You can easily persuade people to buy online using techniques that psychologists and successful marketers have known for years. Persuasion is nothing more than understanding specific aspects of human nature that work on a subconscious level and are often automatic.
Here are some of the best ways to persuade people to buy your products or services.
Show What Others Are Doing
People tend to look to others when it comes to making a purchasing decision, and will often copy what they are doing, especially when they are dealing with uncertainty. This psychological phenomenon is known as social proof. People often decide what others are up to because it makes them feel reassured about their choice. They assume that other people are more knowledgeable and better informed then they are.
Show User-Generated Reviews
A massive influence on a person’s buying decisions is reviews published (typically online) by other buyers of the same product. These reviews have quickly become an essential aspect of website design because they allow users of your site to write reviews and express their overall rating of your products. Online users are more inclined to trust people over marketers. Don’t be afraid of negative user reviews though. Rather than trying to delete these from your site, be prepared to reach out to these customers quickly to understand and try to resolve their complaints.
Use Pictures and Videos to Persuade
A powerful tool for increasing product sales is the use of images. This is especially true for luxury and high-value products and services. It is essential to provide high-quality images of the products that you are selling because they will go a long way in reassuring people about what they’ll be getting.
Up-Sell and Cross-Sell
Once people have already committed to making a purchase, it is much easier to persuade them to buy more because they already have one foot in the door. You don’t ever want to underestimate the potential profits that you can make from cross-selling and up-selling your products. Displaying related products near your top sellers will make it easier for people to buy more items. When you’re selling digital products, it makes sense to create a funnel containing other related products which customers will buy if they provide massive value.
In its purest form, persuasion means providing users with the information they need to make an informed decision and helping them to trust you and address any concerns they may have. Persuasion isn’t about manipulation. These persuasion tactics will only get you so far in winning over potential customers; your site still needs to provide value and excellent customer service to guarantee success.