Testimonials and Reviews

By creavio Team April 10, 2026 1 views

Testimonials and Reviews

Testimonials are your most powerful marketing tool. A prospective client will trust another client's words over anything you say about yourself. creavio gives you tools to collect, manage, and display testimonials on your website.

Collecting Reviews

Go to Growth > Reviews to manage your review collection system. There are two ways to collect reviews:

  • Automated request: Set up an automation that sends a review request email a set number of days after gallery delivery. The email includes a link to a review form.
  • Manual request: From any client record, click Request Review to send the form on demand.

The Review Form

The built-in review form asks:

  • Star rating (1-5)
  • Written review (open text)
  • Session type
  • Permission to use their name and image on your website
  • Optional: upload a photo from their session to display alongside the review

Keep it simple. The easier the form, the higher the completion rate.

Displaying Testimonials on Your Website

In the visual website editor, add a Testimonials section to any page. You can:

  • Select which reviews to display (curate your best ones)
  • Choose a layout: carousel, grid, or single-column
  • Display or hide star ratings
  • Include client photos alongside their quotes
  • Set auto-rotation speed for carousels

Place testimonials strategically:

  • Homepage: 3-5 best reviews, carousel format
  • Service pages: Reviews specific to that session type (wedding reviews on the wedding page)
  • Landing pages: 2-3 reviews as social proof near the call-to-action
  • Booking page: Short quotes to reinforce the decision to book

Review Collection Timing

When you ask matters as much as what you ask:

  • Too early: Right after the session, the client has not seen the final images. They cannot review the full experience.
  • Sweet spot: 3-7 days after gallery delivery. The excitement is fresh. They have seen and shared the images.
  • Too late: More than 30 days after delivery. The emotional peak has passed. Response rate drops significantly.

Handling Negative Reviews

If you receive a review below 4 stars:

  1. It does not publish automatically. You review all submissions before they go live.
  2. Reach out to the client directly. Understand what went wrong. Resolve it if possible.
  3. If the issue is valid, learn from it and improve your process.
  4. You are not obligated to publish negative reviews on your own website.

Google Reviews and Third Parties

Your creavio review system is for your website. For broader visibility, also encourage reviews on:

  • Google Business Profile: These appear in local search results. Critical for local SEO. See Google Business Profile setup.
  • The Knot / WeddingWire: Essential if you do wedding photography
  • Yelp: Relevant for local portrait and event photography

In your review request email, include links to both your creavio review form and your Google Business listing. Let the client choose where to leave their review.

Using Reviews in Marketing

Reviews are not just for your website. Use them in:

  • Instagram Stories and posts (screenshot or design a quote graphic)
  • Email marketing campaigns
  • Ad copy ("Rated 5 stars by 200+ clients")
  • Proposals (include 2-3 relevant testimonials)

Always get permission before using a client's review outside your website. The review form's permission checkbox covers your site, but other uses may need explicit consent.