I receive multiple emails every day asking my opinion about certain products. I love receiving these emails so please let me know when you come across something interesting. The problem is that every product on the market claims to be the best thing since the invention of the wheel! They present you with their "spin" on the science and then bombard you with testimonials. You read rich, heartfelt accounts of how the product saved or changed their life for the better. How in the world could all of these people be flat out liars? These testimonials have to count for something… do they not?

I want to present you with four points to ponder when it comes to testimonials.

1. If you do not think that some of the more shady companies simply “make up” testimonials, you are a much more trusting (and probably nicer) person than am I. Product investors sit down and try to figure out how they can convince a large number of people to try their product. The most effective, by far, are testimonials from every day, hard working people. They know that without these testimonials their product will fail. That is why almost ALL products use testimonials as their marquee in advertising. The attraction to making a lot of money is way too strong for them and I do not doubt for a moment that many of the testimonials you read are nothing more than pure fabrications.

1. The second type of people writing testimonials do indeed believe that the product they are using has helped them. Unfortunately, most of these people have a vested interest in wanting that product to work for them. Some have such a want, if not a need, to feel better that just about any product will provide a benefit for a time. Others know if the product actually works they can sign up friends in their down line in hopes of buying their dream home or car. If you go to the home page on ZimmerNutrition.com you will read a True Story from one of my patients who gave such a testimonial. She whole-heartedly believed what she was saying. I have coined a term for what happened to this well-meaning, but misled person. She was Honestly Wrong! Read the home page article "Individual Nutritional Guidance and Treatment Protocols" if you are interested in reading this story.

1. Another consideration is that the product does indeed work for a certain percentage of people. The problem is that it may work for a couple of people out of a hundred. You only see the testimonials from those who gained a benefit from the product. The silent majority received nothing except for a wallet reduction. The problem is that you have no way of knowing whether the product works for a minority or majority of people. My experience is that the more sensational the testimonials, the less likely a product will actually deliver on the promise.

1. The final consideration is that a certain product actually works for the majority of people and that the testimonials provided are representative of an experience you are likely to obtain.

So, how do you tell which of the four above descriptions best represents a testimonial you may read for any given product? Because of my experience, I can usually make a number of observations that give me a good clue about the accuracy of the claims made for a product. At this time, I do not have an easy way for you to do the same. All I can tell you is that the first three options make up the lion’s share of product testimonials. My suggestion is to give testimonials a minimal amount of consideration. This is hard to do because once you read them you are hooked. It is kind of like me telling you not to think about a pink elephant. Too late.

You will notice that the testimonials you find on ZimmerNutrition.com attest to who we are and what we do instead of sensationalizing any given product. If you ever find a product testimonial on ZN.com you will also be told what percentage of patients gain that benefit. My goal with ZN.com has been and will always be to provide you with thoughtful information, high quality supplements and zero sensationalism. I ask you to consider not supporting others who do not provide the same.