Build Social Proof With Reviews

Along with your headline, reviews are one of the most-read parts of your profile. Clients want to know one thing: has this expert helped someone like me achieve a goal similar to mine?

If you're new to Leland and not getting bookings, this is almost always why.

A profile with zero reviews reads as a blank slate to a client deciding whether to spend their money and time with you, and most clients won't take that risk. Coaches who collect vouches before going live are far more likely to land their first paid client in their first 30 days than coaches who skip this step.

If you're stuck at zero clients, this is the first thing to fix, not your headline, not your pricing.

There are two ways to build this proof:

✨ Vouches
During onboarding and for two weeks after you go live, you'll get a link to collect vouches from anyone in your network. These convert to visible reviews once you're live.

This window is the single highest-leverage thing you'll do as a new coach.

Once it closes, you lose the ability to collect reviews from outside the Leland platform entirely, so use it while you have it. Send it to former clients, classmates, colleagues, anyone who can speak to your ability to help someone with a goal like the ones you'll be coaching toward.

⭐ Reviews
After your two-week vouch window closes, every client you coach, every free livestream attendee, and every bootcamp session gives someone a chance to leave a review. Ask for it. Every time.

Make specificity your edge.

A 5-star rating tells a client you're good. A review that says "helped me raise my GMAT score from 650 to 730" or "got me into three T14 law schools" tells them you're good for them specifically.

Most reviews on the platform don't name a concrete outcome, which means most coaches are leaving this on the table. When you ask for a review, ask the client to name their result.

Wondering how to get new reviews?

Great reviews start with great coaching.

Focus on:

When clients feel supported and see real improvement, they naturally want to share their experience.

Most people want to support you — they just need a prompt.

Make asking for reviews part of your regular coaching workflow:

The best time to ask is:

A simple message works perfectly:

“Loved working with you today! If you’d be open to leaving a quick review on my profile, it helps others know what to expect when working together.”

Small, consistent requests are more effective than occasionally asking a large group.

Free events are one of the fastest ways to introduce your coaching style to new people — and they create a natural opportunity to ask for reviews.

After your event:

This is especially powerful because it builds social proof before someone becomes a 1:1 client.

Example follow-up message:

Thanks so much for joining today! If the session was helpful, I’d really appreciate a quick review on my profile — it helps others know what to expect and supports my coaching business.

Even a few reviews per event add up quickly over time.

Some clients hesitate because they’re unsure what to say. You can reduce friction by giving gentle prompts, such as:

Feel free to mention what we worked on and what you found most helpful — it doesn’t need to be long.

This keeps the experience comfortable and authentic.

To consistently grow your reviews:

The experts who grow strong review profiles don’t just hope clients leave reviews — they build it into their rhythm. Small, steady efforts compound into powerful credibility over time.