Testimonial & Review Link Building Template

Offer a Testimonial to a Vendor You Use

Pitch a short, genuine testimonial to a tool or service you actively use. Vendors often feature it on a testimonials page and link to your site.

Testimonial Offer Email

Subject: A testimonial for [Tool Name] if it's useful

Hi [First Name],

I've been using [Tool Name] at [Your Company] for [Time Period], and it's genuinely changed how we [Specific Task].

If it's helpful, I'd be glad to write a short testimonial you could use on your site or marketing. Here's a first draft you're welcome to edit:

"[2-3 Sentence Honest Testimonial]"

– [Your Name], [Title] at [Your Company]

If you do feature it, a link back to [Your Site] would be appreciated, but no pressure either way.

Thanks for building something we rely on.

Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Site]

Honest Product / Service Review Pitch

Offer to publish a detailed, balanced review of a tool you use, then let the vendor know so they can share or link to it.

Review Pitch Email

Subject: I'm reviewing [Tool Name]: anything you'd want covered?

Hi [First Name],

I'm writing an in-depth, honest review of [Tool Name] for [Your Blog / Publication], based on [Time Period] of real use at [Your Company].

It'll cover what works well, where it could improve, and who it's best for: a fair, reader-first take rather than a puff piece.

Two quick things:

• Is there a feature or use case you'd like me to make sure I test?
• Once it's live, would you be open to sharing or linking to it if you find it useful?

Happy to send you the draft before publishing so you can flag any factual errors.

Thanks,
[Your Name]
[Your Site]

"Add My Tool to Your Best-Of List" Pitch

Ask the author of a relevant roundup or best-of post to consider adding your tool, product, or resource where it's a genuine fit.

Roundup Inclusion Email

Subject: A suggestion for your "[List Title]" post

Hi [First Name],

I really enjoyed your roundup of [List Topic], especially the section on [Specific Item You Genuinely Liked].

I wanted to suggest [Your Tool / Resource] as a possible addition. It helps [Target Audience] with [Specific Benefit], which fits the theme of your list.

A few quick details in case they're useful:

• What it does: [One-Line Description]
• Who it's for: [Audience]
• Link: [Your URL]

No worries at all if it's not the right fit. I just thought your readers might find it handy.

Thanks for the great resource,
[Your Name]
[Your Site]

Case Study / Success Story Offer

Offer to be featured as a customer case study or success story, which vendors typically publish with a link to your business.

Case Study Offer Email

Subject: Happy to be a case study for [Tool Name]

Hi [First Name],

We've had real results with [Tool Name] at [Your Company]: specifically, it helped us [Concrete Outcome You Can Honestly Verify].

If you're ever building case studies or success stories, we'd be glad to participate. We can share details on how we use it and what changed for our team.

I know these usually include a link or mention of the featured company, which works well for us too. Mostly, though, we're happy to give back to a tool that's earned it.

Let me know if there's a format or a few questions you'd like me to start with.

Best,
[Your Name]
[Title], [Your Company]
[Your Site]

Submit for an Award / Badge / Directory

Submit your product or business to a relevant award, badge program, review platform, or directory that links to listed sites.

Directory / Award Submission Email

Subject: Submission for [Directory / Award Name]

Hi [First Name],

I'd like to submit [Your Company / Product] for inclusion in [Directory / Award / Badge Program].

We're a strong fit because we [Relevant Qualification or Niche], serving [Target Audience].

Here are the details you'll likely need:

• Name: [Company / Product Name]
• Website: [Your URL]
• Category: [Most Relevant Category]
• Short description: [One-Two Sentence Description]

Please let me know if there's an application form or any additional information you need from us. Happy to provide assets, screenshots, or references.

Thanks for considering us,
[Your Name]
[Your Site]

Follow-Up

Send one polite, value-led follow-up when your testimonial, review, or inclusion pitch hasn't received a reply.

Follow-Up Email

Subject: Re: [Original Subject Line]

Hi [First Name],

Just floating my note back to the top of your inbox in case it slipped past: I know things get busy.

To recap, I offered to [Testimonial / Review / Case Study / Listing] for [Tool / List Name], since we genuinely use and rely on it.

The offer still stands, and I'm happy to adapt it to whatever format works best for you. If it's simply not a fit right now, no problem at all: just let me know and I won't follow up again.

Either way, thanks for the work you do.

Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Site]

Is offering testimonials for backlinks against Google's guidelines?

No, as long as the testimonial is genuine and you are not paying for the link or exchanging it as part of a transaction. The issue Google cares about is manipulative, paid, or fake links. An honest testimonial about a product you actually use, which the vendor chooses to publish with a natural link to your site, is a legitimate editorial mention.

What if the vendor features my testimonial but doesn't link to my site?

That is still a win for relationship-building and brand visibility. You can politely ask once whether they would be open to linking the company name to your website, framing it as helpful context for their readers. If they decline, leave it; never make the testimonial conditional on a link, since that turns it into a paid-link exchange.

Should I write the testimonial myself or let the vendor write it?

Offer a short draft in your own words so the vendor has something ready to use, but make it clear they are welcome to edit it. Most teams appreciate a starting point. The key is that the words reflect your real experience and that you are comfortable having your name attached to whatever final version is published.

How do I find vendors and lists worth pitching?

Start with the tools and services you already pay for and trust, then check their sites for testimonials, case studies, and customer pages. For roundups, search for phrases like best tools for your niche or top resources for your audience, and look for recent, well-maintained posts where your product is a genuine fit.

Is it okay to submit my site to directories and award programs for links?

Reputable, curated, and topically relevant directories and award programs are fine and can send qualified visitors as well as a link. Avoid low-quality, spammy, or pay-to-list-for-rankings directories that exist only to sell links, since those add little value and can look manipulative. Quality and relevance matter far more than quantity.

How long should I wait before following up, and how many times?

Wait about five to seven business days after your first email, then send one polite follow-up. If you still hear nothing, move on; repeated chasing rarely helps and can harm the relationship. One thoughtful follow-up that restates the value of your offer is usually enough to revive a thread that simply got buried.