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How to Share Client Wins Without Sounding Like You’re Bragging

If posting testimonials makes you feel like a walking infomercial… you’re not alone.

Most “client win” posts fall flat because they skip the story and jump straight to the ending. You know the ones: “Highly recommend!” “So inspiring!” Cool. But nobody shares praise. They share recognition.

In this episode of The Story Lab, I’m showing you how to turn a testimonial into a story your audience can actually see themselves in, so it lands as relatable (not braggy).

You’ll learn my 6-part framework:
Before, Trigger, Shift, After, Scene, and Cost.

Then you’ll learn how to turn one review into three pieces of content:

1. The Client Story Post
2. The Lesson Post
3. The Behind-the-Scenes Post

Episode Chapters (Timestamps)

00:00 Intro
00:43 Why testimonials feel awkward (and why they usually fall flat)
02:30 The real reason people share content: recognition, not praise
03:25 What most testimonials are missing: movement (before → after)
04:05 The framework: Before, Trigger, Shift, After
05:00 Add the two power-ups: Scene + Cost
06:30 The full 6-part checklist (everything you need, nothing you don’t)
07:10 Real example: breaking down a Google review step-by-step
09:10 Turning the same review into Post #1: The Client Story
11:05 Turning the same review into Post #2: The Lesson
12:55 Turning the same review into Post #3: Behind the Scenes
14:40 Your assignment: turn one testimonial into three posts
15:40 DM prompt: “Make it a story” (send me your review screenshot)
16:15 Outro + leave a review for the show

The Review We Break Down (Real Example)

Annelie Roux (Local Guide • 9 reviews • 19 photos)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Having let my Instagram account drift into digital limbo with only an occasional post, declining reach, and loosing followers, I knew I needed to revamp my personal brand before launching my Digital Divas channel on Chatter Social, but I kept putting it off for ‘more important’ things.

Enter: Jonathan Howard’s Signature Style Challenge — the exact kick in the derrière and accountability I knew I needed.

Jonathan’s prompts weren’t just ‘helpful tips.’ They were strategic, creative, and delivered with the kind of clarity that cuts through excuses. The live Zoom sessions and private Facebook group made it feel like a real-time bootcamp — minus the pressure, but with all the fire.

The feedback? Actual guidance, not fluff. I walked away with a sharper voice, a distinctive style, and content I’m proud to post.

If you’ve been circling the drain of ‘I’ll fix my brand soon’… this challenge is for you. For less than a coffee, you’ll get a full-on creative intervention.

What You’ll Learn

• How to share client wins without sounding like you’re bragging
• The 6 ingredients that make testimonials feel like a real story
• How to turn one review into three content posts
• How to write client wins that make people think: “Wait… that’s me.”

Your Quick Assignment

Grab one testimonial and answer:

• Before: Where were they?
• Cost: What was it costing them to stay there?
• Trigger: What made them finally act?
• Shift: What changed during the work?
• After: What’s different now?
• Scene: What moment or feeling makes it real?

Then write:

1. Client story post
2. Lesson post
3. Behind-the-scenes post

One review. Three posts. No

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