Fact: No one likes to write testimonials.
But most people don’t mind talking.
Fact: Interviewing is both a skill and an art.
But few people know how to really do it well. It’s too easy to freeze up and revert to yes-or-no questions.
The best way to demonstrate how to get a testimonial is to simply show you.
This is not only my first video post, but it’s also the first footage I’ve ever shot. Ever. Knowing this will explain so much when you see it.
Against my better judgment, I’m posting it anyway. My assistant kept insisting it was in his contract.
This is the first of a two-part series. After you’ve watched this disaster, I think you’ll see why I need the second part.
Next week, I’ll show you how to get a less awkward video testimonial. This is a subject about which I know a surprising lot. You can click here to subscribe for updates, if you haven’t already.Learn how I can help you avoid getting an awkward testimonial.
Tell them we met on Twitter.
Take me to your feed reader.
Make yourself at home in your own 
Dig up more good stuff:
36 Comments
More!
I’m laughing so hard I have tears rolling down my cheeks. This is fabulous….I can’t wait for the next installment.
I’m going to grin all day now
Hi. That’s me in the video
Not the puppet … the other one. I also did the photography and editing.
Kelly, you are the awesome. Love, love, love.
Ok, I just woke up.
And I’m sitting here in my chair, grabbing my belly and laughing so hard I can hardly catch my breath.
This is, without a doubt, the single most fabulous thing I’ve seen in pretty much forever.
You rock x 1000.
Fabeku´s last blog ..Now That’s Ninjarific #4: The Rapping Buddhist Edition
The puppet works. I’m sold. I’m also happy
Kelly!
This is funny-perfection!
I am still giggling. That voice!
Please tell “Aaaaaaaah” I love what she is wearing.
Can’t wait for the next installment…
Ahaahhhhhh! Bliss! I am laughing so hard.
(Also, cringing since this is probably about how I would go about getting a testimonial
Love it!
Eileen´s last blog ..Raw Update #1
Kelly and I have had puppet dicussions before, so I know her fondness for them.
I know what you were trying to show us.
I KNOW! I KNOW! (raises hand wildly)
When asking for a testimonial, do not ask questions that can be answered with just “yes” or “no.” Right? PLEASE tell me I’m right!
This was hysterical, Kelly. Coming from someone who quit a job with a hand puppet, I get especially loved it.
Judy Dunn´s last blog ..Unintentional Marketing: Are We Making Our Customers Feel Stupid?
Oh m gosh!! I loved it! Loved it loved it loved!!
Hee hee, that made my day. Thanks!!!
Naomi Niles´s last blog ..Introducing Intuitive Designs Version 7
AAAAHHHHHHHHH! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You are my hero.
Lucy, thank you! And thank you for the introduction to @ElspethMurray. (A REAL puppeteer. Her show looks so amazing.)
Alan, right! And don’t you also give welding lessons at http://www.almostscientific.com/blog/metalworking-class-san-francisco/ ?
Lisa, the feeling is mutual.
Fabeku, thank you thank you thank you. I knew at least you’d probably like the intro because I figured you liked Fugazi. The fact you like the whole thing is just the cherry on my sundae.
Christine! Thank you!
Lauren, Thank you! It’s actually spelled “Aaaaaagggw.” The “w” is silent. And I will pass your wardrobe compliment on to him–but I won’t tell him you thought he was a she.
Eileen, No way, you’d get an amazing testimonial. With all that psychoanalysis experience? Tell me more about that.
Judy, YES! (Oh, wait, see, now I notice every single yes-no question.) So glad you liked it. I’m glad this passes muster with a former professional hand-puppeteer!
Naomi, it makes my day that this made your day.
Kelly Parkinson´s last blog ..How to Get an Awkward-Free Testimonial (Take 1)
Oh thank you for letting Ahhhhhh come out to play. I know I have lots to learn from her dragoness smarts. Can’t wait for the next installment.
Loved the hand written commentary and titles! Terrific fun, and can’t wait until the next instalment.
Beniaminus´s last blog ..WordPress Creator Matt Mullenweg Gives Tips on Public Speaking
I can’t even type .. giggling so hard. Can’t wait for installment 2!
Kelly, what makes you think it’s a fact that people don’t like writing testimonials?
I think it’s a fact a lot of people don’t like asking for them and I also think it’s a fact that people feel uncomfortable being asked if the service wasn’t up to scratch, but I have never had any problems getting testimonials at all.
Maybe 20 years in sales and having it beaten into me with a large stick helped, I dunno.
Video was funny as hell btw, and I’d be happy to tell anybody so
Tim Brownson´s last blog ..Who Do You Trust?
