17 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
17 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Would you change this testimonial if it was for you site?

by Ashley Gable
15 replies
I recently gave away a few free copies of my ebook. Its not in the internet marketing niche.

I got back some reviews. But is it better to "edit" a testimonial by cutting it down. Or to put "Unedited, Unchanged Testimonials" Or something like that, and put them up as they are.


here is one testimonial I got that is very good. She says how training is so expensive, which by the way, is what my main competitor sells, and is a point I make in my book and site -That one on one training is not necessary and too expensive to "just give it a go".

There are a few typos in the testimonial, like "brake" instead of "break" , is that okay? Also she points out the typos in my ebook, should I leave that in?

loved the book!! it is full of USEFUL information.
Information I wish I would have had 5 years ago when I first wanted to get started in this business
The Internet was the only place to get information where I live and that was fine but you only get little snippets of information here and there its like a jigsaw puzzle and lets not forget the misinformation out there too
And classes were so expensive and barely covered anything I needed to feel comfortable getting started.
If I had found this ebook back then I would have been ready to start as soon as my equipment was purchased
I cant wait to see what you come up with next
and I really like your brake it down get to it detailed attitude
the only problem I saw with the ebook was some type--os and a few missing words otherwise just its fantastic
please let me know what you come up with next
Thanks
Ashley
#change #site #testimonial
  • Profile picture of the author Tom Brite
    Edit it so that its to how you want it!

    Then email her back with the 'new' version and ask her if you can use it on your website and if she is okay with that as its her name going under it!

    Then if she say's yes then use it... if not then find someone else's.

    Tom Brite
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224208].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author David Babineau
    Stuff like fixing typos shouldn;t be a problem at all. After all, if that person's name is appearing on your site they won't want to look like idiots anyway...

    But yeah as Tom says I would chagne it as you like and email the peson and get their approval. Just try and be diplomatic when you email them and say something like "thanks for your great testimonial I really appreciate it. I was doing some editing to fix a few typos and to make it fit better on my site so I was wondering if you could look over it and tell me if this is OK or not? THanks again! Ashley"

    Cheers,
    David
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224213].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ashley Gable
      Originally Posted by Tom Brite View Post

      Edit it so that its to how you want it!

      Then email her back with the 'new' version and ask her if you can use it on your website and if she is okay with that as its her name going under it!

      Then if she say's yes then use it... if not then find someone else's.

      Tom Brite
      Originally Posted by BargainCopywriter View Post

      Stuff like fixing typos shouldn;t be a problem at all. After all, if that person's name is appearing on your site they won't want to look like idiots anyway...

      But yeah as Tom says I would chagne it as you like and email the peson and get their approval. Just try and be diplomatic when you email them and say something like "thanks for your great testimonial I really appreciate it. I was doing some editing to fix a few typos and to make it fit better on my site so I was wondering if you could look over it and tell me if this is OK or not? THanks again! Ashley"

      Cheers,
      David
      Okay thanks. I didnt think of doing that!

      But just to be clear, you think that the testimonial as it is (with the typos fixed) is not good enough? That it needs to be changed?

      Thanks
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224247].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Tina Golden
        [DELETED]
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224261].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Astounding Writing Coach
          I agree with leaving in the typos. It sounds like it's from a real client/customer with the misteaks in it.
          Susan
          Signature
          Astounding Writing Coach
          Why do personal development, self-help, natural wellness and hypnosis small business owners regularly hire me for my engaging, intuitive, creative content writing skills? Because that's what I passionately do best.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1234671].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
            I normally advice my clients to leave misspellings in testimonials
            'as is' because it gives some credibility to them. People are not
            particular about spelling when they write an email. If the
            testimonial sounds too polished then you're more suspicious
            about them being 'made up'.
            Ray, it depends on your market.

            For an audience of consumers who don't care about professionalism, it's fine to leave a testimonial with misspellings and without capital letters.

