 testimonials. In this video we will be exploring testimonials. We will learn what testimonials are and review the importance of a testimonial section in your online portfolio. So, first and foremost, what are testimonials? According to the dictionary they are formal statements testifying to someone's character and qualifications. Think of it as an employer's chance to call your references but already built into your portfolio. Having some words from your previous employers or your clients can be very meaningful for anyone who happens across your page. It's one thing to list your skills, explain how great you are and why you should be hired, but it can have an even bigger influence to let others echo the positive things you say about yourself in the rest of your portfolio. I know it may feel awkward to ask people to compliment you but people who enjoyed working with you will gladly praise your good work with a testimonial. Reach out to your previous clients or employers and ask for quotes you can use for your portfolio. Moving forward it can also become a part of a routine when you finish a project or leave a job. To ask for a testimonial then so you can have it on file and avoid a potentially awkward interaction down the road. Whenever possible try to keep your testimonials short and simple. When choosing testimonials on your portfolio site it can be very tempting to include all the texts your client or employer sent you. Instead of a whole paragraph of text do your best to pick out one or two sentences that really highlight the impact that you made and what you're trying to convey. This is another great opportunity to emphasize some of your heart skills. If you can collect and highlight tangible accomplishments from your testimonials as opposed to broader compliments. For example instead of something general like my photo session was great an effective testimonial for a photographer might be my neighbors always compliment or family photos whenever they visit our home. It's only a simple difference but it proves that you are good at what you do. Overall you want to focus on the results you get for your clients or workplace as this will allow the reader to put themselves in the shoes of previous employers and envision the contributions you can make to their company. In conclusion consider testimonials as a review section for you. When choosing a product or service people are likely to gravitate towards ones with better reviews. So if you make sure potential employers see you as a five-star employee they'll have more confidence when making the decision about whether or not to bring you in for an interview or even to hire you. In the next video we will add a contact section so that anyone who happens across your page will have a way to get in touch to set up an interview.