Have You Used Testimonials For Your Sales Page?
One thing I know you are aware of, testimonials have been around for a long time in the offline world. But they can and are used in your online sales page and website as well. People are giving an endorsement of your product and this will go a long way toward social proof. You may have buyers on the fence about whether they can trust you or your product and a good endorsement can mean all the difference in the world. They will see someone who has actually used and benefited from the product, they see it as proof that it works.
Trying to get a testimonial may not be so hard if you are a tried and true well-known internet marketer, a guru. Especially one who has a great relationship with their list, but it can take a little more work if you are untried and unknown.
Try these tips for what to do to get testimonials:
Try offering your product for free on a forum you frequent in exchange for honest comments and a testimonial if they liked it. But wait you say is that something like bribery? Well no, after all you are asking for honest feedback. Sometimes you will get constructive criticism that you can use to improve your product before you release it for sale to the public. Be sure to put a limit on the number you will give away for comments or you will be flooded with requests.
If you should see someone else requesting that they need someone test their product, jump on it and give an honest review about what you thought of the product. Don’t be over the top, just be sincere and honest with your testimonial. Then you could ask them to do the same for you.
You might want to think about calling in some favors. Have you ever helped out a fellow marketer by proofing his copy, leaving lots of comments on his blog or retweeting all of his promotions. Ask for that testimonial. Email him a link and be sure to provide a link for the complimentary copy. If he likes it well enough maybe he will sign up to be an affiliate for the product.
If you have one, go to your list. Explain for the first 5-7 people that give you honest feedback or a testimonial in the next 48 hours, you will give them a free copy of the product. This not only gets you your testimonials but also can create a buzz about the product among your list.
This will happen after the fact but you could always put a request for feedback or positive comments in a READ ME file in the zip folder that goes out to everyone that buys the product. Grab the first couple of positive responses and quickly put them up on your sales page.
Be sure to give a time limit to keep people focused. Send out reminders when the time is up and many of them will drop everything to comply. Be sure you ask for more of the testimonials and feedback than you will need because inevitably you will have a few people who say they will help but will just run off with the product never to say thank you or provide feedback.
As you can see testimonials are a very important way to help convince potential buyers to purchase your product. It is the kind of social proof you will need on your sales page so be sure to take some time gathering them, preferably before your product goes live.
Your right, a good testimonial can make a sale happen! I think the more specific a testimonial is, the better. Potential customers don’t just want to see “I like it” type of comments, but want to see examples of why and how.
You are so right Joel. I would feel better knowing that someone had left a good comment about the specific product and not the “I like it” comment.
Excellent tips Andre!
I particularly like the ideas of asking my list as it gives more interaction with them and provides a good resource for someone who is already familiar with your style of writing.
I also liked the one about including a text file in the download. Am going to have to try that one. While it may not get the response that other options give you, it is an interesting concept.
Testimonials do help, Andre, just as you suggest. And now with the ability to add audio or video testimonials it just make them that much stronger!
Thanks for these tips. I will be using them in the near future. Especially the one about asking my list and rewarding those that give an early and good response. I think your idea about using you list to get honest feedback is also worthwhile. That could help produce a better product.
I do read the testimonials on sales pages and they do give credibility to the product. I like your idea about getting feedback from your list. Who better to contribute their thioughts than your own list. I have not used testimonials yet but plan to.