Testimonials From Review Copies Don't Mean Squat - Do You Agree Or Disagree?

by 54 replies
65
Warriors,

Every marketer has their own set of biases. One of mine is if I see a testimonial from someone, who I don't know, who admits in their testimonial that they received a review copy, I immediately discount it. It has zero impact on me.

I'm more curious than anything how you Warriors feel about it.

Happy Holidays,

RoD "Where's-My-Eggnog" Cortez
#main internet marketing discussion forum #agree #copies #disagree #review #squat #testimonials
  • Banned
    I agree with you. Why?

    It's easier for a receiver of a review copy to give a pass mark to the product from the giver of the copy than to discredit the product even if the product is a piece of rubbish. After all, the receiver might feel that he has nothing to lose.

    Again, why would a product owner even put a negative testimonial from anybody, including a testimonial from a receiver of review copy, on his site? I can't imagine the reason why a vendor would do that.

    Rod, I feel exactly the same way.

    However, I have to advice those that give fake testimonials to be very careful because their reputation is at stake.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • What if a well known blogger/marketer, who you know as being extremely trustworthy, receives a free review copy and gives a good review?
      • [1] reply
  • RoD "Where's-My-Eggnog" Cortez

    ...your eggnog is hiding in your glass. It's that wee thin layer underneath the rum. :p

    As far as testimonials go, I'm certainly more skeptical of a review by someone I don't know, whether they have received a review copy or not. I might be a little less skeptical if they acknowledge they received a review copy in their review ... at least they're being honest up to that point.

    A lot of it depends on what they say, too. Does the review only highlight the good points, or does it mention a few warts too? Does it seem contrived? Do the language semantics seem more consistent with the OP than the reviewers other posts (indicating the review might have been supplied)? Lots of variables to consider, but mostly I only pay attention to someone I know and trust.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • It depends on who is offering the review.

    Those with integrity do not sell or give their reviews to anyone undeserving...

    But those with a little less integrity may give a positive review to anyone for any reason.

    If you know the integrity of the person offering the review, you know the value of the review.
    • [ 3 ] Thanks
  • RoD "Where's-My-Eggnog" Cortez,

    I don't like the whole "review copy" thing.

    It's not a review of the system, it's a review of the free transaction.

    They almost ALWAYS look like eBay feedback, as well...i.e.

    "Fast delivery. I skimmed it...looks great. Buy with confidence. A+++++++++++"

    Hmmmm.....

    Happy Nogging.

    Cheers,
    Steve
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
    • [1] reply
    • To be blunt, that could be a mistake!

      You still have to be careful with WSOs as well. How well do you know the reviewer? Are they regular contributors to the forum (so you have some idea of who they are)?

      While it would be great if you could trust a testimonial just because it's in a WSO, the truth is that you can't. And that's coming from a guy who consistently gets rave reviews.

      As a seller, I appreciate ALL of the comments left by people. If they are negative, then I consider is constructive criticism, OR may look back over my copy to see where the disconnect was. BUT, even when I get tons of good comments, I would like all buyers to not simply take them at face value, but rather look at the totality of the comments, as well as who's behind them.

      All the best,
      Michael
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • You do understand that the law says they have to disclose this, right?

    So whenever someone deliberately and obviously obeys the law, you immediately discount their opinion.

    I don't know about you, but I rather like people who obey the law. I like people who pay the proper taxes, and get the proper licences, and disclose the proper information as required by law.

    Because in my experience, these are honest and ethical people. So when they say "this product is really good," they actually mean it, and if they didn't mean it they wouldn't say it. Because that would be dishonest and unethical.

    I'm curious what logic leads you to believe that a review from someone who received a review copy is somehow less reliable when they tell you about it.

    Because, you know, all they'd have to do is not tell you. If you ignore the review because they give you this piece of information, they can just stop giving it to you. And then you won't ignore the review anymore!

    Sure, it will be illegal, but that's fine. We'll break this law about disclosing the receipt of review copies, and oh, what the hell: we'll lie about our identity, claim to have a guarantee but not honour it, and come to think of it we could just plain not pay our affiliates.

    Because hey, once you've broken the law, you're a criminal. You're on the other side. You may as well break all the others, too.
    • [2] replies
    • Oh come on, you know what he means, Caliban.

      Using movies as an analogy.

      IF somebody I know tells me a bout a movie, then I will be more likely to accept their comments as opposed to somebody I don't know.

      It's not a question of legality. It's a question of human nature.

      All the best,
      Michael
      • [1] reply
    • Except for when the law says that you can't grow those tangly weeds in your yard, right, CD?
  • WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH ROD???

    Actually, I'm another person who doesn't pay much attention to testimonials. I tend to Google the product and see what others are saying about it. Even then, you have to be careful because some are affiliates and are trying to make a living like everyone else.
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    • Honestly I have never really been too concerned about "how" a reviewer got their product, but more-so the words they use to describe their experience with the product.

