Adding a testimonial widget to your website sounds like a weekend project. It usually turns into three weekends: building a form, wiring up a database, getting the embed to look right. There is a faster way. This guide walks through adding a working testimonial widget to any website in under 5 minutes using ProofDeck.
Why testimonials on your site are worth the 5 minutes
Social proof does not just make your site look more credible -- it actively reduces the friction that keeps people from signing up or buying. The ROI on adding a testimonial widget is high and the cost is low. The only reason to delay is setup friction, which this guide eliminates.
What you need before you start
That's it. No backend setup, no API keys, no database. The entire process is handled through the ProofDeck dashboard and one script tag.
5-minute setup: step by step
Create a free ProofDeck account
Go to proofdeck.io and sign up. No credit card required. The free plan includes 15 testimonials, one collection form, and 1 widget -- enough to get started.
Create your collection form
In the dashboard, click "New Project" and give it a name. ProofDeck generates a shareable link -- a dedicated page where customers can submit their testimonial, including their name, role, photo, and feedback.
Tip: You can pre-fill the form fields with your own questions to get more specific, useful testimonials.
Add your first testimonial
Either share the form link with a customer and wait for their response, or use the "Add manually" option in the dashboard to enter a testimonial you already have (from email, Slack, etc.).
Approve it in the dashboard
Submitted testimonials land in your "Pending" queue. Click approve to move them to your live widget. You are always in control of what displays on your site.
Paste the embed script on your site
Go to the "Embed" tab in your project. Copy the one-line script tag. Paste it into your site's HTML where you want the widget to appear -- inside the <body> tag, ideally near your CTA or pricing section.
Tip: The widget auto-updates. When you approve new testimonials later, they appear on your site without any code changes.
Works on any website platform
Because the embed is a standard JavaScript script tag, it works anywhere you can edit the HTML of a page:
Where to put the widget for maximum impact
The embed works anywhere, but placement matters. These are the highest-impact locations ranked by conversion effect:
Quick answers
Start collecting testimonials for free
ProofDeck makes it easy to gather, manage, and display customer testimonials on your site. Free plan available -- no credit card required.
Create your free account