Had to happen I guess. Seems that these days, and within seconds of launch (which should be a clue as to their validity), every web site gets plastered with prominent ‘testimonials’ and logo reviews that praise the web site for this or that great service, price and whatever else the web site is trying to plug. We’ve even been guilty of it ourselves, featuring a few of our (actual) client testimonials in our mail bag (but truth to tell, we haven’t updated it with any new client words in years – yikes!).
Perhaps we should pay more attention – statistics show that these testimonials are quite effective, though to be brutally honest – I’m not exactly sure why. I usually view testimonials as pointless waffle (unless their sourcing is quite complete). After all, does a messianic quote from the obliquely named and otherwise anonymous Joe C. (invariably from Scranton) influence your buying decision that much? 
I’ve always maintained that most of these ‘testimonials’ are pulled from thin air (I also know for a fact that several ethically challenged sites in our little pond – the logo design industry – feature ‘testimonials’ that are completely and utterly bogus – even the logos attributed don’t belong to ‘real’ companies or people). Well, apparently, there’s an answer (though how effective it is remains to be seen). Trusted Testimonials offers a service whereby you (or more accurately your visitors) can have your web site testimonials verfied. Though to be honest, it wasn’t the service itself that grabbed my attention – it was their great front page graphic that portrays anyone that uses fake testimonials as a “Dishonest, Money Sucking Con-Man”. 
(see the graphic above – pinched from their site). Nice stuff, though arguably not something you read on a web site every day. At the time it described my sentiments exactly (though I must admit, I’m not sure I agree with the $80 web site setup charges). On the other hand, one of the folks who will vouch for Trusted Testimonials is Grapevine Surveys – we designed their logo a few years back when they were in startup mode.
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