This question was brought up to me at a networking event and I thought I would share to get your opinions.

When using testimonials on your website is it more authentic is you actual include the company name and link to their site?

My answer was yes because anyone can write a testimony from John Q Public or John Q. (for example purposes). I am going to include testimonies from my clients with their company name and link because one they took the time to write it and included the information and also because prospects can see the diverse type of clients that I am servicing.

What is your opinion?

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I agree, you want to post the name of the person, company website, etc, for creditability as well as providing a link to your clients website :-)

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Kim Beckers
Online Business Manager

I agree...it lends credibility to your website..also allows potential clients to contact the quotee for a reference

Marisa
Actual Delegation

Yes, absolutely include their business name and if possible, their web address in any and all testimonials on your site. I do not have this information on my current site and it was pointed out to me by an extremely reputable business owner My new website is under works and all my testimonials will include their name and business name.

Darlene

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

Yes, full name, company name and title would be appropriate...plus it gives the client a little PR which is always nice to give something back.

Janine

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Yes, whenever possible, full name, company, and link is the best way to go for all the reasons listed already.

There can be exceptions. It might depend on the work you did. I imagine if your clients are, say, lawyers or medical professionals, they might sometimes need to stay anonymous for legal or privacy reasons.

I have a mixture of full and partial IDs in my testimonials. One of my services is ghostwriting, and ghostwriting clients often don't want it widely known that they didn't do their own writing. That's just an accepted part of the ghosting deal. But some will compromise. I have one ghostwriting client who didn't want his or his company's name listed on the Web for the whole world to see. But he is willing for me to share the info privately, by email or phone, if a prospect asks for a reference. I also have a testimonial from someone who no longer works for the company she did when I worked with her, and she left that job on unpleasant terms, so she didn't want to list either her full name OR the company's link for both their sakes. But she still gave me a very nice quote, which I attribute by her first name and former position title only, and she also gave me permission to share her contact info privately.

How's that for a long answer to a short question?

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AnnaLisa Michalski, Sunny Words Writing Services

Great answers everyone, I guess great minds do think alike!

AnnaLisa, would you feel it be better to state confidential client or abbreviated name. I just think with no reference point others might view as anyone could have written the testimony. Since I have a client who uses prior projects for his current bid references, he will use confidential client rather than nothing or abbreviated versions.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Hmmm, that's a good question. I just added a one-line explanation that info about those clients may be shared privately, and I link to my contact page.

Right now, the one who gave me the quote appears as "Jane D." But honestly, I think I like your term "confidential client" better. I may borrow that!!!

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AnnaLisa Michalski, Sunny Words Writing Services