Testamonials on web site...??

[Mitch3473]

I'm just starting to improve my web site. I've been up and running now for almost a year and due to a slight change in direction this year the old one isn't very accurate. We have quite a decent client base already and have included some testamonials on flyers complete with name and details. I'm wondering whether or not it would a little ' cheesy ' if I was to have some on the web site......

 

[faradaykeynes]

Its good idea to have it on website as well

 

[BHDS]

Yes, I think so! I'd keep them short and recent, and include verifiable links where possible.

 

[beasty]

They damage a site if they are vague, IMO i see comments with no verifiable info and think FAKE

So consider this


You have great pies
Mr Smith from Newcastle...

Why not let your customers rate like Ebay on Product, delivery etc etc and generate ratings

 

[Mitch3473]

The service is reasonably local,if the size of a county can indeed be called local,so most visitors to the site will know the address if not, in some cases, the name. My service is aimed at a fairly tightly knit, niche business community.

 

[Nuno]

I'm sure all your testimonials are 100% genuine, but for the information of others, it is illegal to publish a false review (testimonial).

"The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 prohibits unfair commercial ‎practices. Writing fake online reviews satisfies the definition of unfair commercial practice because ‎it contravenes good professional practice and it is likely to distort the economic behavior of the ‎average consumer." ‎

OP: put the ones you have up, along with one or maybe two goodish, but not so good ones, which give more credibility.

 

[tony84]

I have clients write reviews on facebook - that way people can verify they are real (short of making fake facebook accounts).

I have had 1 or 2 people get in touch after reading the reviews so they definitely help.

Im just not very good in asking for them, I always seem to forget.

https://www.facebook.com/ManchesterMortgageBroker?sk=reviews

I did try to get them on the site, but I couldnt find a good way of doing it so just put a few screenshots with a link to the reviews on facebook.

http://www.manchestermortgagebroker.co.uk/?id=testimonials

 

[HazelC]

They're really good to have, they back up who you are and what you say you do - and that you are good at what you do.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

I used to have testimonials on my firms website but removed them when several of the clients who had kindly written them were hassled by competitors and others who had clearly taken details from my website.

I may re-consider at some point but not sure how worthwhile it is unless they can be verified?

 

[Luolou]

Testimonials are important to us - and funnily enough I always read them on others' websites. The most difficult bit is getting them! I email clients after each job to ask if they will write a line or so, but if they don't reply then I don't think it's not really appropriate to chase them.

 

[tony84]

Following this post, I sent out an email to 10 of my most recent clients.
3 have added reviews, 1 called me to say he doesnt have facebook but will email me one.

One of people I did a mortgage for is on TV and they have also offered to put their face/testimonial on my site free of charge so that will be an added little bonus.

Its definitely worth asking the question.

I still think its worth having testimonials, so long as its something more than just a paragraph and Mr J Smith - that quite literally could be anyone and to me reduces the confidence I have in the business.

 

[HFE Signs]

Have you considered TrustPilot? The problem is with testimonials - they can be selective and for this reason I personally can't trust them, with TrustPilot all reviews are shown, both good and bad, this give much more transparency and this is certainly good for business. You can see examples of this on our website should you wish to do so..

 

[Luolou]

Glad it's worked for you Tony!
I have never even thought about Trustpilot - because we are quite niche we do like getting real quotes from our clients, some of whom are quite big name. Rightly or wrongly I presumed Trustpilot was more of a 'star rating' review which is a bit less personal. I shall have a proper look into it..

 

[Ian J]

I used to have testimonials on my firms website but removed them when several of the clients who had kindly written them were hassled by competitors and others who had clearly taken details from my website.

Like yourself if I put testimonials on my site that were identifiable every single factoring broker as well as factoring companies themselves would be straight on the phone to them trying to poach the business.

 

[Mitch3473]

Fair point about competitors contacting the providers of the testamonials. I had briefly considered this but as I am a relative new business in a fairly local niche market place most, if not all my clients have recently come from my local competitors. If my customers were not happy with the service I provide,surely they have gone back anyway or looking at another way......why did they leave their previous supplier in the first place.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Fair point about competitors contacting the providers of the testamonials. I had briefly considered this but as I am a relative new business in a fairly local niche market place most, if not all my clients have recently come from my local competitors. If my customers were not happy with the service I provide,surely they have gone back anyway or looking at another way......why did they leave their previous supplier in the first place.

For me it wasn't the fear of loosing clients its valued clients being hassled I didnt want - they'd very kindly given me testimonials and the last thing I wanted was them be hassled as a result.

 

[VPA-NI]

To protect you and your clients from competitors why don't you finish the testimonials with initials or a job role and a location (HG, Auditor, Portsmouth) something like that. As long as you can provide copies or links to the actual testimonials that should be everything covered.

 

[DesignerNick]

I think Testimonials are a good idea, also try to get some on your profile pages at Google and Yelp. If you do add them to your site make sure you also add the Google Review rich Snippet - https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/172705?hl=en

You will get the stars appear then

 

[Louis Porter]

I Strongly recommend that you get as many testimonials as you can. If you can, integrate them from Google+ as it will not only help with user experience, but it will also help you site's SEO.

 

[Talay]

I don't think you can step blindly into this one as you risk reputational damage if people even get a whiff that your reviews may be suspect, even if they are legitimate.

I would advise visiting the websites of your best competitors or whose you aspire to be and see whether and if so, how they publish reviews.

Then, if you decide to publish, you need to work out which are the salient points you need to bring out in the review and from there, perhaps design (and test) a short questionnaire which brings ot those attributes, whilst remaining unbiased and truthful.

Slapping the first thing on your site is fraught with danger.