Social Proof is a relatively new marketing strategy that relies on creating a positive influence for your brand using cues from your customers. People want to put the time into researching before purchasing a product or service because they want to make sure it’s worth their investment.
If you want to social proof your business, start by taking advantage of user-generated content. This is content that has been created by consumers and shared online in the form of photos, videos, blog posts, or reviews. One of the hottest player in the market is Vipeline, a user generate video platform. The great thing about this kind of content is that it validates your product and removes any fears a potential customer might have.
Putting a positive, well-written testimonial or video on your website will impact your sales. Testimonials feel genuine and give your business credibility because they show how your products impacts people’s lives. If people can relate to the testimonial or case study they’ll be more apt to make the purchase.
It’s been shown that consumers trust product reviews 12 times more than the company’s product description. Incorporating reviews into your online media plan will drive traffic to your website and add to your search engine rankings, since reviews will attract more user-generated content. Don’t be afraid to post negative reviews along with the stellar ones, as negative responses to a product makes a brand seem more honest and balanced.
Adding statistics to your website is also helpful. Showing off your social media presence gives people proof of your popularity. Stats showing off the number of mentions, followers, or fans you have on social media give as much credibility as product reviews do. Trending stats such as “50 people bought this item” or “80 people tweeted this” make the item more compelling to purchase. Obviously, this will only work if you have strong numbers.
Bottom line: don’t be afraid to let your loyal customers work for you.