Warren Day   
I'm not a fan of "credits for testimonials".
I won't run it for myself and I won't write one for credits.
If I write one, I'll do it because I want to and I don't need a reward for doing so.
having said all that, I should write a few for people here
Nov 8th 2010 13:04   

Dave Gilbert   Web Entreprenuer
if you have to bribe your colleagues to write something nice about you then your in the wrong business and if they do write something nice you can bet it's all lies
Nov 8th 2010 14:58   

Philippe Moisan   Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
I went to see the task campaign. The guy was asking "see my profile, talk about my programs, see what my activities are".

Then I went to see a RevPage he had created. It was about a site that pays $0.02 for posting in its forum. They ask to join for free. Where do they get the money to pay you ?

The person who created the campaign that I talk about, his username is guysfunny.

I'm convinced his campaign is some kind of joke.
Nov 8th 2010 15:02   

Cheryl Baumgartner   Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Of course we know that there will always be idiots, but used correctly the "paid to testimonial" is an effective research tool no different than any company compensating people for taking part in testing products. It is a paid opinion something that companies do all the time.

And don't get me started on the celebrities and athletes who are getting paid for their 'testimonials's. Wheaties was notorious for putting athletes on the box. That was the ultimate endorsement deal for a while. Don't get caught up in the fact that some people choose to stoop this low. It's a powerful tool when used correctly.
Nov 8th 2010 15:50   

Philippe Moisan   Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
Emphasis on "when used correctly". How do you that here, Cheryl ? The only way to use it correctly, IMHO, is to launch a campaign asking people to write testimonials without asking they write one on your own profile. We are not celebrities.
Nov 8th 2010 16:08   

Cheryl Baumgartner   Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
It is a way to get people to evaluate your products or services. If you have say a blog you could use the Paid to to have them view your blog and give their opinion of it. In other words creating traffic and exposure.

Kind of like going into a store and being asked to sample something. Normally the store will compensate you some way even if it's just a coupon. The goal behind it is not to give out coupons but to get you to buy the product.

Or like with the Homescan program that I am with. I do surveys and send them a list of my purchases. They compensate me for this by giving me points that I can trade in on free gifts. The information that I give them is combined with the information of thousands of other Homescan members. That information is compiled and evaluated to give the companies involved feedback on how people view their products.

The paid to add testimonial campaign is no different. It can be used to generate traffic hopefully converting to sales of to gather opinion on your products and services and has nothing to do with begging for a testimonial, but it seems that everyone gets hung up on that never actually seeing the value of the campaign.

As a matter of fact I find more value in the paid to testimonial than all these people begging for a downline with the "paid to join" campaign slapping up one affiliate link after another.
Nov 8th 2010 16:28   

Andy Anderson   Owner Yuma Bloggers
Fact is it looks bad enough for this member to have done it. I notice the campaign closed with 1 person submitting 7 words and declared the winner, so most wont accept such a self serving task it seems but I will say we have far bigger issues than ego to address when it comes to ethics.

The ones that do concern me is the folks running all these sign up for my program for a shot at the prize because they tend to be getting prizes and credits etc.. and the webmasters are being cheated with the paid to join trash. Sorry they take pay to sign up and then are not interested they have done you no good and in most programs will get you dropped like a rock.

Andy
Nov 8th 2010 22:19   

Philippe Moisan   Tutorial videos, sci-fi writer
Cheryl, it would be a better idea, IMO, to do a task campaign and ask "give me the titles of 3 of my blogs and 2 of my RevPages". Or a campaign showing my ABC asking the same kind of questions, like how many products do I promote, what programs do you see in my slideshow...
Nov 8th 2010 22:28   

Cheryl Baumgartner   Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
The true purpose of the testimonial is to get the feedback on what people think. Like everything else online there will be those that abuse it. But simply asking them what is on your business center may generate traffic but how closely will that traffic look at it? The aim with the paid to testimonial is tho have others not just visit and look but to actually read the information and evaluate it closely.

But you have to ask for what you want. Let's take our favorite Search Engine No not that one, I'm talking Kooiii. The paid to testimonial could be used by asking people to go to Kooiii and do a search then write a testimonial on the results they got back or how easy was it to use.

Then Andy and Dave could look at those testimonials and see what people like or don't like. How relevant people think the results are how easy was it to use etc. That is getting traffic to the site and feedback. But you get those people there by compensating them for their time.

And Andy I'm with you on the 'begging for a downline'. I won't join those things because I already know I have no interest. Why waste my time and everyone else'. 99% of those joining this and that are only doing it for the credits.
Nov 8th 2010 22:53   

Andy Anderson   Owner Yuma Bloggers
The big concern on testimonials is for U.S. Citizens like you and me Cheryl. FTC rules on acceptable testimonials are pretty strict. You have to have the contact information of the party giving one and verify periodically that they still feel the same on solicited testimonials and have a disclaim to state this person submitted this offer as a part of a contest or reward offering, or was other wise compensated for their review.

The voluntary testimonials we get are honest, a extorted one will either be insincere flowers, or tend to be abused.

Andy
Nov 8th 2010 22:59   

Louise Venison   TE owner, affiliate marketer
The regulations on all kind of business activities can get extremely complicated, especially when your company is registered in one country, your websites are hosted in another, and you live in a third ...! But that's just my life.

Regarding testimonials, I'm with Andy on this one. If someone wants to write me a testimonial because they're happy with the service I've provided them, I'll be very happy to receive it, but I'm not going to solicit testimonials that are likely to be insincere.

As for going into a store and being asked to sample something .... it doesn't happen here in Spain (or at least not that I've ever seen). You go in the store, you buy what you want, you leave - I love it. I've been in UK supermarkets where there's a stand by the door giving away free mince pies coming up to Christmas, but the attitude is always, "If you want to buy some to take home, they're in the bakery aisle." I've never been given a free mince pie AND a coupon. It seems a bit wierd to give you something for free and then reward you for taking it.
Nov 9th 2010 05:34   

Dave Gilbert   Web Entreprenuer
"It seems a bit weird to give you something for free and then reward you for taking it." But thats a lot like what we do at Kooiii Louise maybe thats why we build in 4 and 5's while others seem to take take take and build in the 1000's
Nov 9th 2010 05:39   

Paula van Dun   Retired
I already wrote it somewhere. For me a testimonial has only value if it comes from the hart. Some times it is a task campaign; if there is no one at the time I have the desire to write a testimonial for than I don't. I will not throw over board my personal business ethics for some credits.
Nov 9th 2010 05:40