Social proof is one of the most effective ways to convert consumers into buyers. It’s something that all ecommerce stores should be integrating as part of their marketing strategy, but not every store knows where to start.
The goal is to demonstrate how your brand actively listens and responds to the needs of your target market by letting your customers speak on your behalf organically. Luckily for you, our expert ecommerce developers at OPMC have put together a list of some of the best ways to integrate social proof on your landing pages.
What is Social Proof?
When you’re shopping online, what do you look for to decide which product to buy? What if we told you that your purchase decision is influenced by others who have already bought the same item as you?
That’s right: social proof.
Social proof is a marketing technique that uses previous customer behaviour on a website or app in an attempt to persuade potential customers of the quality and value of products or services offered.
This can come in many forms, from reviews and testimonials from other customers who have used your company’s products before to recommendations from friends and family members with similar interests. Social proof has been proven time and time again by research studies as one of the most effective ways for companies to increase sales—and now these same tactics can be applied directly within your ecommerce landing pages!
Why Does it Matter to Ecommerce Stores?
Your ecommerce store is a competitive place, with consumers choosing between hundreds of products and services to buy. Because of this, it’s imperative that you do everything in your power to make sure your landing pages are as effective as possible. Social proof can help you accomplish this goal by driving more traffic, increasing conversion rates, and building trust among visitors.
The key is understanding how social proof works on landing pages so that you can leverage the power of social validation in your own campaigns.
How to Integrate Social Proof on Landing Pages
1 – Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are one of the most powerful forms of social proof. They show that other people have purchased and used your product or service, which encourages your potential customers to do the same. The more positive reviews you have, the stronger your reputation becomes, and the better you look as a business owner in your industry.
2 – Social Media Visuals
Social media visuals can be an effective way of increasing your conversion rate. You see them all the time, whether it’s on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram – images and videos of products being used by real people.
They are great for showcasing your product in action and showing how customers have made use of them. But they can also serve as an incentive to buy because they demonstrate social proof that other people have purchased and enjoyed the same thing.
The more compelling the image you use, the more likely people are going to want to buy from you!
3 – Video Testimonials & Unboxings
Video testimonials are more effective than written reviews because they’re more engaging. In fact, most consumers say they trust video content over any other type of review. Seeing someone actually use your product makes it easier to relate to their experience and increases your brand’s credibility in the process.
If you want to go beyond just showing your customers how excellent your products are, try sharing unboxing videos that show everything inside the box when an order is placed. This can be particularly useful if you offer special “gift” items in addition to those included with an order.
For example, if you sell a fitness tracker like Fitbit, customers may be more inclined to purchase when they see what comes with their purchase—and that includes some cool accessories like earbuds or workout bands.
4 – Any News Media Mentions
If you’re a business, it’s important to keep your customers up to date with the latest news. You can do so by integrating current events related to your brand or products into your social media posts, which will help customers connect with you on a deeper level.
In addition to this, including mentions of any news media in your landing pages can be an effective tool for boosting the credibility and authority of your brand. The content is trustworthy because it comes from reputable sources—in this case, newspapers, and magazines.
For example: “Our product has been featured in [insert publication]!”
5 – Customer Numbers & Statistics
This is a great way to show the size of your company and showcase how many people have trusted you with their hard-earned money. You can also include statistics about the number of customers you’ve served or maybe even show off awards and accolades that your brand has received. The key here is showing that there are people out there who love your product, which will help convince others to buy it too.
6 – Influencer Endorsements
If you want to create a sense of social proof on your landing page, one of the most potent ways to do it is through influencer endorsements.
Influencers are people with large followings who have authority in their communities and can help spread your brand’s message. With influencer marketing, brands can collaborate with these individuals as ambassadors and leverage their reach to promote products and services.
7 – Customer Favorited Products
Customer favourite products are some of the most valuable social proof you can add to your ecommerce landing pages.
You can create a text or image callout that shares products that are popular with other customers. Keep an eye out for common themes in the reviews and choose products that resonate with those themes.
Or even use Google Trends data to see what search results have been trending over time. Those searches might be indicative of which items customers were searching for recently prior to making a purchase decision.
8 – Third-Party Trust Badges
If you want to show your customers that you are trustworthy, the best way is by using third-party trust badges on your website. Trust badges can be used on your site to show that you are a reliable provider of the products or services you sell. They can also be used on social media such as Facebook and Instagram.
How Do WooCommerce Plugins Help with Social Proof?
When it comes to selling products online, there are some things that you need to do to help your customers feel more at ease with their purchase. One of the best ways to do this is by using social proof on your landing and product pages.
Getting social proof comes down to creating a more engaging customer experience. At OPMC, the best way we have found to increase our social proof is by making sure everything this automated and efficient for shoppers to get what they want when they want it.
That is why we have developed powerful WooCommerce plugins that enhance customer interaction with our brand. These were built for our needs and then adapted to the unique circumstances of the ecommerce customers we service.
Try a combination of these plugins to elevate your customer’s experience:
- WooCommerce Anti-Fraud plugin to reduce fraud risk on your site and connect to real customers.
- WooCommerce Customer Support plugin to automate all customer questions so they get answers to inquiries they may have before purchasing.
- Xero WooCommerce Integration plugin to automate your accounting and shipping needs so your customers are served by those high-in-demand products quicker.
It is incredible what a little automation and customer-focused service can do to transform your online side hustle into a robust ecommerce business.
Conclusion
In today’s world, social proof is an integral part of building trust and credibility for your ecommerce store. By integrating these elements into your landing pages, you can build up a better picture of the kind of people who buy from you, what they like about your products and services, or how much others recommend them to others. These are all indicators that potential customers will find valuable when making their buying decision!
