9 Social Proof Strategies to Increase Your Conversions
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2024 9:13 am
It's the sold-out movie premiere. The new restaurant with a waiting list for reservations. And the nightclub with a line spilling out onto the street.
We are naturally drawn to anything that is new and popular. After all, if everyone thinks it’s great… then it must be. That’s social proof.
Social proof is a powerful way to influence customers and, in doing so, increase conversions on your site. In this article, we explain what social proof is and how you can use it as part of your marketing strategy.
What is social proof?
Simply put, social proof is following the crowd.
It's how we are influenced by the actions of others, with our inherent need to be part of a larger group and seek validation through our decisions.
As we’ve seen in the examples above, this isn’t a new concept. But as the telegram free number philippines consumer experience migrates to digital spaces, social proof has become more important than ever.
Our purchasing decisions are now influenced by factors that go far beyond the reach of our immediate social circles. It’s become blogs that tell us what products we should buy, likes and shares that show new trends, and product reviews that share the honest experiences of other customers.
And this online influence is quite powerful. So much so that one study found that 87% of purchasing decisions begin with online research before purchase.
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9 Ways to Incorporate Social Proof into Your Marketing Strategy.
1. Leverage customer reviews and ratings
97% of consumers say online reviews impact their purchasing decisions.
Reviews and ratings are one of the most powerful ways to use social proof, and arguably the most important.
With your customer service, strive to get positive reviews wherever you can.
This includes third-party review sites like Google, Yelp, TrustPilot. These sites often appear in search engine results alongside brands, which adds credibility and builds brand awareness. Additionally, it contributes to your online presence, helping you optimize your SEO.
You can use these reviews and ratings on your own landing page and highlight them alongside testimonials. Additionally, displaying reviews on product pages can help encourage hesitant customers to purchase.
For example, skincare brand The Ordinary features customer reviews on every product page. This has resulted in the best praise they could have asked for, with comments like, “This is the most effective skincare product I have ever used.” One reviewer even proved the effectiveness of customer reviews by saying, “After reading the reviews on this product, I had to try it.”
2. Display testimonials
Highlight people who love your products and services.
Testimonials provide a record of the customer’s experience. This helps build trust and credibility for your brand and validates a customer’s purchasing decision. And this is especially true when celebrities and big names are featured.
For example, Survey Monkey’s testimonials section starts with “Fortune 500” as validation. It then uses quotes from brand founders and company executives. Then, it displays logos of well-known brands like HP and GoPro.
We are naturally drawn to anything that is new and popular. After all, if everyone thinks it’s great… then it must be. That’s social proof.
Social proof is a powerful way to influence customers and, in doing so, increase conversions on your site. In this article, we explain what social proof is and how you can use it as part of your marketing strategy.
What is social proof?
Simply put, social proof is following the crowd.
It's how we are influenced by the actions of others, with our inherent need to be part of a larger group and seek validation through our decisions.
As we’ve seen in the examples above, this isn’t a new concept. But as the telegram free number philippines consumer experience migrates to digital spaces, social proof has become more important than ever.
Our purchasing decisions are now influenced by factors that go far beyond the reach of our immediate social circles. It’s become blogs that tell us what products we should buy, likes and shares that show new trends, and product reviews that share the honest experiences of other customers.
And this online influence is quite powerful. So much so that one study found that 87% of purchasing decisions begin with online research before purchase.
Need to know more about e-commerce?
Create your online store
Learn more
9 Ways to Incorporate Social Proof into Your Marketing Strategy.
1. Leverage customer reviews and ratings
97% of consumers say online reviews impact their purchasing decisions.
Reviews and ratings are one of the most powerful ways to use social proof, and arguably the most important.
With your customer service, strive to get positive reviews wherever you can.
This includes third-party review sites like Google, Yelp, TrustPilot. These sites often appear in search engine results alongside brands, which adds credibility and builds brand awareness. Additionally, it contributes to your online presence, helping you optimize your SEO.
You can use these reviews and ratings on your own landing page and highlight them alongside testimonials. Additionally, displaying reviews on product pages can help encourage hesitant customers to purchase.
For example, skincare brand The Ordinary features customer reviews on every product page. This has resulted in the best praise they could have asked for, with comments like, “This is the most effective skincare product I have ever used.” One reviewer even proved the effectiveness of customer reviews by saying, “After reading the reviews on this product, I had to try it.”
2. Display testimonials
Highlight people who love your products and services.
Testimonials provide a record of the customer’s experience. This helps build trust and credibility for your brand and validates a customer’s purchasing decision. And this is especially true when celebrities and big names are featured.
For example, Survey Monkey’s testimonials section starts with “Fortune 500” as validation. It then uses quotes from brand founders and company executives. Then, it displays logos of well-known brands like HP and GoPro.