WSO Sellers - Your Testimonials Are Crappy

[Steven Fullman]

Hi WSO sellers,

Sorry for the bad language. Please forgive me.

But I think -- a lot of the time -- your testimonials suck.

I don't care whether your report is "Awesome", "Kick Ass", or even "No Fluff"

No, I want to read about "Results"...real results.

Here's an example of a testimonial guaranteed to get me interested...

Fred...Dude!

I read your report. I did what you said on page 13...I wasn't expecting much.

Well, here I am 3 weeks later sitting on a $900 profit!

You da bomb!

Steve

It doesn't give away the farm, but it demonstrates real results.

...Unlike much of what I've seen lately.

Peace & Love,

Steve

Hey Steve,
Well mine has no testimonials... It has many comments posted by customers that purchased..lol

James

[Andy1750]

I am glad that someone has raised this.

Testimonials are generally political, self centered or biased. Both testimonials and comments in the WSO section of this forum can no longer be trusted. I have even seen thread about whether it is fair to leave a negative comment about a WSO. OMG!

What a ridiculous and gutless world we live in. Don't sell your soul to the devil. If something sucks then say it sucks!

Andy

[Josh Anderson]

I'd suppose the reason behind the crummy testimonials on WSO offers is because people pay people a free copy of the product to give them.

Sometimes testimonials come from people who just barf one up after getting a free copy and then not even reviewing it first.

People are smarter than some sellers think... its pretty easy to spot a barfed up insta testimonial and I bet that buyers pretty much discredit them the minute they spot them.

[ragnartm]

Well I don't have any so ^^

[uwa223]

Lots of WSO sellers are exchanging testimonies; "I'll give you one - if you give me one" (just like the gurus).

[macabhay]

I have to agree that many people will write a testimonial with either themselves or the person who sold them the product in mind. Not others who are going to be buying that product!

Testimonials are meant for other potential customers and should be based on genuine response. It is very easy to tell when a testimonial is real or just conjured up.

I agree that result based testimonials are very, very effective.

[bminor]

Originally Posted by Steven Fullman

But I think -- a lot of the time -- your testimonials suck.

Is this a critique on the seller who includes such "unspecific" testimonials on his page or on the ones who write it (like as a post on the WSO thread)?

I wouldn't be so harsh. As a seller if some customer would write a testimonial just how great my product is without mentioning real results I guess I would still use it. Most testimonials are rather unspecific. And the few showing great results can be used as the gems amongst the others.

And for the writers: Applying the information and seeing results takes time and often you write a testimonial just after you finished the ebook.

For example Imram Naseem agrees with you in this thread and says he'd prefer detailed testimonials. However one of his for the "How I cashed in with CPA offers" WSO reads like this:

>>Originally Posted by Imran Naseem
I bought many WSOS before but this easily has to be the best
Blackhat WSO. I never knew about this strategy.
I think you should raise your price.
This has got me thinking. This is an example of a great WSO,
and someone with not so many posts who has delivered.
Thankyou for a great WSO and good luck on the sales.<<

This is not so detailed, too. Still I guess it's a honest testimonial because I also took this WSO and found it very good.

[Andy1750]

Originally Posted by bminor

As a seller if some customer would write a testimonial just how great my product is without mentioning real results I guess I would still use it.

And therein lies the problem. And if a you received a negative review would you also use it?

Andy

[nzdealer]

Thanks for the feedback mate, it will help us greatly. Now we know what you want and this way we can offer that to you and others as well. cheers

[bminor]

Originally Posted by Andy1750

And therein lies the problem. And if a you received a negative review would you also use it?

Andy

Sorry but I can't see the point. Could you explain how this would pose a problem to use a positive testimonial which doesn't include results?

And I also don't know what you mean with "use a negative review". That I post it on my salespage? No, I wouldn't. If that would make me a dishonest marketer in your eyes I think I could live with that.

Or that I take it up with the dissatisfied customer and if I find his critique justified, use it to improve the product? Yes I would.

[Steven Fullman]

Originally Posted by bminor

Is this a critique on the seller who includes such "unspecific" testimonials on his page or on the ones who write it (like as a post on the WSO thread)?

The former.

Sellers can't control the comments on a thread.

But they can control the comments they choose to
include in their offer.

A testimonial isn't meant to stroke the seller's ego.

Its purpose is to help the reader make a buying decision.

I can understand why sellers do it. Heck, I've done it myself.
After all, lots of positive comments are a sign of a (potentially)
good product.

But the comments are right there in the thread. Why recycle
them...especially the one's which offer little or no WIIFM?

Ah, I realise I came out of the blocks a little harsh.

I'm not normally such a diva.

Cheers,
Steve

[Mary Gallivan]

The first thing I look at in a WSO testimonial is who it is written by.

If the testimonial is given by a trusted and reputable warrior then I tend to take more notice of it and value what they have to say.

Mary

[Steven Wagenheim]

Steve, I agree with you and I'm probably no better than anybody else.

In looking over the one WSO I have running where I actually printed a ton
of testimonials, maybe 1 or 2 actually talk about actual results.