            For a business audience, a testimonial like this could be a disaster. I would question the sanity of a company that wanted to use something so sloppy to brag about its services. This is a pretty extreme example, like showing someone in a video wearing pajamas - not just "casual Friday" clothes.

            Marcia Yudkin
            Signature
            Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1236150].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Jack Bastide
            Originally Posted by Astounding Writing Coach View Post

            I agree with leaving in the typos. It sounds like it's from a real client/customer with the misteaks in it.
            Susan

            Misteaks = Mistakes

            did you do that on purpose ?

            Jack
            Signature

            If you can drive Biz Op Phone Calls .... I'm Buying

            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1236340].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    I normally advice my clients to leave misspellings in testimonials
    'as is' because it gives some credibility to them. People are not
    particular about spelling when they write an email. If the
    testimonial sounds too polished then you're more suspicious
    about them being 'made up'.

    -Ray Edwards
    Signature
    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224407].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ashley Wright
    Leave it exactly how it is! Shows its from a genuine person, people reading it will understand that also
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224431].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Roach
    I agree with Raydal, typos make the testimonial seem more genuine. Nobody writes the way they did in high school english class.

    I would personally edit it for length, just so the reader can hit the high points of the testimonial quickly without slogging through a personal letter, but it's still pretty good the way it is.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224488].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Scott
    Personally... I try to keep the "tone" of the testimonial... while polishing it so it reads better.

    The testimonial is still a part of your sales letter... and customers are terrible at writing good sales material

    If you've got spelling errors in it, I usually try and leave them in (so long as it doesn't confuse the message). But I DO edit for ease of reading and emotion.

    -Dan
    Signature

    Always looking for badass direct-response copywriters. PM me if we don't know each other and you're looking for work.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224564].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Ashley Gable
      Thanks for all the help. I was thinking the same thing as all of you - that maybe if I leave the typos in it will seem more genuine, the last thing I want is to make it look like i made it all up!

      I will write and ask here about fixing the "brake" part as that kind of bothers me and might confuse readers.

      Thanks Again for the help!
      Ashley

      Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises View Post

      Personally, I think it's fine the way it is. More genuine and believable that way.

      Tina
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Absolutely right. I'd be very happy to use it exactly as it is and would think anything I "did to it" would make it less credible.
      Originally Posted by Raydal View Post

      I normally advice my clients to leave misspellings in testimonials
      'as is' because it gives some credibility to them. People are not
      particular about spelling when they write an email. If the
      testimonial sounds too polished then you're more suspicious
      about them being 'made up'.

      -Ray Edwards
      Originally Posted by wrighty10 View Post

      Leave it exactly how it is! Shows its from a genuine person, people reading it will understand that also
      Originally Posted by Daniel Roach View Post

      I agree with Raydal, typos make the testimonial seem more genuine. Nobody writes the way they did in high school english class.

      I would personally edit it for length, just so the reader can hit the high points of the testimonial quickly without slogging through a personal letter, but it's still pretty good the way it is.
      Originally Posted by Daniel Scott View Post

      Personally... I try to keep the "tone" of the testimonial... while polishing it so it reads better.

      The testimonial is still a part of your sales letter... and customers are terrible at writing good sales material

      If you've got spelling errors in it, I usually try and leave them in (so long as it doesn't confuse the message). But I DO edit for ease of reading and emotion.

      -Dan
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1224860].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dainis
    I'd say fix the carriage returns for sure. Sometimes people are embarrassed about their spelling, if it winds up in a testimonial. I'd just take up contact with the person as suggested above. My inclination is to help the person and the testimonial look good, which does involve a bit of editing. Keep the tone, run it past the person, post. Also, if I use testimonials "as is" (no editing), I just use the first initial of the person's name and don't check with them.
    Signature
    Profitable Virtual and Physical Business Integration
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1225899].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author geekology
    Yeah I would go with Tom's suggestion.
    Signature


    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[1226585].message }}

Trending Topics