In my early days at a startup, I was terrified to ask happy customers for testimonials. And when I started my own business? It got even harder. It felt personal. Vulnerable. Like maybe I was asking for too much.

But here’s the thing: I’d been writing case studies and testimonials for years on behalf of other companies. I knew the value. I just hadn’t given myself permission to apply it to my own work.

This post is for anyone who’s felt weird asking for feedback, unsure how to start, or stuck waiting until “the end” of a client engagement to share the story.