Been asked to record a video testimonial? You don’t need a camera, a microphone or any experience. A phone and two minutes are enough. These tips will make it look and sound its best.
Businesses: this page is written for your customers. Send them the link along with your request.
1. Face a window
Light from in front of you is the single biggest improvement you can make. Sit facing a window, not with one behind you, or you will be a silhouette. On a dull day, a lamp in front of you and slightly to one side works too.
2. Find a quiet spot
Viewers forgive a slightly dark picture, but not sound they can’t hear. Turn off the TV, close the door, and stay away from busy roads and echoey kitchens. Soft furnishings like sofas and curtains help.
3. Hold the phone at eye level
Prop it on a pile of books or lean it against something steady, at the height of your eyes. Looking down at a phone in your lap is the least flattering angle there is.
4. Frame head and shoulders
Leave a little space above your head and keep your face in the upper part of the screen. Holding the phone upright is fine for most testimonials.
5. Look at the lens, not yourself
It feels odd, but looking at the little camera at the top of the phone makes it feel like you are talking to the viewer. If you find it hard, glance at the lens at the start and end of each sentence.
6. Say who you are
Start with your first name and what you do, or how you know the business. “I’m Sam, I run a small bakery in Leeds” gives viewers a reason to listen.
7. Tell it as a before and after
What was going on before? What changed? Who would you recommend it to? Three short answers to those make a far better testimonial than a list of compliments.
8. Give one specific detail
A number, a moment, a name. “They called me back within ten minutes on a Sunday” is what people remember. Only say what is true for you.
9. Don’t aim for perfect
Talk as you would to a friend. A pause or a laugh makes it sound real. About a minute is plenty, and you can re-record as many times as you like before you send it.
What not to worry about
- Your appearance. Nobody expects a studio. Real is more convincing than polished.
- Getting every word right. Stumbles are normal. Just carry on, or start again.
- Being on camera at all. If you really would rather not, ask whether you can send a voice note or a written testimonial instead. Most good request links allow both.
Your words stay yours
A business should never ask you to read a script or say something you don’t believe, and it should tell you where your testimonial will appear before you agree. If you are asked to tick a consent box, read it: it says how your video can be used.
For businesses: make it easy
The easier the request, the more people record. Ask two or three good questions, one at a time, and use a link that opens straight to the camera with no app or account. Akteora collect links work that way, on any phone, and show your customer one question at a time with a timer. See how to ask for a video testimonial for message templates, or make a free link.