How to Build Social Proof in 5 Ways

You’re not alone. More than 90% of consumers check out reviews before buying. They want to know the experience people had before them to make a decision. From picking restaurants to CRMs, social proof is a major factor in decision-making. So, let us understand social proof better and know how to utilize it.

What is social proof?

Social proof is a form of social influence that impacts consumer behavior. It builds trust for a product or service via external validation like customer reviews, influencer endorsements, etc. The idea is that people will do a certain task if they see others do it.

Social proof in marketing leads to creating a brand reputation and more conversions. Let us see different ways to get social proof.

5 ways to build social proof

1. Customer testimonials

Customers’ voices have the most impact on your audience. Reviews from users express why they like your services, how they provide value, and what problems they solve. The target audience will be looking for similar solutions to similar problems. That means they will resonate with the customers’ experiences, increasing the possibility of them interacting with your business. Here are some social proof examples in the form of testimonials.

2. Social media

How businesses interact on social media gives people an idea about the kind of experience they can have. The way they interact with their users, the type of content they post, etc. People stay informed about products and services via social media. 68% of consumers follow brands to stay in touch with businesses.

So, maintaining a social media presence keeps you connected with your users and serves as a billboard for your target audience.

3. Influencer endorsements

Influencers are the celebrities of the new world. Their audience wants to know more and more about which brands they support. 69% of customers trust influencer recommendations. This type of marketing helps us reach a large crowd and share our product with them increasing our chances of getting more customers.

4. Expert opinions

People follow and stay in touch with industry experts to make informed purchasing decisions. So, if an expert endorses your product or service, they instill trust in their audience for you. Furthermore, their audience will remember you when they require your products or services.

5. Awards and certificates

Accolades reflect the quality of a product or service. They also cement your expertise in your field. Sharing your achievements on your website or social media can seem boastful. However, it is necessary to make your audience and users trust you.

Do negative reviews and comments affect social proof?

Having a 100% positive image is ideal, but not realistic. Eventually, you will run into some issues or there will be unhappy customers along the way. And, unhappy customers lead to unpleasant comments and reviews. It is unavoidable.

You cannot save yourself from negative reviews. But you can prevent that from coloring the opinion of your future and current customers. When people search for a business online, they look at both good and bad reviews.

Having bad reviews is not the issue. Not responding to them will hamper your business image. About half the people visit a business if they respond to a negative review. While responding to a negative comment, remember to be polite. If there was a mistake on your end, accept it and explain how you have rectified the problem since.

Final Words

The main aim of creating social proof is to make your business trustworthy and credible. Ways like influencer endorsements and expert opinions are a good starting point. However, maintaining a good reputation on social media and continuously focusing on customer reviews will help build solid social proof in the long run.