Do customer testimonials actually mean anything to you?

joshwc · #1 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 09:30

We were wondering whether customer testimonials influence your decision to buy/use someones services?

Do you read or even believe! customer testimonials on websites, and if so do they reassure you?

Our salesteam regularly collect testimonials and now we have literally hundreds. It would be useful to know if its worth putting more on our site.

What are your opinions? Thanks.

Calibre Designs · #2 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 09:45

Without a doubt - YES.

Most of our clients come from referrals where other companies who have used us say "check these guys out...". For reassurance, they check the testimonials page to see what others say about us and many were convinced from this alone.

The portfolio shows off our work proving that the standards of work can be delivered.

"Imagine if they can do that for me..."

Rings...

I almost always ask how they got our details and what persuaded them to hire us in the first place. A big percentage of that was based on what they've read on the testimonials page.

Hope this helps.

Kay

Allblue · #3 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 10:04

I think it depends on what line of business you in.

openmind · #4 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 10:08

Yes and No.

If the testimonial is clearly traceable i.e. It's not signed off as Mr Smith from the arse end of nowhere then they hold water with both myself as a buyer and also my clients checking out my testimonials.

Also never, ever fake them...

Indizine · #5 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 10:09

It depends on the credibility of the rest of the website for starters, and how much detail the testimonial gives.

If the testimonial is Mrs G from Chester then forget it - in fact I would rather see none at all. I want to see a full name and company name and ideally a sample of the work that ws done for them (if its visual) or facts and figures if it was a service.

I also want to know who the owner is - a name, a photo even better and full contact details not a mobile or just a 0845 and a PO box! Without these the testimonials mean nothing to me.

admagic · #6 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by openmind

Yes and No.

If the testimonial is clearly traceable i.e. It's not signed off as Mr Smith from the arse end of nowhere then they hold water with both myself as a buyer and also my clients checking out my testimonials.

Also never, ever fake them...

Agree with this.

Everyone is sceptical, so credibility is everything - and testimonials are a vital part of that - however as we have noticed, people are sceptical even of testimonials too!!

There is a lot of test evidence that video testimonials work a lot better than written, because you can see the lack of rehearsal , and spontaneity for your self. So Mr G of Chester becomes real.

Precision is useful. If someone says...it reduced my costs by £231 per year..... instead of "reduced my costs a lot" becomes tangible

Also....a long list of hundreds of testimonials on a page, clearly arent faked for a small business.

The best testimonial is not "is a great company" but has the form "once I was lost, now I am found"

Those that have tried it have proved that if you put a telephone number with the testimonial (a) it makes a massive difference (b) people rarely call the number...(c) You will struggle to find anyone willing.

Testimonials CAN also make a good headline....

I remarked earlier about a great ad in daltons.

The head of that ad...is

"the best move of my liife"

And the deck is the testimonial itself

"to be honest, I wish I had made this decision 10 years a go....

Good bit of copy , will do well I think. It just lacks specifics is the only weakness

mattyk50 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 11:58

if i can request contact details for the testimonials, then yes!

rgbartlett · #8 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 13:10

I'd be happy with a testimonial I could contact, but I wouldn't expect to see their contact details online, that's just not wise! However if you can say "for contact details for these client please email blah@blah.co.uk" then that's fair enough.

wecando.biz · #9 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 13:13

A very good question. People buy from you only when they are comfortable and testimonials can help to win comfort if they appear real.

Tesimonials/endorsements are a pivotal part of how WeCanDo.BIZ works, because in my view a listing that has some credible endorsments attached (all endorsers have to be members, so real people) is more interesting to someone who is purchasing than a business listed on our site that doesn't.

We only allow endorsements to be written by your customers, as we feel they should be in the same capacity as those who are reading the endorsements. This stops suppliers offering you glowing words of support as long as you continue to buy from them and other such actions which corrupt "real" ensorsments.

I don't like Ecademy's way of handling testimonials, which can be given by anyone to anyone else. I frequently get requests from absolute strangers who are prepared to write glowing things about me as if I am Godfather to their children, if I do the same back for them. That complete devalues any sort of endorsements system in my view.

As others are saying, they are valaubale if there is a way of showing they are real.

IH

Fuzzy · #10 (**permalink**) 02-10-2008, 15:53

Testimonials, we have quite a few, but have only put a handful on our website.

I wouldn't read them if they didn't have a way of tracing and checking up and also if there was any more than say 8.

It is a toughie and as some people are reluctant to have their personal details displayed on websites.