How Great Thou Aren’t: How to get better testimonials

Most testimonials for speakers and trainers that I’ve seen come across to me as ego gratification at best and down right lies at worst. Whether in print or on video, most of them in some way say, “You were great!” and that in my opinion is the world’s easiest lie to tell. Okay, maybe I exaggerate, but I’ll bet you it’s in the top ten! But it’s not the fault of the person who’s giving the testimonial.

“It was right after the workshop. The speaker wasn’t all that great, but they stuck a camera in my face and said, ‘Tell me how I was!’ What was I supposed to say?”

So of course they say what they’re supposed to say because most people are polite… “You were great!” Oh, they mix it up a little by throwing in words and phrases like: motivating; kept my attention; really helpful; made me think…” I could go on and on, but you get my drift – ego gratification or downright lies.

So I’m suggesting that you or the person getting your testimonials (the interviewer) let them off the hook and get BETTER testimonials by changing the framework of the question from “How Great Thou Art” to “What Have You Done For Me Lately.” (Shout out to Harborcreek Christian Church and Janet Jackson.) Here’s a quick brain dump of “What Have You Done For Me Lately” Questions.

1. What is the one thing you heard here that you’re not going to forget?
2. How will you take what you’ve learned here today and apply it to your life/work tomorrow?
3. If you did everything you heard/learned in this workshop, how would it change your life?
4. Will anything change for you tomorrow as a result of your having attended this event today?
5. If you tell one person tomorrow about something you learned today, what will it be.

Note that it’s awfully hard to answer “You were great!” to any of these questions. Instead you’ll get testimonials that focus on the BENEFIT TO THE AUDIENCE instead of your big fat Greek ego. There are many more benefits-driven interview questions you can come up with based on your particluar topic. Just use a little common sense and creativity. I’d love to hear some of them you come up with in the comments.

In the mean time, let me close with two great quotes from… well, ME!

1. “The easiest lie in the world to tell is,’You were great!’” and
2. “Don’t be fooled by the applause. Somebody out there had to wake up just to clap for you.”

PEACE.

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