Quote: “Playing it safe is one of the riskiest things you can do.”
Monday: Credibility
Today – are you going to risk it… or be safe? You have thousands of decisions to make today, most will be made without much thought.
Think about it – already today you’ve made decisions on what to wear and eat… but were they safe or risky decisions.
What to eat? Honestly, is this risky? YES… sometimes there is drama involved in it. A decision so seemingly easy can be filled with mystery. You decide to grab a meal, but you don’t like it, but you’re out of money… how will you know if you like it?
It’s probably impossible to know if you will enjoy eating something, after all, you need to consume the product to determine if you like it… so if you don’t like it, it’s too late!
So what the heck do you do?
You rely on Social Proof. If someone else out there has eaten at the restaurant you want to try… or even the actual dish that you’re debating ordering… someone else that has had the experience can really help determine if it’s for you, too!
Here’s a fun rendition of my husband’s restaurant selection on a recent layover in North Carolina… and yes, he always puts this much effort into restaurants. Yeah, give me a PB&J and I’m set… for him… this decision is a big BIG deal.
What is the value of social proof? With only 15 hours to spend in Charlotte NC, the decision had to be just right… after all it was one meal. So here goes…
A simple web search turned up Pinky’s Westside Diner. There were many restaurants on the search, but Pinky’s stood out, why? Well Pinky’s had been featured on the food network TV show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
Pinky’s was 3 1/2 miles from the intrepid traveler’s hotel, and he walked there and back. No one ever said my husband is intelligent. He reports that the Asian pork burger and the black eyed pea salad were well worth the effort.
Pinky’s was indeed a “dive” and a foodie paradise. To enhance their social proof and live up to all they hype, the servers could recount hte exact foods featured on the show and had an in depth knowledge of the menu.
Remember, you can “make up” social proof, but if someone is relying on it… then arrives at your business and encounter a different experience, OH BOY – that’s wrong on many levels. Don’t “make up” proof — instead, celebrate it by advertising it, prominently displaying on your website, mentioning it on your staff T-shirts, and just like Pinky’s did… get your staff to KNOW the knowledge… like the menu items featured on the show!
Not everyone has social proof as terrific as Pinky’s, but we can all emphasize our social proof and make sure the staff can promote it, just like Pinky’s.
His last piece of advice, “Try the Asian pork burger, it’s delicious!”
Social Proof is one of those things that makes a difference. It’s a tribe builder.
#doinginfinity
Tomorrow… come back for my episode “Content & Consistency”!
PS: Like my vibe? I want you to join my tribe!
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Infinity Marketing Machine Daily Topics:
Monday – Character (Subject Matter Expert)
Tuesday – Content & Consistency
Wednesday – Midweek Motivation
Thursday – Infinity Customers
Friday – Big Money
Saturday – Try This!
Sunday – Week in Review