Affiliate Marketing – Why Testimonials Are So Effective

One component of internet affiliate marketing which is quite important to get down, though often hard to get right, is writing articles in order to generate traffic to your online sites. Sadly, a good number of beginning affiliate marketers make the mistake of simply beginning to create articles without a plan or a strategy in place.

In today’s post I will share with you one type of article which is very effective: Testimonials.

Using Testimonials in Affiliate Marketing to build your social proof

One of the key psychological aspects that go into a buyer’s decision to purchase something is seeking and validating social proof. Seeking social proof means that I want to see that other people have come to the same conclusion that I have (or am trying to feel better about). Regardless of whether a product is good or bad, just the fact that other people (preferably individuals I identify with) have bought the product makes me feel that I must be making a good decision too because all those people couldn’t be wrong.

That is why sales page are usually full of, and often lead with, testimonials. In my own case, even though I know exactly what is going on, I can’t help but feel my own skepticism wear down slowly but surely as I read testimonial after testimonial.

Since social proof is such an effective technique, not only in affiliate marketing but in all kinds of marketing, this is a tactic you should be leveraging too. You need to show your potential customers that they are only one in a long string of people with similar needs who have come across your product and derived immense benefits from it.

The best testimonials are personal and specific. “I thought Mike’s product was very good” does not give potential customers what they are looking for. On the other hand, “Mike’s ebook helped me get the promotion I deserved but was too afraid to ask for” provides exactly the reassurance that a potential buyer wants to hear.

How to gather testimonials for affiliate marketing

Unless you’ve built testimonial-gathering into your system, it may be hard to go out and find people who will say nice things about your product. You could start with emailing your customers (if you have their email addresses) and simply ask them for a review. Or, you could offer something in return for an honest published opinion, such as another information product or free software, or simply, their name and company information on your sales page.

Don’t forget, if you are struggling to find new ways to promote your product or get better conversions in your affiliate marketing endeavors, testimonials are a very powerful technique.

Related posts on this blog you might enjoy:

1. What is the Key to Succeeding in Affiliate Marketing?
2. Understanding Affiliate Marketing and Instant Commissions
3. Affiliate Marketing: Using Product Comparison Articles for Maximum Effect
4. Affiliate Marketing — Succeeding With Product Review Articles
5. The 4 Types of Articles Your Affiliate Marketing Site Should Contain