Detours

Someone leaves a wonderful comment after your training. You take a screenshot. A customer sends a thank-you text. Another records a video. Then someone asks, “Can you send me a few testimonials?” And you think, “Absolutely. Now, where did I put them?” I’m Angie Norris, and this is Side Hustle GPS. Today, we’re stopping in Main Street to explore Testimonial Organization. I’ve given testimonials, and I’ve received them in just about every format. Videos. Emails. Text messages. Facebook comments. Screenshots from the Zoom chat. Those kind words matter. But keeping track of them can get messy fast. One is in your downloads. Another is buried in your email. A video is sitting in a folder on your computer. You know you have good feedback. Finding it when you need it is another story. That’s a problem you can help a business solve. I love keeping these materials in a shared place like Google Drive. Then, when a website developer needs testimonials, there’s a clear place to find them. When the person preparing marketing materials needs an approved video, they know where to look. You can help create that system. Gather the existing materials, organize them, and give the files useful names. Track who provided the feedback, what product or service it relates to, and whether the business has permission to use it publicly. A private message and a testimonial approved for an advertisement aren’t automatically the same thing. Knowing what can be used—and where—is part of making the collection useful. You can also help a business organize how new testimonials come in. Maybe they want a simple form. Maybe customers can upload a video. Maybe the business needs a page that explains how to share feedback. You could offer that setup as an additional service. And make it easy for customers to know what to say. Some people freeze when they’re asked, “Can you give us a testimonial?” A few thoughtful prompts can help. What did you need help with? What was your experience? What changed afterward? What would you want someone else to know? For a restaurant, it might be as simple as asking about their favorite dish. You’re inviting their honest experience, in their own words. AI can help you plan the folder structure, draft those questions, and categorize approved feedback. It can also help transcribe videos so the team can search for relevant topics. Check transcripts against the originals, and keep the original wording and context intact. The goal is to make genuine feedback easier to find and use. And there’s another reason to collect it. When you’re having a difficult day, those messages can remind you that your work has helped someone. Remember the good feedback. Your first money move? Offer to organize a small batch of testimonials for one business. Create clearly named files, a simple index, and a record of usage permissions. Then show the owner how to find what they need and add the next testimonial. You can help an established business untangle its collection—or help a new business start with a system. So, what kind words has someone shared about your work that deserve a place you can find again? Explore Testimonial Organization in Main Street at SideHustleGPS.com. Collect the kind words. Make them easier to share—and easier to remember when you need a little encouragement yourself.