Remote vs. In-Person Testimonials: Which Converts Better?

Quick Links

• Complete Guide to Remote Testimonial Videos
• 5 Mistakes to Avoid in Remote Testimonial Videos
• Remote Case Studies for SaaS

Introduction

Every company knows they need testimonials — but how they get them has changed dramatically. For years, the only “serious” option was to hire a film crew, fly them out to your customer, and capture an in-person interview. It felt polished, professional, and safe.

The problem? It was slow, expensive, and hard to repeat. By the time you finished, your product may have already launched three new features.

Today, remote testimonials are reshaping the game. They’re faster, more authentic, and they often perform just as well (if not better) than the expensive studio shoots.

The Case for In-Person Testimonials

In-person has its strengths. If you’re running a brand campaign with a six-figure budget, studio-quality footage makes sense. You can control every variable — lighting, sound, set design, direction.

But the costs stack up quickly:

• Travel for a crew and equipment.
• Scheduling that eats up weeks of time.
• Customers needing to block out half a day.
• Post-production timelines that stretch into months.

For most SaaS and startups, that’s simply not sustainable. You might get one or two great videos per year, but you’ll always be playing catch-up with the speed of your business.

The Case for Remote Testimonials

Remote testimonials flip the equation. Instead of coordinating a full production, you send your customer a simple set of prompts and let them record asynchronously.

Benefits include:

• Speed → days instead of months.
• Cost → no travel, no crew, minimal overhead.
• Scale → capture proof from customers anywhere in the world.
• Authenticity → customers are more relaxed in their own environment.

The best part is that these testimonials don’t feel like commercials. They feel like conversations. And that’s exactly what buyers respond to.

Which Converts Better?

This is the question most teams care about. Do polished in-person videos actually outperform the simpler remote versions?

Here’s the reality: buyers care about what your customer says, not how cinematic the footage looks. They want to hear real problems, real outcomes, and real enthusiasm. Remote captures that naturally.

In-person might impress with production value, but it can sometimes feel staged. Remote, on the other hand, often comes across as more genuine — and that can make it more persuasive.

Example Scenario

Let’s say your SaaS company signs a customer in London, another in Austin, and another in Singapore. With an in-person approach, you’d need three separate shoots, three crews, and a huge budget. Realistically, you’d probably pick just one and leave the others for “later.”

With remote, you can capture all three stories in the same week. Each customer records when it’s convenient, you edit them into usable clips, and suddenly you’ve got a global set of testimonials that would have been impossible in the old model.

When In-Person Still Makes Sense

There are a few cases where in-person can still be the right move:

• High-budget brand films → when the goal is cinematic storytelling.
• Customer conferences → if you already have people gathered in one place.
• Enterprise case studies → where polish is part of the message.

But these are the exceptions, not the rule. For ongoing social proof, remote wins every time.

FAQs

Do remote testimonials look professional enough?
Yes. With simple tips on lighting, audio, and framing, remote testimonials look sharp and trustworthy.

Will customers take it seriously?
Most customers actually prefer remote. It’s less of a burden, and it feels more casual — which leads to more natural stories.

Do I need to choose one or the other?
Not at all. Many companies do remote as their core process, then add in-person for special occasions.

Conclusion

In-person testimonials aren’t obsolete, but they’re no longer the default. Remote testimonials give you speed, scale, and authenticity — without the cost or complexity. For SaaS and startups, that’s what matters most.

At ProofPudding, we capture remote testimonials that deliver the same impact as in-person shoots — minus the crews, travel, and delays. 👉 See Plans

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