One of the things that I have claimed for years is that you can’t fake a customer video testimonials. Look at the third result from a recent Google search for video testimonials , “How to get fake video testimonials”.
Not only is it disturbing that this is coming up in a Google search but its very presence means that this is a search that people are making with enough frequency that Google is suggesting it. In this blog we’ll take a look at what fake customer video testimonials are and why you should steer clear of them.
What is a Fake Customer Testimonial?
We’ve all seen ads that feature a person who claims to be a true customer talking about how great a product or service is. When these testimonials are genuine and come from actual customers, they can be incredibly effective. Fake customer video testimonials, where businesses hire actors to pretend to be real customers and sing the praises of a product or service, are becoming more common.
With tools like Fiverr, anyone can create fake reviews and testimonials to promote their own business or attack a competitor. Check out this story on CBC News about a woman in Canada that was charging $10 on Fiverr to make fake video testimonials for businesses.
To watch the full story, click here.
Why do people fake customer video testimonials?
Some think they can get away with faking customer video testimonials, to build trust and credibility. You might even be able to fool a few customers. But many others will see right through it, and some will actually be offended and feel you’ve disrespected them. If you’re thinking about using fake customer video testimonials to boost your marketing efforts, think again.
Here’s why:
First and foremost, it’s illegal. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made it very clear that businesses cannot sell or endorse products through fake means — including video testimonials. If you get caught doing this, the FTC could fine you up to $11,000 per violation; they might even take you to court if the violations are “egregious.”
The good news is that fake customer testimonials aren’t common—but they’re still out there. And you don’t have to look too hard to find them. But here’s the kicker: video testimonials are always more effective than text-based ones—so why fake them?
From a marketing perspective, creating fake video testimonials can hurt your business by making you seem less trustworthy and/or more desperate for business. The most important thing is customer video testimonials really help sell your product and services.
Whenever you are thinking of hiring a company, it is important that you perform your do diligence. Over the past few months several businesses have contacted us to create customer video testimonials where we supply the people. At Remote Video Testimonials we are against the practice of fake testimonials. We only work with companies who have happy customers that they want us to interview and turn into a customer video testimonial.
Here are a few things you can do to help prove the authenticity of your customer video testimonials.
- Display your customer’s full name in their video testimonial
- Have 3 to 5 customer video testimonials on your website
- Get Google reviews to support the credibility of your video testimonials