Ebook Finally Done After 3 Years - Now How Do I Get Testimonials?

3 Years...oh man. That's a lot of time...

Ok - did you have a plan in mind? You said a product launch...

I'm going to warn you - that takes a LOT of effort and planning. Especially if you want big names on board.

You are going to need to first prove your product converts.

If you want to speed this process along, you need to lay down about 500 to 1000 bucks for PPC ad's.

The sole goal is to see if it converts. It doesn't matter if you break even or lose money - if you make sales, you will know it converts.

You can then start taking those numbers to affiliates and partners.

But first you gotta prove it's a money maker - unless of course you already have a network of partners.

Rob

Edit: I also wanted to warn you about getting good testimonials - you are talking about a dating product. It will take a few weeks for people to not only read the book but then implement.

I suggest you find someone who is willing to do the steps provided.

Sadly, most people will read it and never actually do anything with it.

What you want is success stories. So find people who are the most motivated to make it work, give it to them, and then make sure they actually use it. Then if they have success, they can provide a case study/testimonial for you.

Rob

Well, congrats on getting your ebook done! I happen to have a couple out there on the very same topic. Here's my advice:

I found testimonials to be rather overrated. I didn't have any on my site when I first launched and sales were fine. Then I added a few and I saw no change in sales. I thought about doing the things you are suggesting, but most didn't work. I asked readers to supply them and most didn't.

What happened is eventually they started to just come in from various customers. I put the good ones on my site. Like I said, they didn't have much effect on my sales but I still have them on there.

I wouldn't use fake testimonials or any of that fiverr stuff. Always best to be honest and post good, real feedback from customers.

Good Luck!

Hi Rob,

Yeah 3 years is a long time, but I wanted to make it really good.

As for planning, I've got that covered. I did a lot of thinking/planning during the time I wrote it and I think I've got most of my bases covered.

You are definitely right when you say I need to PROVE my product converts first. I already thought of that and had no intention of approaching a single JV until I did that first.

And yes, I've already allotted at least a 1k budget for Google AdWords to test things out.

It's funny you mention that it will take people some time to read and try out the material for a dating site, because I actually thought of the very same thing.

I also know full well that most people will read the first 30-40 pages of an ebook and then stop. (Even for ones they've paid for!)

As such, I've already addressed this in my "Testimonial template" email. Here's a snippet of it:

In return, all I ask is for your testimonial (with a few guidelines in mind):

1. The book is 185 pages long, but it contains A TON of info on how to meet and date attractive women online. The book will retail for $97 once it goes live in a few months. As you will receive the book for free, I ask that you actually read the whole thing, not just skim it. (This will take some time and that's ok, I just ask that you do in fact read all of it, not just the first few pages.)

2. Once you've read the whole thing, I'd like to hear your feedback, things like:

- What did you like about it?
- What didn't you like about it?
- What worked well?
- What didn't work well?
- Did the material help you get more responses from women? (More dates?)
- Was anything confusing or not clear?
- Was there anything you felt that was missing?

3. Depending on your feedback (hopefully it's positive), I may use your testimonial on my website as a "success story." No personal information about you will be used (not even your name or location).


I then go on to state that if and only if they are ok with these terms, will they get my book for free. I figure it's the best way to filter out the guys that have no intention of sending me any concrete feedback.

I also think it's a numbers game. I might have to contact 100 guys to get 10 decent testimonials, but I'm ok with that. I just wish there was an easier way to ask people instead of going live prematurely.

That being said however, you still need to prove your product converts before contacting JVs, so I guess a "soft launch" is the only answer.

I'm curious as to what other "non high profile marketers" do before they launch to get some feedback on their product(s)?

Here's what I would do: I'd get some of the women I met online to give testimonials.

Hey Chris,

Yeah I had thought about that myself. I totally believe that to be true. Whenever I show my friends and family a sales page for an IM product, they immediately dismiss it as fake or a scam. Even if I show them a product of a reputable guru (which we know, but they don't) they refuse to believe anything on that page, especially the testimonials.

So I can see how not having them wouldn't make a huge difference.

Of course, only testing said scenario with your site/product will tell you the truth, but you've given me the confidence to do a soft launch without worrying about the lack of testimonials beforehand.

Joey, thanks for the nice words. And yes I was thinking of that too. Offering a special introductory price/offer for the first few customers to get the "testimonial ball" rolling.

Fiverr.com is by far the best and cheapest place to get video testimonials.

Yah, getting affiliates to promote for you can be a tough one. There are a lot of great threads on here covering that topic. Offering 100% instant commissions is one way to attract some good affiliates pretty quick.

I've approached a few and some have made some good sales. I'm always willing to work with serious affiliates who are willing to work with me. Then there are always those who don't respond to your request. I just write them off as those who don't like making money.

And yah, don't worry about testimonials right now. Just get your ebook out there!

$97??? That must be one HELL of an ebook!

Thanks Tony. I appreciate your words. You definitely sound like you've been down in the trenches and that you speak from experience. Great stuff.

Here are my thoughts:

1. At launch, I plan to offer $20 off the sale price for the first 48 hours only. I know this works well because frankly, it worked on me for another product. I'm betting (i.e. hoping) this gives me a little leverage to approach potential JVs. If there's one thing I've learned about selling, it's that people love to buy things that are NEW and that are on SALE. I'm hoping this urgency factor will help me score a few partners. (Of course, I'm not relying solely on that, it's just one of many factors I plan to implement.)

