A media kit without testimonials doesn't sell. But how do you get good quotes if you're not constantly in the media? 7 proven approaches — from elegant client outreach to conference feedback mining.
Press quotes and testimonials are the strongest trust signal in your media kit. They convince buyers more than any self-description. And at the same time they're the hardest section to fill for many speakers, coaches, and consultants — because they don't know how to systematically get them.
This article shows you 7 proven approaches to regularly collect strong quotes. Plus templates for elegant client outreach and a few tricks for turning raw feedback into polished press quotes.
Three reasons:
Media kit analyses show: media kits with 4+ strong testimonials convert ~2× better than those with under 2 (or none).
Separate clearly:
Both have different effects:
In your media kit you should have both — separated by section. If you only have one type, that's OK, but label it correctly.
The most common and underrated approach. Most clients gladly give feedback — but they don't do it on their own. You have to ask.
When to ask:
How to ask — template:
"Hi [Name], I'm really pleased that [specific moment from your collaboration]. If you have a minute — would you write 2–3 sentences on what you particularly liked or what concrete benefit you got? I'd love to use it in my media kit, with your name and function. Let me know if anything bothers you or if you'd like specific phrasing avoided."
Response rate: typically 70–90 %. The simplest path of all.
Organizers often gather structured participant feedback after talks (NPS scores, free-text answers). Actively ask the organizer:
"Did the event team have a brief summary of participant ratings you could share? I'd love to use them for my media kit."
You typically get:
From the free-text answers you can distill testimonials — with attribution "Participant feedback, [Conference], [Year]."
LinkedIn has a Recommendations function you can systematically use. Process:
Template:
"Hi [Name], we worked together in 2024 on [project/workshop]. If it's a fit for you, I'd appreciate a LinkedIn recommendation — ideally in 2–3 sentences on [concrete aspect of our collaboration]. You don't have to embellish — short and honest is perfect."
LinkedIn recommendations you can then use both on LinkedIn and in your media kit — usually with reference to LinkedIn profile as source.
If you've written a book, you often have blurb endorsements and reviews. Both are gold:
If you don't have a book yet but a much-cited industry article — applies similarly. Online article reactions from comments or Twitter/LinkedIn can often be distilled.
When you've been mentioned in press (interview, background article, podcast appearance), you can use the journalists'/hosts' statements as press quotes.
Examples:
Process:
After a successful talk you can actively ask the organizer for a brief statement:
"Thanks for the wonderful event yesterday! If you have time — I'd really appreciate 2–3 sentences I could use as a testimonial. With your name and organizer position. I don't need anything elaborate — even a short note on what you particularly liked is helpful."
Organizers in 90 % of cases are grateful for the chance to do something nice for you. They give statements gladly — but again: they don't do it on their own.
If a client sends you a thank-you email after the coaching ("This really helped, thank you!"), that's implicitly a testimonial. Reply with:
"So nice to read, thank you! Quick question — may I use this sentence or an adapted version with your name in my media kit? Would help me reach new clients in similar situations as you."
You often get:
You rarely get a perfectly worded quote. You usually get raw feedback you have to polish (always with original's permission!).
"Honestly, I was skeptical at first because I'd tried so many coaches and nothing really helped. But with you it was different, you were direct and concrete and helped me revise my pitch completely in just 6 weeks. Worked great."
"I was skeptical — I'd tried many coaches. [Name] was different: direct, concrete. In 6 weeks we'd completely revised my pitch. It worked." — [Name], Function, Industry
What I did:
Important: Original person must approve the polished version. Rule of thumb: send the polished version back with "This is how I'd use it in the media kit — would that be OK?" Answer usually "Yes, perfect."
5 quality markers:
If you have 4–6 quotes meeting all 5 criteria, you're in the top 10 % of all media kits in the US/UK market.
| Career stage | Press quotes | Testimonials |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | 0–2 (OK without) | 3–5 |
| Mid-level | 2–4 | 4–6 |
| Senior | 3–6 | 4–8 |
| Star/Top-tier | 5–10 | 6–10 |
More isn't better. 12 mediocre quotes feel worse than 4 strong ones.
"Top speaker!" — Source: anonymous. Sells nothing. If you can't use real names, then at least "L&D Director, Fortune 100 manufacturer."
Sometimes speakers try to pass off self-written "PR headlines" as press quotes. Buyers notice. Don't do it.
"Impressive!" — Source: 2019. Your buyer thinks: "Has nobody had anything good to say since?"
Undermines credibility instantly. Date + source mandatory.
More media kit mistakes of this kind in the mistake article.
So you don't panically search for quotes every 6 months, establish a quarterly routine:
Every 3 months (15 min):
With this routine you have 3–5 new press quotes per quarter, i.e. 12–20 per year. That's more than you'd ever show in your media kit — you can choose.
Heads up: press quotes with real names are personal data. So:
For press quotes from media this doesn't apply — they're public and usable with attribution.
Collecting press quotes is systematic work, not luck. With the 7 ways above you have enough sources to add 4–8 strong quotes per year to your media kit. Biggest lever: actively ask instead of waiting. 90 % of clients give gladly — they just don't do it on their own.
Three immediate steps:
If you want to know how your bio around the press quotes should look, bio guide with examples. How to use AI to polish press quotes, comes in the ChatGPT-for-media-kit article. What goes in your media kit: content checklist with all sections.
If you want to build your media kit with press quotes section directly: Free plan. Example with Press + Testimonial separated: Live demo.
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