Kelly, this is so awesome. Can you please teach me everything I need to know with puppets? And hand-written commentary and MUSIC and such.
I am laughing so hard that if I was wearing make-up I’d have to re-apply it.
Can not wait for Part II. Please say it will be soon.
Megan, Julie, Elizabeth, Shannon, Tim: Thanks for the encouragement!
Tim: Good point! Maybe more of your clients enjoy writing? (For some reason, I tend to attract people who prefer talking.)
Hahahahaha!
Ha!
Who doesn’t love an awkward dinosaur in a colorful ribbed turtleneck? Nobody, that’s who.
Very Fetching Indeed.
Richard´s last blog ..A tradition of Mournful Music.
Ben!
Richard!
Now I know that REAL artists like dinosaurs! (And hand-lettered signs.)
Thank you!
Oh Kelly – this is absolutely the most hilarious thing I’ve seen in ages. And I’d be happy to give a testimonial to that fact.
Deborah Weber´s last blog ..Energy Broadcast 2-22-2010
kelly – you are so fucking hilarious (can i say that?).
that is the best video ever. i want to know about the production stuff – was it hard to do? time consuming? did you use a program? sounds like you had the help of a welder. =) my “Big Exciting Thing” is a video and i’m a little stuck on tactic.
looking forward to part II!
xo
michelle marlahan´s last blog ..Words that bug
OMG OMG! LOVE!
And now I must wait for the next installment… will Aaaaaagggw respond to feedback? Will Kelly get her testimonial? The suspense!!!
Holy freaking brilliant! This just made my day to an absurd extent. Giggling and cheering and just OH MY GOD. LOVE.
Briana´s last blog ..The golden hour. My antidote to the check-y-loos.
seriously, made me laugh out loud.
please post part 2 – soon!
tami´s last blog ..Yoga+Music365 (day54) – Mud Is My Ally by Harvester – The Recipe Edition!
You are a genius, and that was totally brilliant! It was only part 1, and I’m already clapping! Yay!
Josiane´s last blog ..A (huge!) shift in perspective
Deborah, why thank you! I just might quote you on that!
Michelle, at this point I think you can get away with saying anything and it will still come out sounding like fairies and rainbows. Thank you for honoring me with my blog’s first f-bomb! I can’t say it (I just can’t bring myself) but you can. Yes, I did have the help of a welder. He used iMovie, I think. And we used a Flip camera, which I believe you have. It looked complicated enough that I didn’t want to do it, but not so complicated I couldn’t learn in a pinch. If I really had to. First step is just shooting the thing! You can figure out the rest as you go.
Janet! Now I HAVE to post the sequel. (Or will it be a prequel? duh-duh-duh-duh)
Briana, Tami, Josiane — I love you guys! Thanks for the encouragement.
So for all those wondering about the production:
Intro Song: Waiting Room by Fugazi
Exit Song: Diamond Day by Vashti Bunyan
The video was shot on a Flip Ultra HD and edited in Apple iMove. It was actually all done in a single take (if you can believe it)
The photos were taken with a Canon 30D with a 50mm lens. All photos were then color corrected and cropped in Adobe Lightroom.
Alan Rorie´s last blog ..Raygun Gothic Rocketship Papercraft Model
Yay for Aaaaahh! Yay for Kelly!
This is pretty much the best thing ever. Aaaaaah!
This is hilarious!!
I’m going to have to start handling more of my problems with puppets.
Allie Brosh´s last blog ..My Childhood, in Pictures
Oh my goodness Kelly,
You are a comic genius… and a fabulous puppeteer!! I am going to save a link to this video and will play it every time I need some cheering up. And, I also learned a lot about how (not) to ask for testimonials.
Can’t wait for part 2!!
chris zydel´s last blog ..Love The Muse You’re With
Wow. This is the awesomest thing I have ever seen.
How did you make that funny non-Kelly voice come out of the puppet’s mouth? I lurve it. I won’t be able to sleep properly until I have the next installment.
You crack me up. You are pretty much the most awesome thing ever.
Goddess Leonie´s last blog ..Zen Your Life: The Wardrobe Edition
So. Hilarious.
Best. Video. Ever. But dang – I miss the old site layout
Ha HA! Mine is a evil laugh!
“Ha HA! Mine is a evil laugh!”
That’s a quote from Firefly, btw. Not that I’m evil. We’ll, not professionally.
Bob S´s last blog ..How to make the impossible…possible
2 Trackbacks
[...] he got a load of how hilarious I found the coolest puppet on Earth Kelly’s assistant, Ozzie demanded his online debut. Not to be laughed at… No, no, no. [...]
[...] How to Get an Awkward-Free Testimonial (Take 1) (copylicious) [...]