Hi guys,

I noticed some of the salesletters (either in your sigfiles or those on the main)
have their testimonials bundled up on one single column positioned somewhere
on the page. Just wondering how this has affected your response rates so far.

Then again, I've seen some sites outside this forum doing it too. Most (if not
all) appear to be for internet marketing-related material, been seeing this for
who-knows-how long.

If "dumping" all your testimonials on one column and positioning it somewhere
(left, right, whereever) has boosted response, any explanation how or why is
that occurring?

Hi,

I'm curious about this one too.

I think both Michel and Gary are putting all of their testimonials in one narrow column down the right-hand side.

Do as the teachers say, or as they do?

Gene

Very good question.

Right now I'm creating a two salespages for a client. One has its' testimonials vertically (down the center and split up) and the other, off to the side and together.

I will be testing these two variables to see which pulls better, but it might be a while before it goes out.

I'll let you know my findings when it's time.

Perhaps others here have done testing on this that are willing to share their findings.

I've tested left-side, right side and middle and middle works best for me.

I saw the great Marlon Sanders using that method in his Amazing Formula sales letter, so I decided to try it myself.

I should also mention, the differences weren't all that significant. So it basically came down to personal perference for me.

I just prefer having my testimonials in the middle.

Dale King

I might be wrong in my thinking, but it seems as though the copywriter's who have spend most of their time off line (Clayton makepeace and Bob Bly) go with the traditional side bar testimonials, while online folks go down the middle.

It's well worth testing. There is a good chance that this might also depend on your target market, niche and design of the website... I might have to find out for myself.

That's incorrect Stephen. Marlon Sanders is an old-school offline marketing guy.

I really do think it's just a matter of personal preference - at least it is for me, because my testing results weren't all that significant.

Dale King

Interesting. I didn't know this about Marlon.

In my opinion, there are times when testimonials in the middle can make a bigger credibility impact. For example, if you make a claim, and then have a testimonial immediately following it bolstering that claim. Or if you're telling a story, and then have the person you're talking about in that story tell their side in their own words in the form of a testimonial. You can also use case studies very effectively in this manner.

Ths is true whether or not you have additional testimonials running down the left or right.

In fact, if you have a ton of testimonials and want to show them all, having them run down the left, right, or both columns is usually preferrable than trying to cram them all down the middle, where they can distract from your message.

But even in that case, strategically selecting and placing certain testies in the middle can help to advance the sale even further.

John