Consumers are more open than ever to try new products<\/h2>
<\/p> With shoppers devoting part of their day-to-day routine window shopping, consumers have become more exposed to a wider range of brands. They see more ads and discover new products at a faster rate than before. In turn, they have also become more open to trying out new merchandise and looking for alternatives to favorite products.<\/p> A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)<\/a> has found that over half (54%) of consumers have recently bought products from brands that were new to them. Respondents cited the \u201cunavailability of their favorite brand\u2019s stock\u201d and \u201cwillingness to try new brands\u201d as their top reasons for doing so. The research also notes that the consumer mindset has shifted towards a focus on function where purchase behavior hinges more on the product\u2019s benefit and availability over the shopper\u2019s brand preference.<\/p> Figures from McKinsey<\/a> support MIT\u2019s findings. Per McKinsey, 36% of consumers have tried a new brand since the pandemic started. Another 25% of shoppers have bought from a private-label brand, too. On top of that, 73% of shoppers intend to continue with their behavior of buying products from new or different brands.<\/p> <\/p> The findings from MIT and McKinsey highlight how much consumer behavior has shifted and how these drastic changes will become the new baseline for brands moving forward. Long-held orthodox beliefs regarding brand loyalty have already lost their luster and no longer apply in today\u2019s landscape. Thus, there is a pressing need for entrepreneurs to adjust strategies accordingly.<\/p> As consumers\u2019 loyalties shift<\/a>, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) entrepreneurs have a window of opportunity to capture the interest of shoppers, forge connections with their target audience, and \u2013 more importantly \u2013 secure their business. One way of doing so is through tapping into the persuasive power of social proof.<\/p> In psychology<\/a>, the concept of social proof asserts that others\u2019 opinions and experiences help convince someone unsure of what to do. The theory has long been used in e-commerce and digital marketing to influence purchase decisions. It can come in multiple forms, such as but not limited to:<\/p> Social proof serves as trust signals that customers already patronize a brand, that it has been tried and tested, and worthy of a customer\u2019s time and money. Statistics show that using social proof works in converting visitors into buyers, as 9 out of 10 consumers read reviews<\/a> and consider these as influential in their purchase decisions<\/a>. Moreover, 83% of visitors<\/a> find websites trustworthy when they display user reviews. Meanwhile, influencer marketing yields 6.50 dollars per every dollar spent<\/a> on it. Six out of 10 customers<\/a> are also likely to trust recommendations from KOLs that they like.<\/p> Displaying social proof also has a benefit in terms of reputation management. Displaying and addressing concerns posted on reviews and interacting with customers who leave positive feedback give merchants the chance to build stronger connections with their audience. The numbers show the merit in doing so, too. About 83% of consumers<\/a> pay attention to how brands treat them \u2013 and those who feel connected to a brand are likelier to increase spending<\/a> and patronize it over its competitors.<\/p> Cafe24\u2019s e-commerce platform empowers DTC merchants to utilize social proof as effectively as possible. Through the company\u2019s robust tools and offerings, online entrepreneurs can leverage the power of customer reviews, testimonials, and influencer endorsements in fostering brand loyalty, establishing trust, and winning over customers.<\/p> Through Cafe24\u2019s self-developed Edibot Review<\/a> app, brands can integrate authentic and user-generated reviews on their product pages. The Cafe24 Store is also home to apps like Review Talk Talk<\/a>, which encourages shoppers to leave reviews by providing them an easy avenue to do so.<\/p>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/news.cafe24.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-484761277-scaled.jpg\")
Shifting loyalties present fruitful opportunities<\/h2>
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Social proof is instrumental in persuading customers<\/h2>
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Winning consumers\u2019 trust is easy with Cafe24<\/h2>
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