      For example I often see reviews here in the WF that I instantly ignore because they are simply too good or too complimentary. I don't really think that is a jaded view either, because if you think about it - how many things in life do you really buy that you are absolutely 100% happy with? Even excellent products have flaws that each person recognizes as something they would like to see done better.

      When I see love-buzz words like "over the top", "massive value", "unbelievable", "they should be charging way more for this", "the best thing I've ever seen" etc., well I simply just ignore that entire write-up because I feel the reviewer is not being realistic, nor completely honest.

      However you get a product - do a REAL review, yes - but not before you actually USE the product as it was intended. Then speak the truth. This way the owner of the product will be able to respond to any issues and prospective buyers will be able to see how the owner responds to such - a VERY important factor when giving your money to someone.

      I would take much more stock in an overall positive review that also mentions a shortcoming or two. Sadly, most reviews - IMHO - are just an extension of the copy.
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Law of reciprocity. You get something for free, it's hard to critcize it, especially in public. And even poor reviews are usually heavily tempered with positive comments because of this.
  • This same question probably has been asked a dozen times here. But there is nothing wrong with providing a free or even discounted review copy to someone to ask for their feedback.

    The only time where you can tarnish your reputation is if you try to incent or convince them in some way that they have to leave a positive review. But across the board, most people who offer reviews here will give their honest feedback on your product or course. And good, bad or indiferent I am all for it.
    • [1] reply
    • Outside of having your own external community that you can leverage, it can be VERY difficult for a new Warrior to gain their WSO traction unless they seek out people to give free review copies out to.

      When I first began, I couldn't even get many of the influential members here to respond to my PMs. What is a new Warrior to do? Their WSO can be dead in the water without anyone "vouching" for it...

      For the benefit of those who are new, and contemplating running a WSO, how would you recommend, to them, that they gain their WSO traction IF they don't have a community to leverage or a huge mailing list already?

      Should they seek out influential members with large post counts?
      • [2] replies
  • It all depends on the honesty of the Marketer, I always assure the person that receive my review copies that all I need from them is their honest opinion. I can ,however, understand your product reviews because usually the big guys in marketing are friends or know each other so when one of them releases a product, they all run and chant for it no matter how bad it may be.
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    • Banned
      In the last few WSO "testimonials" I've given, I've started off by saying "This is a testimonial from a paying customer who's using the product ..." or something very similar.

      Because otherwise people may think I've given a testimonial in exchange for a free copy.

      But then, having said that, you have to go on and say something like "Of course, I'm not suggesting that any others aren't, but this is just something I always say because it helps me, reading testimonials, when people say it", otherwise you may offend others in the thread. :rolleyes:

      Call me a skepchick, but I have almost no faith in product testimonials online unless I know the person giving the testimonial, in which case I ask them a bit about it privately anyway ...

      I certainly think testimonials from review copies are less trustworthy, yes.

      And I agree with Caliban's point above.
    • Speaking as a product creator, if another product creator was releasing crappy products, we probably wouldn't be friends.

      Friends are usually based on core values. When I give a testimonial on some product, I'm saying "this product is consistent with my core values." In general, when a person's products don't do this, that person probably doesn't share my core values.

      Now, if you don't know who I am, you don't know what my core values are. And that's what the testimonial says: "this is why I think this product is consistent with my core values." If you know who I am, and you know what my core values are, then you can just say "oh, Caliban left a testimonial" and you don't have to read it.

      I don't need to read testimonials from Michael Oksa and Gene Pimentel, for example. When I see their pictures next to testimonials, I can stop looking for more "proof" elements because I'm done. So for someone like me, all you have to do is put up a headline, a price, and a picture of Gene or Michael. If the product is something I want, and the price is something I can afford, I'll buy on the strength of that endorsement. Because I know that Michael and Gene and I have similar core values, and that they wouldn't give a testimonial to anything (or anyone) that wasn't consistent with them.

      But with a stranger, you're looking at the text of the testimonial not to see what they said about the product (they said it was good; that's all anyone ever says), but to see what that person's core values appear to be.

      Amusingly, I "know" certain people only through testimonials and have never interacted directly with them or even been in the same communities.
  • I usually read the comments for any WSO backward, from the last page to the first. The last page has the most current comments. I find I can get a more accurate picture of the offer, in most cases. Just because a newer Warrior gets a review copy, doesn't mean their review is not accurate; just as a review from a more well known Warrior, isn't necessarily more honest. I all depends on the individual.
  • I've noted a few forum members who never post negative reviews, so I automatically discount whatever they say.
    Some WSO publishers incorporate in their products a bonus that is offered in return for a positive review on WF. That strikes me as being just a bit shady.
    • [3] replies
    • I don't give negative reviews in public. If your product is a piece of crap, you might get a PM. If it's good, I might post in your WSO thread. But in general, I treat other Warriors like any other friend: "you look great in those jeans" is said loudly in front of everyone, and "those pants make your arse look fat" is quietly whispered at the edge of the room when everyone else is distracted.
    • I think this is actually against the WSO rules. You can ask people to post in your thread, but you are not allowed to offer a bribe, reward or bonus for doing so.
      • [1] reply
    • Banned
      I don't know whether that's against the forum's rules, but their reputations (which ought to be their business's most valuable asset) will gradually suffer from it, and they'll lose potential sales as result.

