The Ultimate Guide to Social Proof: Why Social Proof Matters

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SOCIAL PROOF: WHY SOCIAL PROOF MATTERS

People are constantly bombarded with information whenever they are online.

Lots of this information is great. But plenty of this information is a waste or downright false. Since people need a way to filter information wheat from chaff, one of the ways they accomplish that is by looking for social proof.

Because social proof can directly impact how people view what you’re communicating and selling online, we’re going to look at exactly what social proof is, along with how you can get creative with using social proof:

AN INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL PROOF FOR SELLING ONLINE

When clients come to us for conversion optimization strategy, social proof is generally one of the first things we discuss. The reason we put such an emphasis on social proof is it can directly influence whether or not someone makes a purchase.

So, while it’s clear that social proof is important, what exactly is it? The best way to define social proof is the positive influence that’s created when someone finds out that other people are doing something. The best example of this is a line outside a nightclub. The most common response individuals have to this is thinking the club is in high demand, which in turn makes them want to go in. Ratings on movie review websites are another example. Movies that get kickstarted with positive reviews are far more likely to attract lots of viewers than ones that begin with even just a handful of negative reviews.

For businesses selling online, social proof can accomplish two important things. First, it shows visitors that they’re not the first person to buy something. This reduces perceived risk and eliminates a common buying obstacle. And second, social proof can show that other people have benefited from their purchase, which creates a positive feeling in visitors and gives them a desire to buy.

GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR SITE’S SOCIAL PROOF

The good news about social proof is there are a lot of different ways you can utilize it throughout your website. The first is to add testimonials. These can go on your home and landing pages. When it comes to optimal testimonials, relevancy is important. A photo of your customer and full name under the testimonial is also ideal. And depending on what you offer, it may make sense to include the customer’s job title as well.

Case studies are the next type of social proof you can add. This is something you can publish directly on your site, offer as a lead magnet for email signups or utilize as a combination of both. Social media also provides several really compelling opportunities for social proof. Adding a plugin that displays the number of shares for your content, embedding social media posts or displaying how many people are following you on different social sites are all ways to show visitors who come to your website that you’re the real deal!

PUBLISHED BY:

Michelle Hummel, Owner at WebStrategyPlus, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA