out of the blue often feels like a chore. The key is to take the work off their plate.
One smart way is to offer a quick phone or video call where you ask a few simple questions. Then you draft the testimonial and send it back for approval. This way, your customer only needs to talk for 10 minutes—or less—and doesn’t have to figure out what to write.
For example, a medium-sized machine shop owner might say during a call, “Before working with you, we were chasing down parts and dealing with inconsistent quality. Since switching, our scrap rate dropped 25%, and we hit production targets every week.” You jot that down, clean it up without losing their voice, and send it back for a thumbs-up. Easy for them, powerful for you.
If a call isn’t possible, consider sending a short, focused questionnaire with 3–5 questions like:
- What challenge were you trying to solve?
- How did our team help?
- What specific results did you see?
- Would you recommend us, and why?
This gentle nudge helps your customers tell you what really matters, without making it a big project.
2. Catch Customers at the Right Time — When Success Is Fresh
Timing is everything. If you wait months after delivering a project to ask for a testimonial, the excitement has faded—and so has the impact. Instead, strike while the iron is hot.
Look for natural moments when your customer is likely feeling positive: right after a successful delivery, after a quality audit, or when they thank you for solving an urgent problem.
Imagine a manufacturer calls you to say, “Your team saved our production line last week with a fast turnaround on a critical part.” That’s a golden moment. Respond quickly with something like, “I’m glad to hear that! Would you be open to sharing that story in a quick testimonial? It helps others see how we handle urgent needs.” Most customers will say yes when asked at the right time.
3. Keep Testimonials Real and Raw — Don’t Over-Edit
When testimonials sound like polished marketing, they lose authenticity. Manufacturing leaders want real talk — not corporate jargon or vague praise.
If a customer says, “Your team really pulled through when our last supplier dropped the ball,” keep it just like that. It’s relatable, genuine, and helps future buyers imagine what working with you will be like.
Don’t polish out their unique voice. The right mix of honest emotion and measurable results creates trust far better than anything rewritten by a marketing agency.
4. Showcase Testimonials Where They Matter Most
Many manufacturing businesses make the mistake of hiding testimonials on a separate “Testimonials” page that rarely gets visitors.
Instead, embed them throughout your sales and marketing materials where they have maximum impact:
- Include them in proposals to back up your claims
- Add quotes to product spec sheets and catalogs
- Feature them in sales emails to prospects
- Highlight them on your homepage or service pages
- Use them on social media to boost credibility
The more places prospects see real success stories from businesses like theirs, the more confident they’ll feel choosing you.
5. Make Your Customer the Hero
Great testimonials don’t just talk about what you did—they focus on what your customer achieved.
Phrase testimonials to highlight how your customer solved a big problem, improved operations, or boosted profits thanks to your help. This shifts the spotlight onto their success, making your partnership look like the key to unlocking it.
For example:
“Our downtime dropped 30% in three months thanks to their quick, consistent delivery of precision parts.”
That’s a powerful story because it puts the customer’s win front and center.
6. Use Video and Photos to Bring Testimonials to Life
Text testimonials are good, but video or photos take things to another level. Seeing a real customer explain their results, or a photo of their team with your parts, builds trust instantly.
You don’t need a Hollywood setup. A quick 30-second video recorded on a phone works wonders. Or snap a photo of your customer in their workshop holding the product you made for them.
This type of content makes your testimonials memorable and relatable — it’s the closest thing to a live recommendation.
7. Give Customers a Reason to Participate
Some customers won’t volunteer testimonials even if they’re happy. It’s human nature to hesitate or just forget.
Make it worth their while by offering to spotlight their business on your website or newsletter, providing early access to new products, or simply giving a shoutout on social media.
People appreciate recognition. When they feel valued beyond just a “testimonial,” they’re more likely to take the time.
3 Actionable Takeaways You Can Use Tomorrow
- Stop asking for “testimonials.” Ask your customers to share their story about how you helped solve a problem or improve their business.
- Offer to do the writing for them based on a short call or questionnaire to make it easy and fast.
- Use those stories everywhere — in proposals, emails, and marketing materials — to build trust and close more deals.
Top 5 FAQs About Getting Customer Testimonials for Manufacturing Businesses
1. How do I get testimonials if my customers are shy or too busy?
Make it easy with a short phone call or questionnaire. You do the writing; they just approve. Recognition also motivates participation.
2. When is the best time to ask for a testimonial?
Right after a successful delivery, a big win, or when a customer thanks you. Timing boosts enthusiasm and accuracy.
3. Should I edit testimonials for grammar or tone?
Light edits for clarity are okay, but keep the customer’s voice intact. Authenticity is more persuasive than perfect language.
4. Can I use video testimonials if I don’t have fancy equipment?
Absolutely. Smartphone videos work great as long as the message is clear and genuine.
5. Where should I display testimonials?
Anywhere prospects will see them: website homepage, product pages, proposals, emails, and social media.
Turn Your Customer Stories Into Your Best Sales Tool
You’ve got real wins happening every day in your manufacturing business. Don’t let those stories sit on the sidelines. Start asking for detailed, results-focused testimonials today, make it easy for your customers to share, and use their words everywhere you sell. When prospects see proof from peers who faced the same challenges, they’ll trust you more—and that trust turns into profitable business faster than any marketing pitch ever could.