Picture this scenario. You’re getting your bathroom refitted, and you’re torn between two companies. They both have similar pricing and have pictures of gorgeous-looking bathrooms on their sites. But one comes recommended by a friend, and one doesn’t.
9 times out of 10, you’ll opt for the company that comes with a personal recommendation. Why? Because social proof matters.
But what exactly is social proof? Social proof is essentially having another person vouch for a product or service. The proof is more powerful if it’s somebody you know or trust or somebody impartial.
Trust Pilot for self storage reviews and online testimonials are a form of social proof that can prove invaluable for your business. Trust Pilot is a third-party site on which users can post reviews of your business, and testimonials are longer reviews written by valued customers that can be posted to your site.
Here’s why these forms of social proof are so valuable, and how to encourage your customers to create them.
Increased Trust
Trust Pilot has its name for a reason – having a profile full of positive reviews makes consumers trust your business. Scrolling through a Trust Pilot review or testimonial page with glowing reports from real people signals to consumers that you can not only be trusted, but that your service deserves their money.
In fact, a whopping 88% of consumers trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations, while 87% of purchase decisions begin with online research. To many consumers, reading online reviews can be just as powerful as getting recommendations from a close friend, underlining their importance for your business.
Increased Legitimacy
If consumers haven’t heard of your company before and don’t know anybody who’s used your services, they may be unsure whether or not your business is legitimate. The more positive Trust Pilot reviews you have, the more legitimate your business appears. This puts the mind of potential customers at ease.
A solid Trust Pilot profile can be good for SEO, too. SEO (search engine optimisation) is the process of getting your website to the front page of Google and other search engines. Part of what pushes you to that coveted top spot is Google’s perception of your legitimacy.
Having links to your website from other websites and a Trust Pilot profile with tons of traffic can help by sending trust signals for SEO.
A Head Start On The Competition
Think back to the example we used at the start of two companies with similar pricing, but only one comes with a personal recommendation. This scenario plays out with social proof.
If a customer needing self storage services finds your website and a competitor’s website, the deciding factor might be reviews and testimonials. Having a high Trust Pilot score can give you the edge over a competitor with similar pricing in the same location.
More Sales
Still not convinced that you need to invest time in cultivating social proof? Buckle in for this stat.
The regular use of testimonials can generate 62% more revenue from each customer every time they visit your site. All of the good outcomes produced by social proof – such as increased perceived legitimacy and trust – result in one thing for your business: revenue.
The more consumers feel they can trust you, the more likely you are to have customers booking a self storage unit with your business. That means more revenue for you to reinvest and grow the company or simply enjoy as profit!
How To Get More Social Proof
If you want more reviews and testimonials, you need to actually request them from your customers. When a customer finishes using your services, email them asking politely for a Trust Pilot review or site testimonial.
If people are reluctant to leave reviews, offer incentives. Email current self storage renters offering a slight discount on one month or week in exchange for a review. Alternatively, offers prizes, such as a £100 Amazon voucher for a lucky reviewer.
Revolutionise Your Self Storage Marketing
While social proof is incredibly valuable, it should form just one part of a wider marketing strategy for your self storage unit. Alongside social proof, prioritise having a strong digital presence through regular social media posts, adverts, and a professional-looking website.
We know that running a successful self storage business leaves you with little time to focus on a marketing strategy – that’s where we come in. From website build and design to PPC, we’re experts on all things marketing, and we know the self storage industry inside out.
Interested? Take a look at the services we offer to supercharge your self storage sales.
We have been working with Amax Marketing for the last few weeks and have already been impressed with the results we've seen.
As experts in outreach and digital PR, we knew we'd be in safe hands. We are looking forward to the coming months, and getting some fantastic results!