If you're looking to grow your brand in 2024 and beyond, it's crucial to establish your company as trustworthy. But what's the best way to do that? As marketing agency Drive Social Media explains, it's not enough to tell potential customers you're the best in your industry. They want to hear it from unbiased sources — a.k.a. people just like them.
Leveraging customer testimonials and user-generated content is vital to building trust and authority around your business. Below are ways to do so.
Offer Incentives for Positive Reviews
If your shoppers are satisfied with your products or services, you want them to spread the word in real life and online. One way to encourage that is through offering incentives, like special discounts or promotions for their participation.
Highlight Customer Stories
"Your customers' satisfied experiences are free advertising you can use to take your brand to the next level," Drive Social Media's VP of Digital Marketing, Stephen Nations, shares. "Highlight their stories on your social media channels — what challenges they faced, how your products or services helped them, and the overall positive experience they had purchasing from your company."
Give Prospects Impactful Visuals
Video testimonials can significantly impact more than just words on a page. Encourage customers to record their reviews so you can share them on your website and other platforms.
Engage With Prospects and Clientele Alike
Whether through a dedicated Facebook page or your Instagram profile, do your best to create a community space where people can ask questions and share their opinions. As Drive Social Media explains, the more you engage with your customers, the more you build trust and belonging within your brand.
Make Leaving Reviews a Breeze
Make it as easy as possible for your customers to share their positive experiences about your business. Ensure that all of your company's platforms — from your website to your social media channels — have easy-to-find places for content submission.
Display Testimonials Everywhere
Take advantage of every positive review your company receives by displaying them prominently on your website and within your advertising. When prospects see that people are raving about your products, they're more likely to try them.
You can also share positive reviews on your social media networks. Encourage customers to tag your brand when they post so you can share their videos on your Instagram or Facebook stories. Social media is the perfect place to attract new audiences through user-generated content.
Use Customer Testimonials and User-Generated Content to Show Off Your Company's Best Assets
As a business owner or manager, you likely spend a decent amount of money advertising your products or services. By leveraging customer testimonials and user-generated content, you can save money and boost sales in the process.
"At Drive Social Media, we know the genuine voices of your customers hold power," Nations explains. "Don't be afraid to showcase why others should choose your brand over your competitors."
About Drive Social Media
Drive Social Media provides powerful marketing solutions, along with a mission to deliver growth-minded partners a minimum of 3X ROI. Drive's proprietary ROI-tracking platform, Marketing Milk, and its highly trained team working online and at five U.S. locations have helped Drive Social Media become one of INC's 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America.
