Would you trust a brand with zero reviews? Probably not. And neither would your customers.
Before making a purchase, most people check reviews, browse testimonials, or generally check to see what others are saying online. That’s because social proof—real feedback from real people—is one of the most powerful tools in marketing.
But what is social proof exactly?
In short, it’s digital word-of-mouth marketing. And when done right, it can have an incredible impact on your reputation and your sales.
Why Does Social Proof Work?
It’s simple: People trust people more than brands.
Think about it. A brand saying, “Our product is amazing” doesn’t hold nearly as much weight as your neighbor, friend, or mom saying the same thing.
And when it comes to influencer marketing, bigger isn’t always better. Micro-influencers—those with smaller, niche audiences—often have more engaged, loyal followings than big-name celebrities. Their recommendations feel more genuine, which translates into higher engagement and conversion rates.
How to Use Social Proof to Build Trust and Increase Sales
1. Get More Google Reviews (and Make Them Work for You)
- Make it easy: Share a direct review link via email, social media, or receipts. Just like it’s important to reduce the number of clicks to make a purchase, leaving a review should also be as easy as possible.
- Ask at the right moment: Right after a purchase or positive interaction is the best time. If you work it into the sales journey, you’ll not only get more reviews, but more positive feedback.
- Incentivize reviews: Offer a small reward (like a discount or giveaway entry) to encourage participation.
Want to know how to get Google reviews consistently? The key is to make it part of your customer experience, so it gets integrated naturally.
2. Show Off Your Best Testimonials
A well-placed testimonial can turn a hesitant shopper into a buyer.
- Be specific: A review that says, “Great service!” won’t do a ton to convince people. But one that says, “They delivered my order in two days, and the quality was better than expected” tells a story. Choose the specific ones – especially about services or specific products.
- Add names & photos: A real face makes the feedback more relatable. Just get approval first.
3. Leverage User-Generated Content (UGC)
People love sharing their experiences—so let them do the marketing for you.
- Encourage customers to tag your brand in social posts.
- Create branded hashtags to make UGC easy to find and share.
- Feature customer photos, videos, and reviews on your website and social media.
Work With the Right Influencers
Not all influencers are created equal. Micro-influencers (with 10k–100k followers) often have higher engagement and stronger audience trust than major celebrities. Their endorsements feel authentic, which makes their followers more likely to listen—and buy.
4. What Is Social Proof—and Is It Working for Your Brand?
It’s one thing to collect reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content—but how do you know if they’re making an impact? Measuring the effectiveness of social proof ensures you’re not just gathering feedback, but actually using it to build trust and drive conversions.
- Track review engagement: Are customers interacting with testimonials on your site?
- Monitor conversions: Are more reviews actually leading to more sales?
- Ask customers directly: A quick survey can reveal how reviews and testimonials influenced buyer’s decisions.
Want to Build More Trust (and Sales)?
Social proof isn’t just about credibility—it’s a powerful tool for sales. If you’re not actively collecting and showcasing reviews, you’re missing out.
Need help figuring out how to get Google reviews, leverage testimonials, or integrate UGC into your marketing strategy? We can help.
As a top digital marketing agency in the Greater Philadelphia area, beMarketing helps brands turn customer feedback into real, measurable growth. Your customers are already talking—let’s make sure the right people hear them.
