Podcast Summary: The Marketing Millennials – "Use THIS On Your Website Today | Bathroom Break #62"
Episode Details:
- Title: Use THIS On Your Website Today | Bathroom Break #62
- Release Date: June 30, 2025
- Hosts: Daniel Murray (The Marketing Millennials) and Jay Schwedelson (Do This, Not That Podcast & SubjectLine.com)
1. Introduction to the Bathroom Break Series
In this episode of The Marketing Millennials, Daniel Murray teams up with Jay Schwedelson for a special collaboration within the Bathroom Break series. This segment is designed to deliver quick, actionable marketing tips that listeners can consume during their short breaks.
Key Quote:
- Daniel Murray [00:02]: “Welcome to a new special series called the Bathroom break. That extra 10 minutes you either have to listen to marking tips or use the bathroom. Or both. But I don't recommend both. But that's your choice.”
2. The Role of Honesty in Professional Interactions
Before diving into the main topic, Daniel and Jay engage in a brief discussion about maintaining honesty during meetings. They explore the concept of "hard stops"—predefined times to end meetings—and the ethical considerations of using them, especially when meetings become unproductive.
Key Insights:
- Setting Expectations: Establishing hard stops can help manage meeting durations effectively.
- Ethical Boundaries: Using legitimate reasons (e.g., other commitments) to exit meetings is generally acceptable, but fabricating excuses should be approached with caution.
Key Quote:
- Jay Schwedelson [01:25]: “Do you ever kind of lie when you're dealing with people?... Or are you just always, you know, being honest?”
Daniel Murray [01:02]: “I always say, like, just letting you know I have a hard stop at three, just so they set expectation in front.”
3. The Importance of Testimonials and Social Proof
The main focus of the episode centers on leveraging testimonials and social proof to enhance website effectiveness and increase conversions. Daniel emphasizes that social proof taps into fundamental psychological principles that influence purchasing decisions.
Key Insights:
- Psychological Foundation: Social proof builds trust by showcasing that others, similar to the potential customer, have had positive experiences.
- Essential Element: Incorporating social proof is now a basic requirement (“table stakes”) for effective landing pages.
Key Quote:
- Daniel Murray [02:11]: “Social proof is psychology. So like people trust people who are like them. So like if you have people who are similar to you, it'll push them through the line in a purchase choice.”
4. Quantifiable Social Proof: Enhancing Credibility
Jay and Daniel discuss the significance of quantifiable social proof—testimonials that include specific, measurable outcomes rather than vague praise. This approach makes testimonials more credible and relatable.
Key Insights:
- Specific Metrics: Including data points (e.g., “cut onboarding time by 43%”) makes testimonials more persuasive.
- Relatability: When potential customers see measurable benefits that they can envision for themselves, they are more likely to convert.
Key Quote:
- Jay Schwedelson [03:31]: “For example, instead of saying this is a great application, it would say, you know, in just 60 days we cut our onboarding time by 43% using blah blah blah.”
5. Leveraging User-Generated Content (UGC)
Daniel introduces the concept of incorporating user-generated content to further enhance authenticity. By showcasing real customers using the product, businesses can create a more personal and trustworthy connection with potential clients.
Key Insights:
- Visual Authenticity: Displaying customers actively using the product (e.g., applying makeup, using supplements) provides tangible evidence of its effectiveness.
- Personal Connection: Especially in B2B contexts, featuring testimonials from individuals with relevant titles can resonate more deeply with prospects.
Key Quote:
- Daniel Murray [04:39]: “If you're looking at the consumer side, it's someone actually using your product... But in the B2B side you could show like you can have someone talking and when someone sees like this person with this title talking, it's more of a personal connection.”
6. Utilizing Logos as Social Proof
The conversation shifts to the strategic use of logos from well-known clients or publications to bolster social proof. Displaying recognizable logos can significantly enhance credibility and trustworthiness.
Key Insights:
- Strategic Placement: Placing logos near submission buttons or call-to-actions can effectively boost conversion rates.
- Customization: Tailoring the displayed logos to match the target audience or specific marketing campaigns can increase relevance and impact.
Key Quote:
- Jay Schwedelson [05:33]: “Putting these logos maybe in a little bit of a grayed outlook near the conversion area, near that submission button on that final CTA is a game changer.”
7. Tailoring Social Proof to Your Audience
Daniel emphasizes the importance of aligning social proof elements with the specific audience targeted by marketing efforts. This ensures that the testimonials and logos resonate more deeply with potential customers.
Key Insights:
- Audience Segmentation: Customize testimonials and logos based on different customer tiers (e.g., small business, medium business, enterprise).
- Relevance: Ensure that the social proof displayed is pertinent to the visitor's segment to maximize effectiveness.
Key Quote:
- Daniel Murray [06:32]: “Make sure it like matches your client... Don't always think about the logos and what that client would care about or that potential client would care about when they're landing on your landing page.”
8. Additional Social Proof Strategies
Jay shares an innovative approach to social proof by featuring logos of event attendees. Highlighting the presence of reputable companies within your community or events can serve as powerful endorsements.
Key Insights:
- Community Endorsement: Showcasing companies that attend your events implies a level of trust and industry recognition.
- Beyond Reviews: Not all businesses can accumulate thousands of reviews, but leveraging different forms of social proof can achieve similar trust-building benefits.
Key Quote:
- Jay Schwedelson [06:32]: “We have a bunch of registrants from really cool companies, and we're like, you know what we put up on the site, you'll be there joining other people that also be there from these companies. And it crushed it.”
9. Authentic Communication in Marketing
Towards the end of the episode, Daniel and Jay briefly touch upon maintaining authenticity in communication, such as responding genuinely to messages rather than using empty affirmations.
Key Insights:
- Genuine Engagement: Authentic interactions help build stronger relationships and trust with your audience.
- Feedback Mechanism: Understanding the level of engagement or reaction can provide insights into audience sentiment.
Key Quote:
- Daniel Murray [07:31]: “If I generally don't think it's funny, I'll, like, say, like, what is this? But I'll give somebody, like, something.”
10. Conclusion and Call to Action
Daniel and Jay wrap up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with their respective podcasts and communities, emphasizing the value of continuous learning and application of marketing strategies.
Key Quote:
- Daniel Murray [08:39]: “...it could be anything from email subject line to any marketing tips in the world. We'll talk about it. Just give us a shout on LinkedIn and tell us what you want to hear.”
Final Thoughts: This episode provides a comprehensive guide on effectively utilizing testimonials and social proof to enhance website performance and drive conversions. By focusing on specific, quantifiable testimonials, leveraging user-generated content, and strategically using logos, marketers can create a trustworthy and persuasive online presence. Additionally, tailoring social proof elements to align with the target audience ensures maximum relevance and impact.
Listeners are encouraged to implement these strategies immediately to observe tangible improvements in their marketing efforts.