When writing a test sales letter...

[bluenoser]

is it alright to use fake testimonials?

If not, what other ways can you make your ebook look like it is a good buy so that I can get accurate conversion figures?

Thanks

Jeff

[AntonTheKhan]

is it alright to use fake testimonials?

If not, what other ways can you make your ebook look like it is a good buy so that I can get accurate conversion figures?

Thanks

Jeff

Start with testimonials from your friends. Post some free info in a forum like that one that is related to the subject of your ebook. When you get responses, ask these people to provide you with testimonials in exchange for a free copy of your book. But for a test page, yeah get your friends to write you testimonials.

[daelx]

<rant>
I only use real recommendations. I really dislike all the fake recommendations you see scattered on the internet. I personally can spot them a mile away...

You've seen the sites that have 100,000 words, 30 recommendations that's just a bunch of crap, and a site that looks like it was designed in 1995. I personally would never buy from a site like this.

Or, better yet. I love the "Friend" recommendations. You know the site where a bunch of early 20's guys are recommending a product that you know they'd never use. That's the best.
</rant>

Ok, don't worry about recommendations at first. Let the product speak for itself. Hire a good copywriter. (If you need a good one I can make a personal recommendation.) People tend not to believe recommendations these days. I'll do a google search before buying a product, then read the real feedback about the product on forums or blogs. That's were you'll find people that are really upset or really happy about a product. I tend to not totally trust the extra happy blog articles or forum posts those are probably done by someone paid or the product owner.

A quick way to get recommendations is to put your products on Ebay for a little while. You'll receive feedback from every sale. Some will be generic and unusable, others will be fantastic. Cherry pick the best and use them on your website. They've worked well for me and they're all real.

One last thing to do with your products. Use Google Alerts: http://www.google.com/alerts/

Google Alerts will search constantly search the web for your anything related to your product and email you back the results. This is great for keeping up with what people may be saying about your items. It's also gives you an opportunity to respond if someone leaves a nasty forum post about your product. So far all I've found is great links back to my sites that I never knew were there.

[daelx]

Start with testimonials from your friends. Post some free info in a forum like that one that is related to the subject of your ebook. When you get responses, ask these people to provide you with testimonials in exchange for a free copy of your book. But for a test page, yeah get your friends to write you testimonials.

This is exactly what I wouldn't do. It's a bunch of crap. It's not real. Once you get someone that really needs your product and loves it, you'll get your reviews.

I'd stick to real reviews... I don't know about you but when you see a book with recommendations from other authors, do you believe it? I don't, I go to amazon.com and read the reviews of people that have actually read the book.

[webgal]

I simply added one when I had it. I guess for testing you could do it since there is no real product. I wrote a sales letter to go with an affiliate program. Basically, it says, "See what others are saying. OK, see what TWO people are saying. At least you know they are real."

They are real testimonials.

[bluenoser]

Thanks for the ideas....I think that the consensus goes along with my feelings, don't fake it.

I will hopfully finish my Sales Letter tonight and be ready for testing, without a testimonial.

If I get any good results I am going to write the first chapter to add to the site for free, and then hopefully generate some testimonials from that for some further testing, and go into full writing mode from there.

Thanks for all of the great advice....Will keep you up-to-date with any and all progress.

[webgal]

Have fun with the fact you don't have them yet. Something like: "Feel free to gush uncontrollably about this product" or something to that effect.