2. Believe me, I'm all about the long term. However, I only have 1 product. Granted, I do have a few affiliate links scattered throughout the book for potential back end sales, but I'm doubtful I'll make a lot from those. (Although I could be totally wrong.)

Aside from that I'm also planning to build a list during my launch and I've already got content typed out to pitch/promote other quality products in the dating niche. I know you are saying give 100% of my product profits upfront in exchange for more traffic/subscribers from more JVs, but I just can't believe 100% commission is what it would take. That just seems overly greedy to me.

However, that being said, I do see the value in doing something like that if it means they can send me a healthy amount of subscribers. There's just too many unknowns. What % of buyers will purchase through my back end links within the PDF? What % will buy the affiliate offers I promote?

I think the 100% commission route would work better for someone with multiple products, with say a $37 or $47 product at the front end combined with 2 or 3 higher priced upsells.

In any event, what if you started with 50% commission, and if they refused, move up to 75% and then 100% after that? Does Clickbank allow you to do this? Offer specific commission amounts for specific affiliates?

I agree with Tony above. I too, didn't like the idea of offering 100% commissions to affiliates at first, but you have to look at it as a long term business. You're getting a buyer's list to sell other products. That can be really valuable.

I'm not sure what you have in your ebook, but at $97, conversions might be tough. Ebooks in this niche tend to go for $27, $37, and $47. I would test all three price points. If you do, in fact generate a lot of sales at $97, then a 50% commission would be more appropriate. Just make sure and do some testing.

Highest you can go is 75% with Clickbank. There are other options you can use for a full commission such as Digiresults. Starting at 50% and then working you way up is a good idea. Do what's best for you.

Give out the book to some dudes you know having a hard time getting girls....then get their testimonials after they try out the techniques in the book. If they work, get the testimonials. If not, tweak the book so that they do.

Man, Tony's post sounds like I wrote it.

He is so spot on with so much.

Your first product, sometimes your first few products, should simply be looked at as the toll to play the game.

You think 100% is high?

I get people offering 100% with 25% bonuses for the first 30 days...they are PAYING just to try and get people to promote. Because, that's what it takes to be competitive.

3 years has caused you to be emotionally attached. Why did it take so long? Perfectionism? Just move past that.

I think the advice you've been given to give 100% commissions is good. At least 75% would be respectable. Clickbank's top is 75%

You've kind of put the cart before the horse. To get good JVs you need a good product but also a killer sales process with metrics that you can share. That might mean running on Adwords etc. for awhile to get conversion rates. Nothing will kill your career faster than launching a dud offer that doesn't convert through a big list.

If you can secure the interest of a big JV, they might be able to put you in touch with people for testimonials (customers/friends who can try and review it)

Most promoters are going to expect an initial sale with at least one upsell (often 2-3) before they take a look.

I can't really send any private messages back to you because my post's, but can you send me your email in a private message then I will reply and then you'll get mine.



Thanks again.

If you want testimonial just give away a few dozen copies and ask people to write honest reviews.

Hey mike! First of all congrats on getting your ebook done. Seem like you did a very hard work on the e-book. But you have to think like a businessman. I am fully agree with the guys: ccmusicman, Christophe Young and Tony Marriott giving you advice that don't wait for testimonials just go ahead and sell your product and collect testimonial together

Anyways I am ready to help you, I could provide a good testimonial for you. You just PM me the review copy of your e-book.

I want to mention that I bought a 2000$ product on how to launch your product online? Really was a good information. Here is some info which applies on your case is

1. Don't wait! Just go online with your product. I think Joey and mine testimonial is sufficient to satisfy your need for testimonial.
2. You can use a better option like dating ezines for a cheaper and targeted traffic to your sites along with google adword to track your conversion rates to show to the affiliates.
3. I am not agree with paying 100% commission to the affiliates but You are making a big mistake of offering 50% of commission to the affiliates. Affiliates are the person who will do all the hard work for you and of course attracting visitors and making a list of clients is a more profitable deal. Anyways decision is yours.

Good Luck

Instead of "giving it away" try selling them really inexpensive for maybe $1 or something. People will buy it because of the price and you build your list at the same time.

Hey Guys! I just want to say thank you to the OP for starting this thread and for all the helpful suggestions so far. I am in a very similar spot, but with an ebook for women, on how to get the relationship they want (Maybe our customers can meet each other, lol).

I am going to read through in more detail..but I'm amazed how you can always seem to find somebody on Warrior with your same issue...(and then hopefuly both of you get solutions :-) ) AWERRSOME.

I would personally call some of your trusted female and male friends and get them to email you a testimonial. I would spend a little time talking it up offline and getting the people to send you their review. I've done that with a few products of mine and it works great. Just so it doesn't sound scammy to them, don't even mention a sales page. Just tell them that you'll email them a copy. Don't mention "selling" or "sales". What I usually say is "Hey, I wrote a book about ____ and I was wondering if you would give me a review on it." It sounds more personal.

You can try and grab a few testimonials by giving it away in the War Room. Perhaps you will even find some partners that are willing to JV with you.