Social proof is a marketing strategy that uses evidence that other people have used particular products or services and loved them.
Social proof is a marketing strategy that uses evidence that other people have used particular products or services and loved them.
It gives consumers confidence that their product choice has already been tested by others and deemed worth the money.
Think this way. You are trying to buy a certain cream for your acne but are unsure how effective it is. So you turn to customers who used it and read their testimonials. Only after that, you make your decision.
Sound familiar?
Long story short, Social Proof is so powerful that it can impact customer decisions.
Absolutely! Here are 15 ways to do it.
#1 Ask renters to write testimonials.
Then, feature them on your website so potential customers can read them and feel safe to rent from you.
We suggest not employing dark schemes such as posting fake testimonials or paying someone to write.
Make your testimonials verifiable.
#2 Get mentions from reputable sources.
It would be cool if a reputable site, like Forbes, or a local news channel mentions your business with positive views and shares a link to your website.
A customer who finds your business through a reputable source feels more confident about your business.
Secondly, backlinks from high-authority websites improve your SEO ranking.
#3 Get approved by credible institutions.
Look at the image above. You may get a sense of security about the company because we see that the company's qualities are overseen by reputable institutions.
For example, you can get accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to show your business is committed to the highest standards in business.
#4 Show your awards or recognitions.
If your rental business achieved any awards or recognitions, display them on your website. It will give confidence to visitors.
Don't have anything to show? We recommend joining the contests and business networks to increase your chances for recognition.
#5 Get endorsements
Endorsements should be from popular people who are trusted and admired by the general public.
Find someone preferably from your community. It can be a politician, celebrity, blogger, veteran, activist, etc.
You can support their activities or give them a good reason to endorse your business.
#6 Have a review system on your website.
Did you know that most people read reviews before shopping with a new company? Good reviews increase the conversion rate. That is a fact.
If your rental website does not have a review system, we suggest Reservety. It has a built-in review system that lets customers rate products and leave detailed feedback.
#7 Share success stories.
If someone got great value from your rental business and is happy to tell their story, share them with your visitors.
For example, it can be a story about a construction company completing a large building using your rental tools.
Or, a story of a local tourist guide who successfully organizes tours to the national park thanks to your rental bikes.
You got the point here.
#8 Use comparisons to stand out.
Your rental website should have a blog section where you share updates, relevant news, helpful articles, photo galleries, and videos from your business moments.
You can also post comparisons there to show visitors why your business is better than other rental businesses.
#9 Mention your contributions to the community.
Let's say you own a party rental business. You rent tents, tables and chairs, decorative pieces, and catering equipment. And this year, you organized a charity event to support children with disabilities.
We do not think mentioning it will be bragging. Instead, it will encourage others to take similar actions. And it will also show your eagerness to comply with ethical principles.
Make sure you share fun images from those events with people using your items to make a positive impression on potential customers.
#10 “People who rent this item, also rent this one”.
This is a generic statement. You can word it differently if you want.
But the main thing here is to display related items during the checkout to encourage people to rent more stuff.
The strategy is helpful because it reminds people to rent essential items needed with the selected item. Plus, it boosts your revenues.
#11 Increase social media followers.
Some people pay attention to how many people like or follow a company on social media before spending money with a company.
Shortly, people are more likely to do business with companies that have more likes and followers.
This is a good reason you should be active by posting interesting content and engaging with users on social media.
#12 Publish user-generated content (UGC)
Encourage your customers to create content about your rental products.
For example, ask them to take pictures, capture videos, or describe their experiences through an article. And publish them on your website.
UGC will be more trustworthy for customers than the content created by the company itself.
#13 Establish partnerships with reputable companies.
Most customers tend to be skeptical of new businesses. Therefore, they research your company and products more thoroughly.
When consumers see your company is in partnership with a reputable company, they may form a positive impression about your company.
#14 Have a professional logo.
Although it may seem like a small thing, a logo impacts customer behavior a great deal.
Businesses have only a few seconds to grab the attention of customers. Cool logo can do the job!
If they find your logo and slogan interesting, they will be more likely to explore your business.
Also, people tend to accept businesses with logos as more credible than the ones without them.
#15 Encourage word-of-mouth advertising.
One way to do it is to create a referral program and pay a commission for each rental.
For example, Joe referred his friend, Linda, to your boat rental business, and earned % of the rental fee as a commission.
This scheme surely makes people talk more about your business.
Keep in mind, that 83% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase products or services when recommended by someone they know.
Do you think a referral program is something you need for your rental business? Use Reservety. It has all the tools to create and manage referral programs on your website.
Reservety handles your website, bookings, inventory, and payments — so you can focus on growing your business.