In today’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, it’s a milestone episode – because, for the first time ever, we have a returning guest… yes, someone has voluntarily come back for more!
Darren is joined by Tommi Murshed-Parish, a videographer living on the beautiful island of Gozo, Malta, who works remotely with clients all over the world. Tommi specializes in capturing real, authentic testimonials from clients, uncovering the genuine reasons people love working with businesses.
In this episode, Darren and Tommi discuss a seminar Tommi co-hosted recently—where Darren had the privilege of speaking—and together they’ll explore how to make client testimonials impactful.
A quick warning: this episode gets meta. It’s an interview about interviewing for testimonials in interviews!
Darren: Shall we dive in?
Tommi: Absolutely. Let’s do it.
Darren: Tommi, thanks again for inviting me to speak at your seminar. How did it go for you, and what sort of exposure have you seen from it so far?
Tommi: Still measuring the exposure, but the one thing I didn’t want was for it to suck—and it didn’t! Everyone brought their A-game, really taking their presentations seriously. It was such a professional and collaborative atmosphere. I invited givers—people genuinely looking to help and advise others—and that made all the difference.
Darren: It definitely felt like a slick operation. Your co-host, Michael, seemed to have everything under control behind the scenes.
Tommi: He’s amazing. Michael was running the show, managing tech, motivating speakers, and pulling all the levers. I was more of a figurehead by the end of it! It’s incredible what someone like him brings to an event.
Darren: Let’s get into the heart of what you do: client testimonials. What makes a testimonial stand out?
Tommi: The best testimonials show real results. It’s not enough for someone to say, “Oh, they were great to work with.” You need specifics—“This service brought us X number of leads,” or, “We saved 20 hours a week thanks to this solution.” Real outcomes resonate.
There are two types of testimonials with the most impact
Crisis resolution: Someone was in a tough spot, and the business saved the day.
Long-term results: Clients who, months or years later, can attribute lasting success to your work.
Darren: And how do you ensure testimonials don’t come across as fake or overly polished?
Tommi: I’m careful not to mislead. Editing gives you immense power, but you have to use it responsibly. For example, I don’t rearrange sentences to change meaning. Authenticity matters—people can sense when something’s been overly manipulated.
Darren: You’ve worked with clients worldwide. Do you notice differences between interviewing people in the UK versus the US?
Tommi: Not really, aside from scheduling! Americans are asleep when we’re awake. Otherwise, the main factor is personality—extroverts versus introverts. Extroverts can hide behind charisma, so you have to dig to get genuine answers. Introverts, on the other hand, often open up quickly when you create a safe space.
Darren: It sounds like disarming people is key. How do you approach that?
Tommi: I show up casual, maybe in a hoodie, to put people at ease. It’s about making them feel like they’re chatting with a friend, not being interrogated. Once people feel comfortable, they’re more likely to share honest, meaningful insights.
Darren: You’ve interviewed a lot of people. What’s one of the most moving stories you’ve captured?
Tommi: Recently, I interviewed a widow whose physical health had declined after her husband passed. She started working with a fitness trainer, and her life transformed—she regained mobility, confidence, and joy. She even quoted Martin Luther King Jr., saying, “Free at last, thank God Almighty, I’m free at last.”
Moments like this remind me why I do this work
Darren: It’s clear you build strong relationships with your clients. How important is maintaining those connections?
Tommi: It’s everything. Too many businesses finish a project and move on without following up. I send postcards or small gifts to stay in touch. It’s not about selling; it’s about showing you care.
Darren: We do something similar. After a website goes live, we send clients a copy of our book, Engage and Grow: 97 Ways to Power Up Your Business. They don’t expect it, and that little surprise builds goodwill. Where do you see the future of testimonials heading, especially with deepfake technology becoming more prevalent?
Tommi: It’s a concern. As AI and deepfakes blur the lines between real and fake, the responsibility to stay authentic becomes even greater. But people are wonderfully unique—quirky, emotional, and unpredictable. That’s something no machine can replicate.
Darren: What’s one piece of advice you’d give businesses about testimonials?
Tommi: Plan for the long term. Don’t just ask for feedback immediately after a project. Check in six months or a year later and ask, “How has this impacted your business or life?” That’s when you get the gold.
Darren: Tommi, it’s been an absolute pleasure. For anyone listening who thinks, “I need this guy’s help,” where can they find you?
Tommi: I’m on LinkedIn all the time. Just search “Tommi Murshed-Parish.” I’m the only one there!
Darren: Perfect. Thanks for joining me again, Tommi.
Tommi: Thank you, Darren. Always a pleasure.
Connect with Tommi:
As a UK expat living in Malta, Tommi’s passion is to provide clients with top quality video testimonials they can use to leverage their authority online. If you’d like to reach out to Tommi, you can do so via the links below.
Website: https://conversionsforcoaches.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommi-murshed-parish-conversions-chief/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/murshedparish/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/convert_more_chase_less/
X: https://x.com/tommiingozo?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1sdHI8d1heSNl_Y5S5CTiA
About your host:
Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.
iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/
Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com
Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk