I’ve automated the way I collect social proof from a client I have completed a project with. I thought a post on how I automate collecting social proof may be of interest to you fellow online workers.

What Is Social Proof

Wikipedia has this to say about social proof:

“Social proof, a term coined by Robert Cialdini in his 1984 book, Influence, is also known as informational social influence. It describes a psychological and socialphenomenon wherein people copy the actions of others in an attempt to undertake behavior in a given situation.”

I’ll not re-invent the wheel you can read the full article here social proof, I’ll wait here until you come back.

My definition is a little less wordy, “Proof from real people to show potential clients you can do what you say you can do and that you are not mental to work with”.

What Social Proof Do I Collect?

I collect three types of social proof, case studies, testimonials and referrals.

Testimonials

These are self explanatory, I ask if people enjoyed working with me and can I have a small statement  on how working with me was, and the results we achieved together.

Case Studies

I don’t actual collect a case study, rather I solicit approval from my client that I can write up a case study for the project we have just worked on.

If they say yes, then I write up a blog post on the project we have worked on and publish that on my site.

Referrals

I ask my clients if they know someone who would benefit from my services and for them to make an invite.  I have a form that sends a message to the new potential client making an invite.

If someone recommends you to friends, colleagues or family, that is a high level of trust and great social proof.

My Automated Process For Social Proof

Here’s how I automate collection of the above types of social proof.

I’ve got a password protected form hidden on my site that is pretty simple, it asks for the email address of the client and there is a check box that says case study.  This is the only part of the process I cannot automate because of the way projects work.  I complete the form once a project is complete and the magic happens.

The form is connected to Mailchimp and it adds one of two tags to a clients profile.  Case study or social proof.  If the case study checkbox is selected then the tag is case study else it is social proof.

Tags in mailchimp are pretty powerful, when a tag is added you can automatically add a person into an email sequence.  Let me walk you through those tags.

When a person is added to the social proof tag, the email automation sequence looks like this:

• Wait 3 days
• Send email checking in on the project we have just completed and make sure there are no issues we have missed.  On all the emails I let people know it’s an automation, but a reply will come to “real Neil”.
• Wait 7 days
• Send an email asking for a testimonial on the project we have just worked on, this points them to a form they complete which automatically adds a new testimonial into my system as a draft, I review this and make it live.  The testimonial is added to this page.
• Wait 23 Days
• Send an email asking if they know anyone else that would be a good fit to work with me, invite the client to complete a form where I’ll send a message to the new potential client.  In exchange for this referral I give both current and potential client a discount on their next project.
• Remove tag from client

When a person is added to the case study they are added to an automation that looks like this.

• Wait 3 days
• Send email checking in on the project we have just completed and make sure there are no issues we have missed
• Wait 3 days
• Send an email saying this project was pretty unique and that I would like to write it up as a case study, is that okay with the client?  If they are okay with that I write up a case study
• Wait 7 days
• Send an email asking for a testimonial on the project we have just worked on, this points them to a form they complete which automatically adds a new testimonial into my system as a draft, I review this and make it live.
• Wait 23 Days
• Send an email asking if they know anyone else that would be a good fit to work with me, invite the client to complete a form where I’ll send a message to the new potential client.  In exchange for this referral I give both current and potential client a discount on their next project.
• Remove tag from client

Both types of tagged client are then moved into a 90 day recurring check in where I check to see if they need any help with their site.

The Why Behind This Automation

Why do I use this automation?  Two reasons, I’ll forget if I don;t automate it and I’ll not do it manually because I’m lay and always have too many other things to do.

This automation is improving my marketing by getting new referrals and adding lots of juicy social proof to my site in the.

Wrap Up – How I Automate Collecting Social Proof

I recommend building a series of small automation in your business like these, they stream line your processes and make you look professional in the eyes of your clients.

If you need help building these type of automation let me know, I’ll do the tech work required get in touch

Doing the seo dance –  how I automate collecting social proof