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Sell More of Your Digital Products With Social Proof (Without Being Overly Promotional)
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Have you ever made a purchase based on a friend’s recommendation? That’s social proof in action.
Creating social proof is one of the best ways to build trust with potential customers and increase sales of your digital products. Social proof is when potential customers see that other people trust and have bought from you, and had a great experience. There are several ways to achieve this without seeming blatantly promotional.
Let me show you how!
Step 1: Identify Where to Collect Social Proof
Your first step is identifying where social proof can be collected for your business.
Here are all the basic types of Social Proof:
- Testimonials / Success stories shared directly from customers
- Product Reviews (on your shop or social media)
- Social Media Mentions
- Endorsements from your peers (other creators/businesses)
- Articles or Content written about your products on other websites
Step 2: Request social proof
Don’t hesitate to ask for the social proof types listed above.
A simple email request like the one below for feedback can do the trick!
Example: Subject: Share Your Feedback on (Your Product Name)
Hey [Customer’s Name],
I hope you’re enjoying the (Your Product Name)! Your experience means a lot to me, and I think your story could be really inspiring for others. Could you take a moment to share your thoughts on (product name)?
I’m curious to know (pick a specific question or send a survey)
- What challenges were you facing before you started using (Your Product Name)?
- How has (Your Product Name) helped you overcome those challenges?
- Are there specific features or aspects of (Your Product Name) that you absolutely love?
- Would you recommend (Your Product Name) to others? If so, what’s the reason behind your recommendation?
Just so you know, I might feature your testimonial on our website or social media. If you’re not comfortable with that, no worries – just let me know, and I’ll keep your feedback private.
Your insights will not only help me improve but also assist potential customers in understanding the value of (product name). Thanks a bunch for your time and feedback!
Best,
(Your Name)
Step 3: Share social proof everywhere without feeling overly promotional
Be proactive in sharing social proof without feeling like you’re being overly promotional.
Consider the following strategies for a more personal and authentic way to share them:
- Authentic Personal Stories: Create a space (like a private Facebook group) for customers to share their journey, challenges, and successes. Personal anecdotes resonate with your audience.
- Story Highlights on Social Media: Curate highlights and share screenshots of your mentions from online, like on Instagram or Facebook.
- Creating Interactive Content for generating Social Proof (like poll stickers on Instagram stories): Interactive content can create engagement, give an easy way for customers to share opinions, and creates social proof for your digital products.
Here’s an Example Poll:
What feature of our digital planner helps you stay organized?
- Task Manager
- Calendar View
- Progress Tracker
- Note-Taking Section
Important step: Remember to share the results of your polls as a follow-up post so you can naturally turn the conversation into social proof and a call to action for your product.
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Step 4: Format social proof into a story on your emails or blog posts
Frame testimonials conversationally for an authentic touch. Storytelling adds a dimension to your customers’ experiences and makes the impact of your product relatable to future customers.
For example, here’s how you would frame a testimonial into a story in an email:
Subject: Go from disorganized chaos to streamlined success
Hi there! Today, I wanted to share a story that I thought would inspire you. Meet Kristen, a small business owner who, like many of us, was battling with disorganization.
She recently sent me this message:
“Before I discovered your digital planner, my workday was a real mess. There were tasks piling up, deadlines sneaking past, and I had this constant, nagging stress. I was skeptical an online tool could really make such a difference.”
I had a change to chat with Kristen recently, and she told me how our digital planner became her secret weapon.
“Your digital planner wasn’t just a tool, it was a game-changer. The digital interface was so user-friendly and having a visual calendar gave me a complete overview of my deadlines. I could track my tasks easier and started wrapping up jobs more efficiently. It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders!”
Just like Kristen, many of our customers have seen a true transformation in their productivity and peace of mind.
If you’re struggling like Kristen once was, why not give our digital planner a try?
Step 5: Build a Community and get Consistent with your process
Creating a community around your product and business to foster interaction and boosts your social proof. Remain engaged with your audience, and consistently deliver value.
And remember to ask for the proof!
Get Started on Your Social Proof With These Steps:
- Start small and begin by asking your best customers for testimonials.
- Develop a system to automate the testimonial request process.
- Don’t ask open ended questions. Instead, guide Your Customers by asking them about the problem they faced and how your product helped to solve it.
Avoid these with your requests for social proof:
- Don’t pressure your customers for reviews.
- Avoid incentivized reviews as they may skew authenticity.
- Don’t over-edit your testimonials.
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