Using Social Proof to Generate More Sales

by | Apr 8, 2015

We’ve all done it…

Let’s face it, we’ve all used the recommendation of others to help us decide whether or not to buy a product or service.

It’s basic human nature. Jonathan Swift said “It was a brave man that first ate an oyster.”

We like to know it’s safe to buy before pulling the trigger!

How to work social proof into our marketing is where it can get confusing, as we need to create the atmosphere of trust while not appearing to be overly hypey. To help with that task, we’ve unearthed 5 great ways to get social proof to work for you in creating more sales and revenue.

5 Ways to Use Social Proof In Your Marketing

Comments – Engaging with users and customers in a very public way, such as on your blog, is a terrific way of swaying opinion in your favor. Personalized responses will create fans that are generally far more loyal than the typical buyer.

User Reviews and Testimonials – Having your satisfied customers to review your products, and better still, leave a testimonial is a superb way to provide undeniable social proof that helps drive sales. It also will help you rank well in Google local search.

Using numbers wisely – This one is a great way to scale an already successful product or service even further. Using impressive sales numbers, (Truth demanded here!) is an easy way to move someone off the fence, if they can see that lots of others have gone ahead of them.

Use social sharing buttons – The beauty of social media is the reach and influence you can get far beyond your own sphere of influence, but this can only happen if you make it available. Add social sharing buttons, and encourage sharing!

Site badges and seals – If you have been accredited by organizations such as the BBB, or various web security companies, these can give an air of trust and authenticity to your site. You’ll want to display them prominently!