OptInMonster specializes in helping you grow your business by maximizing your list building and email marketing efforts. They know more than a little about generating leads, and turning those leads into customers. They define social proof as a
” … psychological phenomenon where people conform to the actions of others under the assumption that those actions are reflective of the correct behavior.”
You probably have made a purchase because of a reference given to you by a friend or family member. When you see advertisements where people just like you mention how great a product is, you believe what that person has to say more than you do someone who is trying to get you to buy their offerings. Simply put, people tend to believe the advice of a “regular Joe” similar to themselves, rather than a paid marketer.
This is how testimonials can boost your business.
A testimonial is the perfect example of social proof. Testimonials can be seen as public tributes or statements testifying to the quality of a product, service or business. Testimonials from happy customers effectively sell your product for you. When those gushing customers are examples of your perfect prospect, sales can come quickly and regularly.
For example, maybe you are marketing weight loss to single moms over 50 who also work full-time. Think about the unique way your product helps that type of woman. Then reach out to your customers. Find ladies that personify the exact type of person you are trying to help. Ask them for text-based, audio or video testimonials and then share those happy customer stories everywhere online and off.
People like to be asked what they think. With so many marketing messages bombarding us every day, we all beg for social proof to validate their purchasing decisions. Positive testimonials from previous customers that tell a powerful story build automatic trust in your brand, and if you can get a testimonial from an influential figure relative to your niche or market, all the better.
The human brain processes video 60,000 times faster than text. This means even a very short video testimonial accompanied with audio is processed immediately by your prospects. Video testimonials are also more believable than other types. Your audience can see who exactly is saying such good things about your prospects, unlike a text-based testimonial, which may or may not have been written by a real customer or a marketing agency.
