Testimonials That Actually Do the Selling for You

Why?

Testimonials can be more than just a social proof tool; they can do the actual selling for you.

How?

When asking people for their testimonials, instead of just asking them general questions and having them express their general feelings towards you or your product, ask them leading questions to help them express their experience regarding specific benefits and features of your product. This way if that person is willing, and you ask the right question, you turn them into your sales person and get the social proof of them saying it and not you.

 

Communicate Your Real Life Current Status

Why?

Are you at home and can I come over for a quick visit? Maybe you are busy. Let others’ know.

How?

An app or a function in an existing social network like Facebook that lets you publish your status of your openness to surprise communication or a visit from your friends. Similar to instant messaging statuses, just for real life (you can call me, come over, busy, unavailable, etc.)

 

Your Real Network at LinkedIn and Other Social Networks

Why?

You too, just like me, have first-degree connections you have made or accepted, that are not real friends or even acquaintances. It would be good if each connection could be qualified as “existing” (you true friends and acquaintances), or “potential”. Then we could see the network that is more useful to us.

How?

Either use the social network’s API, or an even better solution would be if the social network provider built this functionality into their system.

 

An Irritating Little Troll Bot

Why?

As an experiment to see how people react.

How?

Crawl (using multiple and changing account) social networks and blogs for comments that seem to be by trolls. Analyze the comment and using similar but opposite words (like antonyms) answer the comment and try and elicit a reaction. Follow the conversation or flame war that ensues. List these conversations on a central site for all to see.