Rob Cowen is a teacher with over 13 years of experience and the founder of Mega Seating Plan, a platform that helps teachers create seating plans quickly and efficiently. Despite its use globally, Rob recognised the need to continually establish trust and credibility among new users. To achieve this, he turned to EdTech Impact as a way to effectively highlight genuine user reviews and boost social proof.
As an EdTech entrepreneur, Rob knows that while his platform offers a practical solution for teachers, he needs to convey its value clearly and build trust among potential users. In a competitive market where new tools are constantly emerging, Rob had to find a way to prove that Mega Seating Plan wasn’t just another app, but a trusted, effective solution that had been well-received by other educators.
The main challenge? How to showcase this trust and social proof in a way that directly influences new users and schools to adopt the platform.
Rob discovered EdTech Impact – a platform that provides transparent, user-driven reviews of edtech products. He sees this as a valuable way to display social proof and foster trust with both individual teachers and schools – and he’s right!
One of the key actions Rob has taken was to prominently display EdTech Impact widgets on the Mega Seating Plan website and in email footers. These widgets showcased the product’s current rating alongside genuine user reviews. On Mega Seating Plan‘s home page, a 4.7 out of 5 rating, alongside achievements like being ranked #1 in two categories and #2 in a third, is highlighted, and Rob clearly feels this is a powerful benefit.
“It’s really great social proof to have that visible on the website,” Rob explains.
Though he acknowledges that it’s difficult to measure the direct impact of displaying these scores, he’s confident that it plays a crucial role in building trust. By showcasing that other teachers have used the platform and found it valuable, Rob creates a sense of credibility and confidence for potential users.
Another element of Rob’s strategy is proactively reaching out to his users for feedback. Every few months, he contacts the most active users – those who frequently create seating plans – and encourages them to leave a review on EdTech Impact. This simple step results in a steady stream of new reviews, ensuring that the feedback on the platform remains current and relevant. This underlines that it can often be simple changes that result in improved outcomes.
“It allows me to put front and centre a 4.7 rating on EdTech Impact and show that we’re #1 in two categories,” Rob says.
For him, it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about demonstrating that teachers around the world trust and benefit from his product.
Before discovering EdTech Impact, Rob experimented with other platforms, such as Trustpilot, but was left disheartened by the prevalence of fake reviews. In stark contrast, EdTech Impact has proven to be a reliable and positive tool, consistently providing valuable feedback and aiding Rob in identifying areas for improvement.
The use of EdTech Impact has not only provided visible social proof but has also helped drive upsell opportunities within schools. While individual teachers often start with a single subscription, Rob noticed that many of them later advocate for a whole-school subscription.
“It helps teachers say, ‘Look how popular it is. Look how well-reviewed it is,’” Rob notes.
This tangible evidence of product success makes it easier for teachers to champion the platform internally.
When asked to summarise the impact EdTech Impact has had on his business, Rob highlighted two main elements: trust and social proof.
“It’s all about building trust, and EdTech Impact is a brilliant way to do that,” Rob concludes.
Updated on: 15 October 2024