      Their "karma will run over their dogma".
  • Sometimes it can just work.

    Meaning:

    You do not necessarily have to already have a list or community of your own to launch a successful WSO.

    Sometimes people can tell from the sales copy and the comments back from the OP what kind of person he/she is.

    I feel I am running a very successful WSO.

    It was my first WSO.
    I did not have a list.
    It was my first product. Ever.
    I did NOT give out review copies or solicit reviews. (Basically for the reason being discussed here)

    I monitor the thread and my support email.
    I respond to every comment.
    I listen to the customers and make changes and implement their ideas.
    I am tweaking the product to make it better for the user.

    I have been complimented numerous times on the thread and in the support email about my responses and the support I provide.

    Now, with all that being said. I was lurking on the forum for quite a while before officially joining. I paid close attention to how things seem to 'work'.

    Then once joined, I became active.

    That is what I think has happened to help my WSO to be successful.

    Just my opinion.

    Happy Holidays All!



    Greg
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
  • I guess it depends who writes the testimonials. For the WSO forum, if the testimonials are from credible warriors with lots of posts or good products then I feel more inclined to take their word seriously. But generally speaking I gloss very quickly over testimonials, though having lots of them seems impressive to me.

    I think they're something you need to have, but they don't really add a whole lot of weight - if that makes sense.
  • Rod, this is a good topic.

    I happen to think the wso testimonial process is becoming corrupted. When wso sellers give out review copies the results are almost always glowing testimonials...with rare exceptions. There are some warriors who now appear to have made an occupation out of providing templated positive testimonials for almost every wso! Its quite amazing how fast their 'reports' appear, almost faster than the wso itself :-)

    Recently I was sent a review copy I never requested, with the notation that I was asked to provide a "positive" testimonial. I only felt obligated to provide a testimonial, period.

    My review rated the product as average or slightly above. However it did point out the significant weaknesses I felt were in the product. Within a few days the seller started a brand new listing of the product, I assume so the less than glowing one (mine) wouldn't appear.
    ...and must have given a way a bunch of review copies because he was flooded with happy testimonials, once again.

    If A Steve Wagenheim or a Paul Myers or an Alexa Smith gave a positive testimonial my ears would perk up....but unknown 'freebee seekers' opinions mean nothing.
    _____
    Bruce
  • Rod, I agree.

    When it comes to a testimonial based on a review copy, the list of people whose opinion I trust is small.

    It has nothing to do with the legality of disclosing the nature of the review. If they don't disclose that they got a review copy, they're either ignorant or a scum bag. But that's not the issue.

    The issue is that unless someone has proven to be trustworthy (like you said...Paul Myers for example), a review copy testimonial is a double whammy. First because I don't know, like, & trust them. And second, because of #1, I find it easier to believe that their review could be motivated by reciprocity and/or some form of back scratching shenanigans.
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    • Caliban, this brings to mind something that happened some years ago. When Joe Vitale was trying to establish himself in the IM market, one of his strategies was to offer testimonials to be placed with his link on the product sales page.

      With his credentials, it wasn't long before just about every product on the market had Dr. Joe's smiling face telling you how good the product was. It got so common that I, for one, discounted all of the testimonials on the page if I saw Joe's there.

      Maybe this next bit is picking nits, but I've never posted a testimonial based on a free product. The handful of WSO reviews I've posted are reviews, period. Like you, I much prefer to keep negative feedback private, so the reviews I have posted tend to be positive ones...
      • [1] reply
  • I personally don't even pay attention to testimonials unless I know the person posting the testimonials.
  • There are certain things I rate as more important in a review than whether or not the person reviewing paid for his copy or not...

    1.) The thoroughness of the review - If it's just a "I skimmed through the first few pages" kind of review or if it seems like he/she just rehashed the sales page - I'm on to more exciting things. BUT if there are multiple references to pages or points in the product (and not that crappy "I like the point on page 10" that's become so popular lately) that give me the feeling the reviewer really studied it, I will give it a closer look.

    2.) The presence of negatives or cons - I have never met a product I have liked 100% and any reviewer that tells me he can't find something wrong with a product immediately loses my attention. Every product has problems and a good reviewer will examine that product until he finds a flaw or push it until it breaks...so he can tell the rest of the world just how far it will go. Any review that doesn't list a product's weak points is not a review...it's an ad.

    Personally I feel those are far more important details than whether the reviewer paid for it, received it as a review copy, or stole it from a torrent site. How he got it is not important to me - how he reviews it is. Course that's just my opinion! ;-)
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    • Banned
      Wow, you don't want to know if he was effectively paid to write it?

      Indeed ...
  • I've noted a few forum members who never post negative reviews, so I automatically discount whatever they say.
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