Social Proof is any mechanism or action by which a user indicates that they are pleased with what they see.<\/p>\n
When it comes to users and eCommerce sites, social proof is highly important to the way users interact with online shopping sites. It basically lets potential customers know that other customers were satisfied with the service or product. It also helps to reduce anxiety, because it removes some of the uncertainty about whether or not a particular service or product is good for you.<\/p>\n
Using social proof can help you generate high engagement rates with your site visitors, increase trust from your audience, and ultimately convert your traffic into return sales.<\/p>\n
For instance, if everybody is talking about a particular subject in a positive light, chances are most people, even with limited knowledge, would agree. It is a simple theory that subconsciously plays in the back of everybody’s head, thus making it a powerful marketing strategy for your business.<\/p>\n
Here are some statistics that quantify the importance of social proof in eCommerce:<\/p>\n
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- Positive customer reviews can increase conversion rates by as much as 270%<\/a><\/li>\n
- 81%<\/a> of consumers\u2019 purchasing decisions are influenced by social media content put up by their friends.<\/li>\n
- 84%<\/a> of millennials say user-generated content has at least some influence on what they buy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
5 ways to use social proof to build your eCommerce brand and boost sales<\/strong><\/h2>\n
There are many ways to generate and leverage social proof to build trust<\/p>\n
1. Use reviews and testimonials<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Make sure that your customers can write a review on your products and it can be displayed on product pages.<\/p>\n
The ideal way of collecting positive reviews and testimonials is to ask for feedback from customers. You can send an email requesting a review after their product is delivered. Here’s an example:<\/p>\n
![\"testimonial\"](\"https:\/\/www.instamojo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Screenshot-2023-05-16-at-9.36.08-AM.png\")
Source: nutritwist.in<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n While collecting feedback, make sure you ask specific questions about how they like your product, customer support, and more.<\/p>\n
Once you have collected them, compile them and convert them into a strong marketing tool for your brand. Design attractive creatives with quotes, memes, and more and push them out on your social channels.\u00a0Additionally, you can turn these reviews and testimonials into blog posts, case studies, and more to increase visibility and reach.<\/p>\n
2. Showcase your affiliations<\/strong><\/h3>\n
The easiest way of social affirmation is to showcase fellow businesses you associate with. This not only adds credibility but also attracts the customers of affiliate businesses to engage with you.<\/p>\n
For example, a food business would benefit from showcasing its FSSAI registration.<\/p>\n
Related read: How to sell food online: The complete guide<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Also, keep a tab on the various platforms your company or products have been featured in. This is a sure-shot way of increasing your reach and brand loyalty.<\/p>\n
3. User-Generated Content<\/strong><\/h3>\n
User-generated content (UGC) is a term used to describe brand-focused content generated by customers and published on channels, especially social media.<\/p>\n
UGC is a cost-effective way to build social proof and trust for eCommerce brands<\/a>. It has more credibility and authenticity, which attracts the attention of those interested in your brand but unsure if they should buy.<\/p>\n
Although customers are the creators of UGC, you can still initiate and encourage it. You can create a special branded hashtag and ask your audience to use it when they share content \u2014 like how BlissClub uses the #WomenWhoMove <\/a>hashtag.<\/p>\n
You can then re-share it with their permission and generate more reach.<\/p>\n
4. Influencer endorsement<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Influencer marketing<\/a> is a great way to get social proof.<\/p>\n
Influencers can create content that eatures your products or services. This can include product reviews, testimonials, photos, videos, or unboxing experiences. UGC adds a genuine and relatable touch to the influencer’s content and serves as powerful social proof.<\/p>\n
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A post shared by Adventure Family (@oursandydays)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
- 81%<\/a> of consumers\u2019 purchasing decisions are influenced by social media content put up by their friends.<\/li>\n