Do you want to increase your online sales? Social proof is a powerful tool to help you do just that! If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people tend to look to others for direction and guidance, even when making decisions.
This blog post will look at five ways to use social proof to increase your online sales. We’ll discuss how to use customer reviews and testimonials, display social media activity, and more. Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
The Types of Social Proof and How to Leverage Them
According to Robert Cialdini, who explored the principle of social proof in his book “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion,” we often consider behavior correct when we see others doing it. When unsure about what to do in a situation, we tend to look to others around us, such as experts, celebrities, or friends, for guidance, assuming they have more knowledge.
Overall, there are six types of social proof:
- Expert: This occurs when a well-respected individual in your industry endorses your brand or products. Examples include a shoutout on Twitter or having an expert participate in a Twitter chat.
- Celebrity: Involves a famous person endorsing your products, such as a post on Instagram or tweeting about your product.
- User: This is when your current customers recommend your products and services based on their experiences with your brand. This can be positive social media comments or high review site ratings.
- Wisdom of the Crowd: This type of social proof comes from a large group of people endorsing your brand. Examples include having thousands of customers or millions of followers on social media.
- Wisdom of Friends: This type of social proof happens when people see their friends approve of your product, such as seeing their friends use your product or following you on social media.
- Certification: It involves receiving approval from an authoritative figure in your industry, such as a blue checkmark on Twitter or Facebook.
Now, let’s examine how you can effectively incorporate social proof into your marketing efforts.
5 Tips for Maximizing the Effectiveness of Social Proof
Use User-Generated Content to Boost Credibility
User-Generated Content (UGC) is any type of content, such as text, posts, images, videos, or reviews, created by individuals and shared on online platforms or social networks.
Brands do not pay consumers for creating UGC. This content is typically organic and appears on social media sites, particularly Instagram, where customers share pictures of a product, tag the brand, or use the brand’s designated hashtag for UGC.
Consumers perceive UGC to be almost 10x more impactful and 2.4x more genuine than influencer marketing. This is a significant advantage for brands, as it boosts their credibility.
Where can you obtain visual User-Generated Content (UGC) for your business?
- Customers: Motivate and reward your customers for posting photos and videos of your product or service.
- Influencers: Collaborate with niche influencers to generate UGC. This allows you to reach their followers while adding fresh content.
- Employees: Encourage employees to provide an inside view of your company culture. This type of UGC helps attract talent and demonstrates to your audience that your brand values are authentic.
Display Social Media Engagement
A contemporary form of social proof is being mentioned or tagged in a social media post by a renowned brand, famous influencer, or the media. This type of expert or celebrity social proof can significantly increase brand loyalty and establish trust among a wider audience.
Social media operates on the principle of reciprocation, so you can maximize the impact of your mentions by sharing them on your own social media profile with expressions like “Grateful to be featured by…,” “Honored to be recognized by…,” or “Wow, can’t believe we were mentioned by…”, depending on your target audience.
Feature Notable Clients or Endorsements
Expert Social Proof can be attained when an industry expert endorses your product or service. For instance, the expert might give a testimonial for your website or participate in a live video event on Facebook.
Showcase Awards and Certifications
Potential customers will be more likely to trust your services when they see that you have been recognized for your work. Awards and certifications also demonstrate that you have put in the effort to get recognized for your efforts and take your work seriously.
One way to make your awards and certifications stand out is by using a background remover to clean up the image. A background remover can help you draw attention to the award or certification by removing any distracting elements in the background. This can help ensure your awards and certificates look professional and make a strong impression on your website or social media page.
Utilize Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing is a modern way to attain Celebrity Social Proof for your brand. However, if you want a more relatable approach, Micro-Influencers can provide the ideal balance between celebrity and user social proof.
Micro-Influencers have a following of between 1,000 to 100,000. Although their reach is less extensive than high-profile influencers, they tend to have more meaningful connections with their followers.
Key Takeaways
Social proof is a powerful tool for increasing sales online, and with the five strategies outlined in this blog post, it’s easy to see why. With a little effort and investment, these strategies can increase conversions and drive more sales. And with the right approach, social proof can be a great way to gain more customers and boost profits.
So, if you want to increase sales online, don’t forget the power of social proof. You can make your business stand out and drive more conversions with a few simple steps. And who knows, you could find many more happy customers in no time.
