Louis
What
I've pretty much always done to date is bunch most of my testimonials
together. Usually into a yellow box.
However ... the other day Joe recommended I actually spread them out
throughout the page, and try to use them in context. The reasons being
that:
They're more likely to be read this way - people won't just read them
because they're testimonials. They've got to be interested, and a
whole block of them can appear overwhelming/uninteresting.
Spacing the testimonials throughout the page in context can be used
to reinforce the points the copy is making.
One example of such use of testimonials that has worked well is Joe's
following page:
http://newbieclub.com/wfncopy
jason_ga
That's
a rather interesting way of using them. I remember reading one well
known name (Marlon Sanders?) complaining about people putting testimonials
in little yellow boxes all the time, and I have to say this does look
better.
(That said, I use little yellow boxes on my newsletter site for the
testimonials ;) ).
I also like the way the order link is given several times on the page
- very important IMHO.
Cheers,
Jason
infoready
I
think it's a good idea to spread them out. I also thing It would be
good to add bold and big pull quotes in the middle of the, like they
do in magazines. I posted something on the board about this before.
Anyhow, if I find several testimonial boxes in a row, I'm likely to
just skip them. I don't generally feel like they tell me much about
the product, even though I know better, I still don't spend the time
to read them.
I recently read a page that had the testimonials all spread out, and
I read many more of them using this format.
RoyB
I
agree with Justin. When I read through a sales page I will only read
about 4 or 5 testimonials and skip the rest. Esspecially if there
is a looong line of them.
As for putting them in yellow boxes, I like it that way. It helps
to set them off from the context and have a better chance of being
read.
RoyB
Not
to change the subject, but since were talking testimonial here, I
have a question. When you buy a product and it has a plug and go webpage
with testimonials,
Do you...
A) take the testimonials out of the page.
B) leave the tesimonials in.
C) contact the person that wrote the testimonial and get their permission
to use their testimonial for that page on your site (as if they wrote
it for you).
The reason I ask is because I have a couple webpages with testimonials
to the author of the products. And so far the people writting the
testimonials haven't answered their email asking if it's ok to use
them.
Louis, Please feel free to move this post if you feel it should be
elsewhere.
Louis
Originally
posted by RoyB
Not to change the subject, but since were talking testimonial here,
I have a question. When you buy a product and it has a plug and go
webpage with testimonials,
Do you...
A) take the testimonials out of the page.
B) leave the tesimonials in.
C) contact the person that wrote the testimonial and get their permission
to use their testimonial for that page on your site (as if they wrote
it for you).
The reason I ask is because I have a couple webpages with testimonials
to the author of the products. And so far the people writting the
testimonials haven't answered their email asking if it's ok to use
them.
Louis, Please feel free to move this post if you feel it should be
elsewhere.
To answer your question, I would say "B". Since usually
the author has asked for the person's permission to use the testimonial
- and people like free publicity. :)
This question would probably work well as a poll, if you fancy starting
one? :)
Louis
Originally
posted by infoready
I think it's a good idea to spread them out. I also thing It would
be good to add bold and big pull quotes in the middle of the, like
they do in magazines. I posted something on the board about this before.
Anyhow, if I find several testimonial boxes in a row, I'm likely to
just skip them. I don't generally feel like they tell me much about
the product, even though I know better, I still don't spend the time
to read them.
I recently read a page that had the testimonials all spread out, and
I read many more of them using this format.
One thing I see quite a lot which I don't understand (maybe I'm missing
something) is when people take a whole bunch of testimonials and stick
them right at the end of the page after the order link.
I don't believe I ever read those - it just doesn't seem an area of
the page that would be read much. Especially as in those examples
they're often after the price, call to action, order link, and PS's.
infoready
I
don't ever read the ones on the sides of the page either, besides
putting them in a poor location, people shrink the text down, and
make it a lighter color. I guess it may give a slightly different
feel to the letter.
Overall as much as everyone says how important testimonials are, I
don't generally read them, and if I do read them I take them with
a grain of salt. Maybe that's just the skeptic in me.
I think the concept of testimonials is still valid, however we need
to turn the format and the delivery on it's ear to get people to read
them. For example, you could use a testimonial as a sales page. It
could be one long success story that hits all the features of the
product.
jason_ga
Originally
posted by infoready
For example, you could use a testimonial as a sales page. It could
be one long success story that hits all the features of the product.
I think I've seen that done before, although I can't remember where.
To be honest, I simply wouldn't believe any testimonial that was used
in that way. I'd believe that it was just a sales letter in a different
format, and that some copywriter had written it.
Its like those ads in a national magazine that were supposedly written
by some pear farmers (I think). They were actually written by a professional
(and famous - can't remember who) copywriter. Apparently they did
really well.
But after reading the story about the ad, I'll never believe an ad
in that format again ;)
I don't know. I guess the testimonial sales letter would work - just
not for me. But one less customer probably won't worry most people!
:)
Cheers,
Jason
Bill
Shor
Originally
posted by infoready
Overall as much as everyone says how important testimonials are, I
don't generally read them, and if I do read them I take them with
a grain of salt. Maybe that's just the skeptic in me.
Testimonials and even long copy are not always expected to be read
completely. While they should be very readable, and help sell the
product as if they will be read, the truth is that many people don't
read everything. But, having that much material, and a bunch of testimonials,
in front of the prospect to back up what you are saying helps persuade
them that the product has the value stated.
Bill
Yoon
Ho Um
Hi
all,
I wonder if anyone has tested if the
placement of testimonials increased
or decreased actual sales?
To clarify: Increased sales when...
-testimonial near the top
-testimonials interspersed throughout
-testimonials all strung together
-photos, audios, live links added
-no testimonials
One problem with those of us involved
in internet marketing and creating our
own sales copy is that we never look
at a webpage ever the same way again.
If "Joe Average" went to a site there
may be multiple triggers that convert
him into action-buying, but we may end
up thinking 'I know what copywriter is
doing here and there so I'll just ignore
these parts'.
It's like movie critics. Once you learn to
dissect movies you'll never see them the
same mindless way again...
Here's an additional question:
Is it more effective to place pics of testimonial
givers to the right of the text or the traditional
left hand side? "Oh hey, that's different..."
My problem with testimonials is that I
tend to check out any websites they
have... instead of just checking out the
one website I end up looking at many...
is this a weird form of viral marketing...?