TESTIMONIALS. A CAUTION. COPYRIGHT/OWNERSHIP OF PICTURES

A Word About Testimonials

A testimonial is meant to be all positive information - different than an evaluation or a critical review which is supposed to be an objective review whether positive or negative.

Testimonials are frequently used in fitness advertising, particularly E books.

Testimonials are often solicited after you have had a positive experience. A very satisfied customer will give one without being asked but I do recognize that humans are more likely to write about a complaint rather than about a positive experience, so I admit sometimes a testimonial will have to be requested.

Testimonials solicited as a barter for some sort of reward makes it much less valid.

Be honest and factual in reporting the positive aspects of your experience. If you are expected to present a totally positive review, only put that which you actually felt positive about. Don't embelish or make up what is not true.

If you are having a great deal of trouble writing one, it may be because you either did not have a positive experience or that you did not benefit enough from it to support it and attach your name to it.

Before you provide a testimonial make sure you ask yourself truly if you would recommend this product and this person to your best friend or a family member. If the testimonial is in a public venue it will haunt you forever.

Ask how and where this information will be used. Ask if your privacy will be maintained. Be aware that often there is little to prevent others such as affiliates who get commissions for selling the product from copying your information or using it in their own ads - the internet provides free reign for all types of people - in some online sales sites ANYONE can be an affiliate without pemission of the author and the author of the product has little control on what the affiliate writes in their ads. This is true for clickbank. On a site I came across a while I was searching the net I found that an affiliate for a product had used an unflattering picture of a friend of mine with a less than flattering comment.

On the other hand there are internet E companies who allow authors to place restrictions such as requiring that affiliates be screened and approved. The affiliates often must have a professional background. They are expected to maintain standards and follow the author's rules. This is true of ShareASale.

Ask the trainer or promoter what type of site (s)he sells through and what steps have been taken to protect and monitor the information. A written and signed agreement about how the info will be used as well as your signature approving use of the info should protect you and the trainer. The agreement should include a timeline for how long the information will be used. Ask if the testimonial will be used solely for the product you are supporting or if it is going to be used for future products. Hopefully the answer is no. You can include that in the agreement - that it is to be used for the sole purpose of advertising the product you have used or reviewed. Even if the product is good you should be sure that the author or trainer is honest and ethical in the promotion and advertising of the product as well.

If your picture is being used, ask if your face will be blurred in the photos. Will your testimonial be printed as submitted or will it be edited or altered? Will your last name be left out? How specifically is your location identified - country, province or city? The more detailed the info the more valid the testimonial for the product however, you may want to really think about your privacy first.

You should be told how to access the ad so that you can review the information or monitor it if you wish. Ask if the information will be removed if you change your mind. How long will it take? Once you give the info and permission to use it and use your name you will have very little or no control over its use. It may be flattering to have your hard work and achievement acknowledged, but it often is really a sales promotion technique. There are so many products advertising the same benefits, it is hard to know what you are buying. An author who can secure testimonials, particularly unrestricted ones from people who are satisfied with the product has a better chance of attracting clients. But if you freely give permission to use your info without guidelines or restrictions, do so at your own risk.

If you have a profession, you really need to think twice before you give a testimonial or at least before you use your professional designation along with your name. You may have to consult with your professional licencing body before using a professional designation to support a product. In my profession I would consult with my organization before using R.N. However, there would be no problem using the term 'nurse' without the organizational input.

Pictures: In BC Canada a picture/image of a person belongs to the individual whose image it is. The "imagee" so to speak is the copyright owner. I believe that you can sign over copyright but I am not sure why you would want to. Generally, a professional site or venue will ask you who owns the copyright of a picture, make sure the copyright is noted, and ask that person's signed permission to use the picture (not ask you to sign over the copyright). They will generally ask you as well if you wish to have the photo credit (photographer's name) published. You don't have to put in the photo credit. If you wish to you should check with the photographer first letting them know where it will be published.

Generally there is less risk of problems when dealing with a professional publishing company that with an Internet product.