How 4 Key Elements to Your Web Site Can Multiply Your Profits! by
John Navata
Copyright 2006 John Navata
The fact is, even if your web site is full of fabulous sales copy and photos
that illustrate all the great features and benefits of your product or service,
your potential customers still need to know:
What do people who have actually purchased and used your product or service
think about it? It's simple: your readers know that YOU believe in your
product, or you wouldn't be selling it! But what do people with the same
problem or need that they have say about your product?
Answering that question is one of the most fundamental tasks your web site
needs to accomplish -- and it's as simple to do as it is important.
By using testimonials -- reviews and comments from your satisfied customers, in
text, audio, or video format -- on your web site, you not only answer the
question, you also transform your sales pitch into a credible, unbiased
recommendation for your product.
1) Overcome buyer skepticism with a glowing testimonial
As I said before, adding testimonials is probably one of the easiest ways to
improve your web site -- but a good one can generate more selling power than
some of the best salescopy out there!
So why are testimonials so effective?
Testimonials build trust: Whether your customers are raving about what your
product has done for them or about the great service you gave, they are telling
your visitors first and foremost that they had a positive experience with your
products and company. Testimonials aren't "salesy": Because testimonials aren't
written in your "voice," they stand out in your copy as candid and unbiased
accounts of how well your product works. Testimonials overcome skepticism: A
good testimonial has the power to convince even your "tough sell" visitors that
your product or service really made a difference in your customer's life -- and
can help them, too. For example, let's say that you're selling a special lotion
designed for dry skin. A visitor finds your web site -- a person with dry skin
who needs some relief -- and reads all about the amazing moisturizing
ingredients in your product and how wonderful it smells.
Those are two good selling points -- things that people would want to know
before they decided to buy.
But lots of products can make those promises -- and many of them don't work! So
why should they purchase your product ahead of all the rest?
Then, as they look over the page, a testimonial catches their eye from one of
your customers, explaining that your lotion quickly healed a lifelong,
agonizing skin condition -- something no other product had ever managed to do!
That's the power of an effective testimonial: it can convince your reader that
your product DOES work -- and that you can be trusted to deliver on your
promises.
2) How to choose the right kind of testimonial to turn your visitors into
customers
When you're choosing testimonials, there are a few key ingredients to look for
that make the difference between an ineffective testimonial -- and one that
sells.
Here's an example of a glowing, but ultimately ineffective testimonial:
"I love this product! I can't get enough! I'm so glad I bought your stuff and
I'll be back to get more, for sure!"
What could be wrong with that? It sounds like you have a happy customer on your
hands!
But what does this testimonial really tell your visitors? Does it prove that
the product works, or explain exactly how your customer benefited from using
it? While the feedback is definitely positive, the testimonial does not provide
enough detail to have any real impact on your visitors.
Here's an example of the kind of effective, benefits-driven testimonials that
we include on our own web sites:
"I used the methods you told me to use and for three days my phone's been
ringing! I sold over $3500 in goods and services in three days! It's the first
time in 5 months that anyone had really purchased anything..."
Now that's a great testimonial! But what makes it so powerful?
Let's break down the elements of an effective testimonial in more detail...
A good testimonial is filled with benefits: A comment like, "This product is
great!" is nice for you to hear, but it doesn't tell visitors what your product
can actually do for them. You want the benefits of what you offer to be front
and center in every testimonial: "This product doubled our profits in a month!"
or "This product made the pain in my back disappear completely -- and did it
fast!" or "We've never seen any product that could get the rust off our car
without damaging the paint -- until now."
A good testimonial substantiates your claims: If you say your product can do
something, your testimonials should back up your promises -- complete with
actual facts and figures. How much money did your customers save by using your
product? How much time did they save by using your service? How did it solve
their problems or improve their lives?