The problem is, and this is a big problem that copywriters have, is you
can't control the kind of testimonial you get. You can send out a form
letter and ask specific questions, but ultimately, the person giving the
testimonial is going to say what they're going to say.

You then have to decide to use it or not.

I rarely use testimonials for my WSOs. I don't need them.

In this case, I added them to see if it would make any difference.

Guess what?

In my case (I can only speak for myself) it hasn't made a darn bit of
difference in my sales. I probably could have left them out.

I may or may not use them in my next one. I honestly don't know. I'm not
big on testimonials anyway (Just look at my sales pages) even though
everybody tells me I'm crazy not to have them.

But that's my problem.

Anyway, you're right. A good testimonial should essentially say to the
prospect....

"I used xyz and I got abc results."

That is a testimonial.

Sadly, in this business, they are few and far between.

[Kay King]

WHO the testimonial is from counts for more with me.

50 "this is great" testimonials from people I never heard of don't carry any weight for me in a WSO offer. But we may need to factor in the posts in WSO's that ask "anybody make money with this" - that are posted a few minutes after the WSO goes live.

However, it is interesting that so many WSO's are bumped again and again and rerun every few months - with no previous buyer ever posting "I've made money using this method".....and yet people keep buying them.

kay

[Loren Woirhaye]

Originally Posted by Josh Anderson

People are smarter than some sellers think... its pretty easy to spot a barfed up insta testimonial and I bet that buyers pretty much discredit them the minute they spot them.

BARF - barf barf!

[Noel2010]

Steve, this a one of the best points ever.

I would guess that some people who get good results would just make their own WSO.

But the real reason you will never see a real testimonial talking about how much was made, is -

NO money was made.

Also...

I hate those "testimonials" that say - this should be sold for much more. You just paid $10 but you feel that others should now pay $30 for the same thing!

[BurgerBoy]

I've always thought that most testimonials are nothing more than the results of the seller's imagination and trying to con newbies to buy something they don't need to make money in affiliate marketing and is basically worthless.

There is no such thing as - get rich quick - with no work - be a millionaire in 6 weeks - and etc.

Affiliate marketing is hard work just like any other job is.

Most of the information they're trying to sell is free online if you're just learn to use Google search.

Their average sales pitch looks like this: Buy My Stupid Ebook, Overly SEO d Title, Keywords Crammed like Make Money Online Make Money Online Make Money Online

[Alan Petersen]

Man you just can't win around here these days. If someone takes the time to write a positive post on my WSO which isn't detailed enough am I supposed to write them back and say that was a crappy testimonial you just left--try again. I don' t think so. I'm talking about unsolicited testimonials people take time to post in the WSO thread.

I don't use those posts in the eventual sales pages for the product it's just on the WSO. But I'm thankful for all feedback, good and bad even if they don't meet your criteria. Don't like it, don't buy it. Or buy it, try it, and give your own non-crappy testimonial (good or bad). Maybe you can start a trend.

[Cyrus]

Well if you ask me..

I don't believe on testimonials since i saw few people trading & giving *fake* Good Testimonials just to get free copy.. even they didn't try the method yet. thats insane..

[Steven Fullman]

Originally Posted by Alan Petersen

Man you just can't win around here these days. If someone takes the time to write a positive post on my WSO which isn't detailed enough am I supposed to write them back and say that was a crappy testimonial you just left--try again. I don' t think so. I'm talking about unsolicited testimonials people take time to post in the WSO thread.

Hi Alan,

I don't think I've made my point as clearly as I should have.

I'm talking about sellers who cut & paste every positive comment
in a thread back into their sales pitch...a la...

Here's what other Warriors have said about Blackhat Billionz...

It's Awesome, Dude!

Great Report

...etc.

If I'm interested in a product -- Guess what? I'm going to
read the other comments anyway!

Posting them back into the main pitch just dilutes the message,
at least in my opinion. Unless the comment is made by someone
I know and trust.

Originally Posted by Alan Petersen

I don't use those posts in the eventual sales pages for the product it's just on the WSO. But I'm thankful for all feedback, good and bad even if they don't meet your criteria. Don't like it, don't buy it. Or buy it, try it, and give your own non-crappy testimonial (good or bad). Maybe you can start a trend.

I think there's a distinction, and you clearly agree, between
positive (and negative) comments...and valuable testimonials.

Is all.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, Alan.

I appreciate your feedback

Cheers,
Steve

EDIT: Reading back...What kind of pompous prig am I...? I mean,
in the big scheme of things, it is a bit of a silly rant, isn't it?

I do apologise!

[Ivancho]

I never have testimonials in my WSO's, I personally leave the customer to leave one when he feels is needed...

[koolphoto]

Steve,

I agree with you. And I also agree that it does matter who is giving the testimonial. It carries more weight with me if the person is a Warrior whose posts I read and like.

I usually ignore the "...just downloaded my copy and will read it soon..looks good." type of testimonial which I have seen and don't understand why it has been included.

[PrettyJenny]

When I make up my mind on buying a WSO, normally I don't even read the testimonials in the sales post but go through pages to see the random comments from people who read it.
I don't pay much attention whether the person leaving comment is long established and creditable in the forum. There are many newbies out there who just are finding ways to earn money online.