Getting great customer testimonials shouldn’t feel like pulling teeth. If you’re tired of awkward email requests and clunky upload links, this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through how to use Hippovideo to request, collect, and actually show off customer testimonial videos—without making it weird for you or your customers.
You’ll get honest advice, step-by-step instructions, and a few “don’t bother with this” warnings. Let’s keep it straightforward.
Why Video Testimonials? (And Why Hippovideo?)
Text testimonials are fine, but video is just more convincing. People want to see real customers talking about your product, not just a quote and a headshot that might as well be stock art.
Hippovideo is one of the better tools out there for this. It takes care of:
- Creating testimonial request campaigns that don’t look spammy
- Making it easy for customers to record (no login or tech headaches)
- Collecting, organizing, and sharing the videos
Does it do everything perfectly? No. But it’s good enough to actually get videos you can use, even if you’re not a video pro.
Step 1: Set Up Your Hippovideo Account
First things first: sign up and poke around. Don’t overthink it—most features are self-explanatory, but here’s what actually matters:
- Create an account (pick the plan that lets you collect testimonials).
- Skip the fancy integrations for now. You can plug in your CRM later, but you don’t need it to get started.
- Upload your logo and brand colors if you want requests to look a little more like you. Don’t obsess over this—nobody cares if your button is #2176FF or #1A73E8.
Pro tip: The free trial is limited, but you can get a feel for the testimonial workflow before you hand over a credit card.
Step 2: Plan Your Testimonial Request
Before you start blasting out requests, think about what you actually want people to say. Most customers have no idea what to talk about on camera.
- Pick 2–3 prompts. Example: “What problem did our product solve for you?” or “What would you tell someone thinking about signing up?”
- Keep it simple. Long lists of questions = blank stares.
- Avoid scripts. You want honest, natural answers, not robot recitals.
Write these prompts down. You’ll need them for the next step.
Step 3: Set Up a Testimonial Collection Campaign
This is where Hippovideo starts to earn its keep.
- Go to the “Testimonial” campaign option.
- Customize the landing page.
- Add your prompts.
- Write a quick intro (“We’d love a quick video about your experience!”).
- Upload your logo if you care.
- Set permissions.
- Decide if you want to review videos before publishing (always say yes).
- Choose if videos should be public or private by default.
Don’t bother: With overly fancy backgrounds, intro videos, or “personalization tokens” the first time around. Get the basics working first.
Step 4: Send Out Requests the Right Way
Nobody likes getting random video requests. Here’s how to avoid being ignored:
- Send personally, not as a mass email. Even if you use Hippovideo’s bulk send, customize the message.
- Be clear: Tell people why you’re asking, how long it’ll take (aim for under 2 minutes), and what it’ll be used for.
- Make it easy: Hippovideo gives customers a link—they click, record, hit submit. No downloads, no sign-ins.
Sample message:
“Hi [Name],
We’re collecting quick video testimonials from folks who love [Product]. Would you mind recording a 1–2 minute video about your experience?
Just click this link—no setup required. Thank you so much!”
Pro tip: If you have a great relationship with a few customers, call or DM them first. Warm intros get more responses.
Step 5: Help Customers Succeed (and Not Freeze Up)
Most people hate being on camera. Lower the bar:
- Remind them: “It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just talk like you would to a friend.”
- Tell them it’s okay to re-record. Hippovideo lets them try again before submitting.
- Offer to ask questions live (if you’re desperate). Sometimes a quick Zoom call gets better results than 10 cold requests.
What to ignore: Don’t waste time trying to get “influencers” or strangers to record testimonials. Start with customers who are already happy and know your product.
Step 6: Review and Organize Your Testimonials
Here’s where Hippovideo is actually helpful:
- You get notified when a video comes in.
- You can watch, approve, or reject videos.
- Most will be fine. If someone rambles or mentions private info, you can politely ask them to redo it.
- Tag or sort videos by theme, product, or customer type for later.
Heads up: The editing tools are basic. You can trim but don’t expect Hollywood-level fixes. If you need to blur something or fix the audio, download the video and use proper editing software.
Step 7: Showcase Your Testimonials
Collecting videos is only half the battle. You need to actually show them off:
- Embed videos on your website. Hippovideo gives you embed codes. These work fine on most sites (WordPress, Webflow, etc.).
- Create a testimonial wall or carousel. Don’t just hide the videos on a “Case Studies” page—put them where people will see them (product pages, pricing, demo requests).
- Share on social. But only with permission. Ask customers if they’re okay with it before you blast their face all over LinkedIn.
Don’t bother: With auto-generated “testimonial reels” unless you’ve got a bunch of great videos. One or two awkward clips mashed together looks worse than nothing.
Step 8: Keep It Going (Without Annoying People)
- Follow up with a thank you. Seriously, it takes 10 seconds and makes people feel good.
- Ask for permission to use their full name, company, and logo. Some folks care, some don’t, but always check.
- Repeat quarterly. Don’t just collect testimonials once a year. New voices keep things fresh.
Pro tip: If a customer sends in a killer video, ask if they’d be up for a deeper case study or interview. Don’t push, but you might be surprised who says yes.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Skip
What Works
- Personal requests: Always outperform mass emails.
- Short, specific prompts: Get better responses than open-ended asks.
- Quick and easy recording: Hippovideo’s main strength.
What Doesn’t
- Generic “Tell us anything!” requests: You’ll get rambling or nothing at all.
- Too much polish: Don’t fuss over branding or editing at the start.
- Asking cold leads: Waste of time.
What to Ignore
- Features you don’t understand: Stick to basics first. Fancy analytics, integrations, and automations can wait.
- Pressure to “gamify” submissions: Gimmicks rarely get authentic videos.
Wrapping Up
Getting strong video testimonials with Hippovideo isn’t rocket science. Stay human, keep requests simple, and don’t get lost in the tech. Collect a few great videos, put them where people will see them, and improve as you go. Don’t wait for perfect—start today, and iterate.