Why permissions matter
A public post is not permission to use someone's words in your marketing. Magic Testimonials asks the author by email, records the answer and shows you where each request stands.
Why ask first
A kind comment on a review site or in a social post was written for that place. Putting it on your website, with the person's name and photo, is a different use. Asking first protects your customers' trust and gives you a record of their answer.
The rules differ by country and by industry, and Magic Testimonials cannot tell you which ones apply to you. Ask your own legal adviser. Legal and GDPR lists what the app does and does not do.
How a request works
You add the author's email to a testimonial and click Send Permission Request. See Sending a permission request.
The author gets an email with a link to the consent page. They do not need an account.
They choose Yes, use my name, Yes, but hide my name or No, don't use this.
Their answer updates the testimonial by itself.
If they do not answer, the request stays waiting. Nothing more is sent by itself, and silence never counts as a yes. Click Resend to send the email again.
What each status means
The Permissions page and the Permission card on a testimonial use different words for the same thing.
Permissions page | Permission card | What it means |
|---|---|---|
Not listed | Email Missing | Add the author's email before you can ask. |
Not listed | Ready to Request | The testimonial has an email and no request yet. |
Not sent yet | Ready to Request | A request exists, but its email has not gone out. |
Waiting for reply | Requested | The email went out and the author has not answered. |
Granted | Granted | The author said yes and you can use their name. |
Granted, anonymous | Granted (Anonymous) | The author said yes with their name hidden. |
Declined | Denied | The author said no. See Declined permissions. |
The Permissions page can also show Email bounced or Marked as spam. These replace the status above, because they matter more. See Bounce handling.
An answer is final unless an Owner or Admin asks the author again. The row then shows Not sent yet until the new email goes out, then Waiting for reply, with the earlier answer under it, such as Earlier answer: Declined, and the testimonial is Hidden until the author replies. A No never goes live without a new answer. See Declined permissions.
Permission and status are separate
Each testimonial has a status, such as Inbox, Approved or Archived, and a permission. Both must allow it before it shows in your widgets. On the Testimonials page, each approved card says Live or Hidden. Status workflow explains how they fit together.
The app does not force you to ask. If you click Approve on a testimonial with no request, it goes live. Only do that if you already have permission. See Manual approval.
What this does not do
It does not prove who clicked. Anyone who can open the author's email can answer.
It does not replace a signed release. If your industry needs one, collect it separately and keep it yourself.
It does not create an account for the author. They have no login, only the link in the email.
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