Testimonials can be the best thing that ever happens to your business or NOT! In order to receive quality testimonials it is imperative that you do quality work and work with reputable companies and individuals. Testimonials can’t be scripted or prepared.

Website visitors may already be skeptical about doing business on the web if they are used to working or purchasing face to face. The idea of a testimonial is to share a real life experience that also validates your product or service.

Testimonials at their finest are moving to the reader either because they invoke feelings of sympathy, empathy, or similarity. It is important to realize your demographic, if your target market is the farming community, it wise not wise to post a testimonial from a big city company. Your testimonials should highlight usefulness, ease of use, exceptional service or great rates.

If your clients or customers can offer photos this is a great way to close the gap between fake and genuine. Most people will believe their own eyes, so a picture that has not been photo shopped or airbrushed will lend credibility to the testimonial and ultimately your business.

Stay away from outrageous or sensational testimonials that seem to promise superhuman results. If you have ever seen a commercial for diet pills, you are very familiar with the art of sensational. You will not have a new personality, a better car, a nicer family, a potty-trained dog, experience debt relief, have bigger boobs, enjoy more stamina, from taking a diet pill that requires no change in eating habits and no exercise program.

No one wants to treated as though they stupid, least of all your prospects or clients. Promote your product or service, and share the experienced results as they truly are. Most consumers do not mind putting forth a fair to moderate amount of effort for a fabulous result. On the other hand, most consumers hate to spend any amount of money on a product  or service that doesn’t work!

If you are reading a testimonial and you aren’t buying neither will your clients or prospects.