Comments on: Testimonial Strategies-The Temptation of “Testiphonials”

By: Mike Capuzzi

Mike Capuzzi — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:13:01 +0000

Melissa,

I know where you are coming from. Regarding the questions about my blog, my web guy is looking into those.

Thanks for being a CopyDoodles customer too!

Mike

By: Toronto Dentist in Etobicoke

Toronto Dentist in Etobicoke — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:28:02 +0000

Thanks Mike, I checked out Shannon's site and signed up. Looks like she really knows her stuff.

I totally agree with Rob about using full names, photo and city. It helps verify credibility and more establish social proof. As in, "Hey, this person lives near me."

I also offer a reciprocal link back to their business. Though most of my patients aren't looking for that.

Joe

By: Carmen

Carmen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:03:47 +0000

Thanks Mike for your candid assessment of a very prevalent problem. I think if we as marketers want to be taken seriously (be credible) we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard. People do talk to each other & in the need you will be found out. And even if we're seeking testiphonials with other people who are doing the same thing, we need to keep in mind that "there is no honor among thieves." Let's keep our heads up and we won't have to remember what we lied about!

By: Melissa Galt

Melissa Galt — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:38:24 +0000

Mike,

While I agree, I have written testimonials for satisfied clients when they asked because they had little time to do so and I knew them well enough to write in their "voice." Yes, I'd have preferred it straight from them, however in that business, I worked with just a few very high end clients so each testimonial counted, there was no quantity available as there seems to be in so many IM opps today.

I am not a fan of cannedimonials which is what many authors send in advance and you can always tell that it was all written by one person because generally they all sound alike and well canned!

I know you have the sharemarks, but an RT at the top would really serve those of us who are avid Twitterers.

Warmly, Melissa

PS. Your submit button is showing black, no words, is that deliberate?

By: Rob Anspach

Rob Anspach — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 01:23:48 +0000

I always ask for a testimonial! Since I always have my iphone with a built in video camera on me I always ask if I can have a video testimonial. A short video adds so much more credibility over a written one and can be added to you website, YouTube or social media site. Putting a picture to the written testimonial is also a good idea as it gives the readers an idea who it is behind the words.

If you are going to use a testimonial - use the full name and their city - goes back to being credible. A testimonial with just the persons initials and no location regardless if real - screams phony.

By: Mike Capuzzi

Mike Capuzzi — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:41:05 +0000

Joe,

Great feedback and examples. I checked out your site. Nice job!

I love using surveys too and agree they can be a smart strategy for creating a database of real testimonials. My good friend Shannon McCaffery is creating a very cool survey product (info at http://www.CreateAmazingSurveys.com (non affiliate link).

Mike

By: Mike Capuzzi

Mike Capuzzi — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:37:35 +0000

Thanks Justin!

Mike

By: Toronto Dentist in Etobicoke

Toronto Dentist in Etobicoke — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:55:02 +0000

Here are the last 2 questions...

12. If you could wave a magic wand inside our office and change anything you wanted, what could we improve upon?

13. In 50 words or less, please provide your thoughts and feelings regarding Royal York Dental. NOTE: Best answers will be eligible to win ________ Toothbrush. Thank you for your kindness.

According to Robert Cialdini, the key is to offer the possibility of a small prize and to not "buy" positive responses.

Once people put words to paper, there level of advocacy will have been raised considerably, as long as those words weren't bought.

Joe

By: Toronto Dentist in Etobicoke

Toronto Dentist in Etobicoke — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:40:08 +0000

Great post Mike.
I always found testimonials hard to come by until I recently developed an email survey that we send out as a follow-up to a customer experience.

It's just 13 questions.

The first 11 questions are all multiple-choice as a quick warm-up. They help move people from vague thoughts to meaningful specifics about how their customer experience was handled.

The second-last question allows them to vent about anything they thought could be better. The last question is the one that produces testimonials like magic.

Here's the secret... It's all in the sequence. The email invitation. The opening questions. Everything is designed to set the stage for that last testimonial-gathering question.

Joe
Survey Results - http://www.royalyorkdental.com/dentist-survey
Rave Reviews - http://www.royalyorkdental.com/dentist-rave-reviews

By: Justin Partridge

Justin Partridge — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 23:26:13 +0000

Mike that was a great article and an important message! I agree totally with not only the ethics of doing it right first but also in asking for permission to use each testimonial. It actually creates more belief in your own product or service too.
I wrote a book a few years back and got the majority of the testimonials I needed from thank-you emails, I then wrote them back and asked if I could use what they said for my testimonial page. To my amazement, most of them offered to re write the testimonials better, I think it gave them a sense of being apart or associated to the product. and it's this. I believe I found in retrospect that created testimonials that where believable, said what I couldn't or may not have thought to and actually created new sales people out there pushing my book. You see when someone gives a testimonial they will tend to take association to it and push the living $%&# out of it for you!