A good testimonial is from someone your audience can relate to: You want your
visitors to see that your product helped someone just like them, seeking the
solution to the same problem your visitors have. Make sure your testimonials
come from someone with whom your target market can identify. If you sell
primarily to seniors, for example, ask your customers if you can include their
age along with the testimonial. If you are selling to moms with children, ask
if you can mention how many kids they have -- or include a photo of their
family!
A good testimonial is credible: Accompany each testimonial with the first name,
last name, and hometown of each testimonial-giver to show that your
endorsements come from real people. Always try to include a photo as well. And
if you can, take it to the next level by including audio or video testimonials
for maximum effect! Do anything you can to help your visitors connect with your
testimonial-givers on a personal level.
A good testimonial endorses the key benefits of your product: Your testimonials
should emphasize the key benefits of your product. It's fun to hear that your
super-duper floor cleaner smells nice or that the bottle doesn't drip -- both
things that matter to people who would consider using your product in their
homes -- but have you established that it cleans their floors well?
A good testimonial is comparative: Did your customers try another product that
didn't work before they found yours? You want your visitors to know what your
product can do that other products can't. Choose testimonials that set your
product apart from your competition!
Now that you know what you're looking for in a testimonial, how do you actually
gather the reviews you need from your customers?
3) The secrets to getting great testimonials -- even if you haven't sold a
thing yet!
If your customers have given you positive feedback on your product already,
then you may already have some great testimonials to add to your site.
However, if your customer response is a little scarce -- or if you're just
starting out -- getting testimonials from your buyers might take a little more
effort.
So how do you collect the testimonials you need -- and keep them coming as you
grow your business?
One easy way to collect testimonials is to include a link on your site with a
form that allows your customers to give you their vote of confidence: "Tell us
how this product changed your life!" or "Click here to let us know what you
think!" Put this link next to some testimonials that you've already gathered to
give customers an example of the kind of feedback you're looking for.
A more effective method is to create an autoresponder that contacts your buyers
after they've purchased your product -- even a month later -- to ask how
they're enjoying the product, as well as giving them a chance to offer feedback
on their experience with your business.
And, of course, any time you receive a great letter or e-mail from a customer,
ask them if you can use their comments on your web site to recommend your
product to others. If they were happy enough to let you know, they're bound to
want to spread the word.
If you haven't yet begun selling your product and have no feedback yet, offer
your product or service for free to a select group of customers in exchange for
their thoughts on the product or some details on their experience with your
site.
The impact that testimonial will have on your bottom line will be well worth
the initial expense! As soon as your online business is up and running, make a
point of giving every one of your customers a chance to share their experiences
with your product or service. Ask for feedback -- good and bad -- in your
autoresponders, your newsletters, and other spots on your web site.
4) Strategies for using your testimonials as effectively as possible
Once you've got some testimonials to share with your visitors, you need to make
sure that you're putting them to the best possible use on your site.
Always make sure that you...
Include your best testimonials front and center on your homepage, like in your
sidebars, or even above your headline. Place some testimonials right in the
middle of your homepage salescopy to keep your readers focused on your
credibility as you outline the features and benefits of your product. Set up a
whole page dedicated to your glowing testimonials, as well as including
snippets of their comments throughout your site. Be sure to put a link to your
testimonial page next to each of those snippets! Include testimonials on each
and every page of your web site. No matter where your visitors click, you want
them to find a positive customer review of your product or service.
Now let's look at a few mistakes to avoid when using testimonials on your web
site...
Don't edit your testimonials to exclude a comment or add information you want to
hear! If you can't post a comment "as is" and feel comfortable with it, it
shouldn't go up. If your testimonials are in your voice and all sound the same,
no one is going to trust that they are legitimate.Never use a customer
testimonial without permission. Never, ever invent testimonials! This is fraud,
plain and simple, and lying never results in a positive impact on your
business.
About the Author
John Navata is an internet marketer that has been showing marketers some
advanced ways to promote their product or service offline or online.
http://www.mega-dollarsonline.com
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