Why Do You Need to Add Social Proof on Website

1. Why Do You Need to Add Social Proof on Website? Are you struggling to convert potential customers from landing pages into buyers? Even industry experts fail to pull in leads online due to absence of social proof on website. Social proof in marketing plays an important role in convincing customers to buy your offers. It triggers the conformity bias and turns existing customers into repeat buyers.

2. What is Social Proof? We have all been under the influence of social proof in one way or the other. Recall the time when you sifted through all the buyer reviews and ratings before buying anything. Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people tend to conform to the actions of others. Usually, when people learn about other’s experiences they try to reflect upon it and correct behavior in a given situation. Social Proof creates an influence on our actions and opinions. Social proof is very helpful in uncertain situations where individuals lack their own information or confidence to make a decision. There are many forms of social proof including word-of-mouth endorsements from friends and family, testimonials, celebrity endorsements, and social media reach.

3. What is Social Proof in Marketing? In marketing, social proof refers to the use of evidence of others’ actions and beliefs to persuade and influence potential customers. Marketing is all about highlighting a particular offering to get brand awareness boost, engagement and conversions. Social Proof marketing strategy is based on the idea that people are more likely to trust and follow the behavior of others in their purchasing decisions. Here is how social proof works to elevate your marketing strategy: • Bandwagon Effect: Humans exhibit a “herd behavior” where they follow anything that is positively impacting the lives of others. Social proof triggers this conformity bias leading to herd behavior, which creates a bandwagon effect, where buyers are more likely to buy an offering which is previously loved by others. • Competitive Differentiation: Social proof sets you apart from the crowd. It establishes you as an entity the common public can trust with their problems, wants, desires and needs. • Effective Messengers: There is a difference between social proof messages vs general messages. Social proofs act as a messenger speaking in your favor more directly and genuinely.

4. Including social proof on your website can help establish trust, credibility, and a positive reputation for your brand, ultimately leading to increased conversion rates and customer loyalty. Builds Trust: Answer this: “Are you more likely to trust a brand with 4 5-star reviews vs a brand with 100 4.8 star reviews?” Chances are that you will like to trust a brand with more social proofs as compared to a brand which has less social proofs. Supports Decision Making: Social proof often helps potential buyers compare and identify a reputed brand from a given set of options. It can serve as a decision-making aid, as visitors are more likely to trust the opinions of others when they are unsure about a product or service. Top Reasons to Add Social Proof on Website

5. Example of Social Proof on Websites An example of how social proof can help in convincing customers is by displaying customer reviews and ratings on a product page. For instance, imagine a person is considering purchasing a new camera and visits the website of a camera retailer. On the product page, the person sees that the camera has received high ratings from other customers, with many of them leaving positive comments about the product’s quality and ease of use. This social proof serves as a strong influence on the person’s purchasing decision, as they are more likely to trust the opinions of others who have already used the product. They may also feel more confident in their decision, knowing that many other customers have had positive experiences with the camera. This, in turn, increases the likelihood that the person will make a purchase, as they are now more confident in the quality and value of the product.

6. 4 Popular Types of Social Proof on Website Customer reviews and ratings: Displaying customer ratings and reviews can help build trust and credibility with potential customers. Undoubtedly, reviews are valuable sources of social proof. The first thing customers check before deciding whether to buy a product or service is the user reviews and ratings. Customers want to see whether the product or service claims are actually as beneficial as the claims. Testimonials: If you get reviews from high-ticket clients, try to display their reviews as testimonials on your website. Written or video testimonials from satisfied customers can provide powerful social proof and help potential customers see the value of a product or service. Adding simple quotation marks before and after a user statement creates a stronger impression on the readers.

7. User Counts and Statistics: Numbers are scroll-stoppers – especially when they are followed with a % or $ symbols. You can turn the power of numbers and symbols in your favor by adding user counts and statistics on your website. Showcasing the number of users, subscribers, or customers can demonstrate the popularity and success of a product or service. Most advanced and modern website templates come with pre-built sections for user counts and statistics. All you have to do is tweak the numbers and descriptions depending upon your brand’s performance. Here are some common types of user counts and statistics you can add as social proof on website: Years of experience/Years in Business Combines Team Experience in Years Number of Satisfied Customers Number of Projects Completed So Far Total number of hours or money you saved for customers ROI and Profits

8. Conclusion Social proof on website plays an important role in convincing customers to buy your offering. There are many forms of social proof such as positive media exposure, endorsements, reviews and ratings. Choose a social proof type that best aligns with your marketing objectives. Recommended Reads: Interesting Newsletter ideas to Impress Your Readers Quickly How to do Content Writing for my Website or Blog – Top 13 Things to Keep in Mind What is UX Copywriting and How to Nail It?