Testimonials from Clients:
I wavered for over six months - and lost countless thousands - because some friends told me there was no way to make any real money online.
It's simply not true!
I quit my job in September - just a few months after starting my site - and I've never looked back. Online marketing has been one of the best decisions I've ever made and your site was one of the places that inspired me most.
Len Foley
Author of the best-selling,
"Sales Without the Sucker Punch"
I have been a loyal subscriber to your ezines Harmony, and you are one of the very few that I trust and believe who exudes credibility and honesty. That's why I have stuck with you for about 3 years now.
I too am about to start my own Internet business soon, but I need a 'guru' to guide me along, and you are one of those whom I rate highly along with Terry Dean, Marlon Sanders, Jim Daniels, Phil Wiley who I truly believe are sincerely out there to help the public, and us newbies, and not just out to make a quick sale.
I aim to take this business full-time and I was hoping if you could be a 'mentor' and recommend me courses to get me going. If its one of your products that could get me goin', that would be great. I am hoping that one day I could do a Joint Venture with you, as I am already familiar with your honest approach to things.
Anything from you, even a simple piece of advice is worth its weight in gold.
Sincerely,
Mikhail Mansour
mikhail_mansour@hotmail.com
Harmony, in my heart you are one of the most honest and honorable people I have ever communicated with on line.
It appears to me that "some of your readers" are not very familiar with you as a person, and must have very little reason to write you on a personal level. You have always said what you thought/felt about any given issue/circumstance/organization, and you have always in my opinion been very up front.
It is my greatest hope that you will continue to be the "Harmony" I have trusted for over 2 years now ... after all ... where would us newbies be if we didn't have people of your integrity and experience to help guide us in our efforts on line & off line.
Warmest regards
J. Roger Bertrand
I have recommended products and ended up with the same kind of treatment (described in a past issue of my ezine). So much so that I no longer endorse products.
Until now.
I'm not sure if my market will respond but I will be happy to place links to your products on my site. Hope all is well with your family.
Joanne Black
JoanneBlack.com
My Dear Young Lady,
You are the first publisher that I know of who has been so forthright concerning a promotion that had some underlying facts. If everyone selling products on the internet adopted your standards what a great place it would be.
As I have said previously I have always found you to be as honest as the day is long and for that my dear, you can justly take a bow.
As long as I am around NEVER forget that I will gladly give you a testimonial anytime.
With every blessing
Your devoted fan,
Ken Burgess
CEO/FOUNDER
Keys4success.com
ARTICLE:
Testimonials Are BAD (M'kaaaay?)
I *hate* saying no to people.
I really just do.
No, I can't run your article in my ezine; No, I'm not able to give you a testimonial for this product; No, I can't recommend your product to my list; No, I can't help you find the best widget for you; NO, I can't give you a free website review; NO, I can't help you promote your website;
No, I do *not* want any forwarded, bogus "please help this child" letters, *or* jokes, *or* virus warnings, *or* "send-this-to-20-people-and-go-to-Disney-Land-FREE" letters...
No, no, NO! *pant, pant*
I hate it ... yet I do it all the time.
[Well, I hate saying no to all EXCEPT for the ridiculous forwarded messages, and the "promote-my-site-for-me-and-I'll-pay-you-later,-as-soon-as-I-start-making-some-money!" bunk.
I reject both of the above with an intense, maniacal glee.
That's right. I'm not even gonna lie and say that I hate saying no to *those* people.
What they're doing is like somebody going up to the Washington Post or the New York Times, and saying:
"Hey ... my convenience store isn't makin' one red cent of profit right now, but if you run free ads for me until it IS, well then, hey ... I'll cut you a lil' of the cash when and if I get some!"
Well, you betcha, by golly, WOW! What a GREAT deal!
(Yeah, whatever.)
I mean, get real.
Now, as I was saying...]
I *hate* saying that, "no", I'm not able to personally help EVERY (sane) person succeed with this here online business thing.
Yet, I DO it all the time.
I have to.
If I didn't, no one WOULD ask me for anything, because they'd know my endorsement (or advice, or testimonial, or whatever) wouldn't mean a durn thing, because I gave it away freely to everyone who showed even the slightest interest.
And even to those who didn't.
One particular marketer comes to mind when I say that.
Well, two.
I see their emphatic "testimonials" emblazoned all over each and every website that looks like it might house a halfway decent product (but usually doesn't), and now I just shake my head and cluck silently to myself...
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! Do they really feel that all these products are THAT great," I ask myself?
It leaves me wondering why the heck they GIVE testimonials to every Tom, Dick, and Harry (and Sally) who asks.
Is it for the "free exposure", or is it because they know how it feels to be a newbie or an "unknown", and they want to help people out?
If it's the latter, I can definitely relate. Because again, hey -- I just hate saying no.
I can RELATE, but I don't DO it...
Because it hurts your credibility.
I used to check these products out just because they had "X" marketer's endorsement proudly displayed on the sales page. But now (although it took a while), I don't trust ANY endorsement they give, because I'm so used to 'em giving 'em for terrible products.
Anyway, let that be a lesson to ya.
Learn from their mistakes.
If you endorse/recommend/testimonial-ize (yeah, I made it up) every single product you're asked to, people will stop trusting YOU, too.
I know it's hard, but you've gotta think of yourself first.
That *sounds* selfish, but do you think your prospects will forgive you for endorsing every product -- from "okay" to downright crappy -- when you try to explain that you did it to help the author?
Better yet ... do you think you'll be given the chance TO explain?
'Zactly my point, dear Reader. 'Zactly my point.
So don't do it.
But if you want to rant to me on feeling bad about not being able to endorse products you know are bad, although you like the author, heck -- I'll listen.
And sympathize. I feel yer pain.
There are still a few products out there with my testimonial swimming around for 'em, that I wish I could recall. I mean, from YEARS ago. Or mere months (I've raised the bar in the past few months).
If you'd like to be sure, any time you see my testimonial on a site, you can write me personally for an update, or for verification. (Yes, my comments HAVE been used in the past without permission! :-/)
I'll give it to you straight.