If you are a small business owner, you may have, at some point, found yourself wondering how to stand out in a market that is dominated by bigger brands. The answer- social proof! It is a strategy that helps build trust and credibility. It also lets you leverage your existing customer base to attract new ones.
Want to make your small business shine? Here is how you can use social proof to your advantage.
Using Customer Reviews
One of the simplest and most effective ways to leverage social proof is through customer reviews and testimonials.
According to a survey by BrightLocal, 81% of consumers read reviews for businesses before making purchase decisions. When a prospective customer sees others praising your product or service, they may be inclined to trust you, too, and make a purchase.
To make the most of customer reviews, feature them prominently. Whether you have a dedicated testimonials page or reviews are embedded within your product pages, just ensure to make it easy for visitors to find the feedback.
You can also request for reviews. If you have a happy customer, ask them to leave a review!
According to a report by Nielsen, 88% of the respondents were more likely to trust the recommendation of someone they knew. You can even offer a small incentive like a discount or freebie in exchange for their honest review.
Partnering With Micro-Influencers
If you think influencer marketing is only for massive brands with big budgets, think again! In fact, micro-influencers tend to have smaller but more dedicated and engaged following, which can be more effective for your brand.
These influencers have earned their followers’ trust, which makes their endorsements highly valuable. As a small business, partnering with an influencer who shares your values can help you reach out to a targeted audience and build your credibility quickly.
You may want to start small by sending the influencers your product or service in exchange for a review or a social media post.
Many micro-influencers are happy to collaborate in this way, particularly when it is not overly commercial and leans more towards authenticity.
Using User-Generated Content
User-generated content is a great way of showing prospective customers that real people are enjoying your product. This type of content can include customer photos, unboxing videos, or even shout-outs on social media.
Ask your customers to share their experience with your product or service. You can also make a branded hashtag to make it easier for them to tag you and ensure their content gets to reach a wider audience.
Once your customers share their content, repost it on your social media accounts or site, if any. This will make your brand look authentic and also provide social proof that others are enjoying your product.
Sharing Success Stories and Case Studies
People love real-world examples of how a certain product or service made a positive impact. For this purpose, you can use case studies or success stories which will boost your business’s credibility.
You may choose different customers or businesses to highlight as each has a different story. These stories must describe the challenges they faced and how your product or service helped them. You can also use numbers, testimonials, or solid examples to make your case studies more convincing.
Building Social Media Presence and Engagement
If you want to compete with the bigger brands, you must have a strong social media presence.
Social media will help you connect directly with the audience and also offer you an avenue for social proof- be it through likes, comments, or shares.
If you are struggling to boost your social media presence, consider enlisting the help of growth services. These services can help you gain more followers and improve your engagement by reaching the right audience. With more followers, you will have plenty of social proof to show off.
Similarly, do not just limit your efforts to gaining more followers- whether you buy Instagram followers or gain organically, always keep up the engagement. As your followers engage with your content, your brand will become more visible.
Showing Certifications and Awards
If your business has earned any awards or certifications, be sure to highlight them as much as you can. This is important because these certifications will serve as social proof that your business is trustworthy, credible, and focused on delivering quality. When you showcase these achievements and accolades, you can stand out from the competition.
For this purpose, you can create a section on your website and display your awards or certificates there for better visibility.
Final Thoughts
Still think social proof is a buzzword? It is time to consider it a vital tool for gaining trust, credibility, and brand loyalty- particularly if you are a small business.
Social proof enables you to compete with the bigger brands by showing that your product or service delivers value and has the backing of your loyal customers.
When you have the right strategies in place, your small business will not only survive but will continue to thrive in what is otherwise a highly competitive market.
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