The Social Proof Problem: When Experience Isn’t Enough

 It’s been a couple of weeks since you wrapped up that project with the other designer. You’re back to sharing insights in UX communities, and staying active in your monthly meetup—just keeping the momentum going and putting your work out there. Then, out of the blue, a message lands in your inbox. A small ed-tech startup noticed something you commented on and wants to see if you can help with a project. It’s exciting—you weren’t looking for work—but there’s a catch: they want social proof. A testimonial from a previous client.

You freeze. You’ve done real freelance projects, but you’ve never asked for testimonials. Everything in your portfolio looks like practice work or personal experiments. Without social proof, you know the client likely won’t move forward.

You reach out to one or two of your friends from the UX meetup, hoping someone might be able to help. Only one of them responds:

“Hey, thanks for reaching out! You’re a really great person, and we always have such interesting conversations about UX at the meetups. But we haven’t actually worked together professionally, so I’m not comfortable writing a testimonial. I wouldn’t want to put myself in a position where I couldn’t back up what I’m saying. Good luck with finding your testimonial!”

It stings, but you understand. Even supportive friends can’t substitute for professional credibility. Social proof requires someone who has actually worked with you and can honestly vouch for your skills.

You briefly consider reaching out to the designer from your previous collaboration. The project itself went through fine—you know your work was solid—but you remember feeling dismissed during the process. You worry about how that designer might frame your contribution. Even though the work is strong, perception matters. And right now, the memory of that collaboration makes the idea of asking feel risky.

In the end, you don’t have a testimonial to share. You send a thoughtful note to the stakeholder anyway, outlining a project you completed independently—what you were responsible for, the outcomes, and the business owner they could contact for verification. Within minutes, a reply comes back:

“Thanks for sending this over. I appreciate the detail, but I’m not going to reach out to the client. We’ll have to pass on the opportunity.”

It’s polite, but clear. You realize the reality: without your own testimonials, opportunities like this can’t move forward, and you can’t rely on the client to do the work for you.

It’s disappointing, but it’s also a wake-up call. You realize that even small freelance projects should include a plan to collect feedback or testimonials. Without social proof, no matter how solid your work is, opportunities can slip away—and it’s a lesson you won’t forget the next time a client reaches out.


Want to share your thoughts or experiences with collecting testimonials as a freelancer? Join the UX Gaps Substack community to connect with other early UX designers, ask questions, and share what you’re learning along the way. Your insights could help someone else navigate the same challenge—and you might pick up a few tips for securing your own social proof too.

Join the conversation →


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