{"id":3128,"date":"2016-01-04T16:00:15","date_gmt":"2016-01-04T10:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rankwatch.com\/blog\/?p=3128"},"modified":"2023-05-26T10:39:06","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T05:09:06","slug":"social-proof-as-your-sales-weapon-why-the-opinions-of-people-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rankwatch.com\/blog\/social-proof-as-your-sales-weapon-why-the-opinions-of-people-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Proof as Your Sales Weapon: Why the Opinions of People Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"social-proof\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Nearing the end of 2015, everybody \u2013 even those who are not really into marketing \u2013 knows that social media marketing has been one of the key pieces in a successful marketing strategy. However, one of the most important and often overlooked elements that make social media marketing work is social proof<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is Social Proof?<\/h2>\n

Word of mouth has and always will be one of the most powerful marketing tools in the world. In online marketing, social proof has the same effect as word of mouth marketing \u2013 but it does so in a much more efficient way.
\nLet\u2019s take a look at how word of mouth works. If a consumer shares positive experiences regarding a brand, a person who knows or trusts this person will be more likely to have the same perception. In the social world, these experiences come in the form of reviews, comments, ratings, or any other form of feedback. And thanks to the growing reach of various social media platforms, the same perception or behaviour can reach more people at a much faster rate.<\/p>\n

This is the phenomena known as social proof, and it has turned into one of the most powerful marketing tools in the past few years.<\/p>\n

Optimizing Social Proof<\/h2>\n

Social proof can be optimized through effective social media marketing, influencer marketing<\/a>, and through other advertising efforts. But as more marketers discover the power of social proof, patterns emerge and proven techniques are identified.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about knowing who your audience trusts and how to tap into their influence. With these in mind, here are the best types of social proof you can utilize for your online brand:<\/p>\n

Case Studies<\/h3>\n

Educating an audience about a brand or product requires the presentation of clear and relevant information. This is essential for building trust and establishing your authority. For social proof, you need to take this a little further by going a litter in-depth.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t just use too much information and technical jargon to sound credible,\u201d says Gareth Bull of Bulldog SEO Agency<\/a>. \u201cWhatever you do, don\u2019t make your content sound like a textbook. This will make your content boring. Instead, incorporate a little storytelling and write a case study.\u201d<\/p>\n

A case study\u2019s main purpose is to shed light on every single detail of a product, service, strategy, or idea. This is done by putting yourself into your audience\u2019s shoes and by showing them exactly how something runs and how effective it can be. Remember to look at every possible angle and be as thorough with your case study. If possible, point out a few flaws to show that your case study is unbiased.
\nA good example would be how this particular case study highlights the skyscraper technique<\/a>, which is a good social proof strategy by itself.<\/p>\n

\"skyscraper-technique\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Notice how all the technical data is presented through visual form to prevent boring the reader. On the other hand, everything else is laid out chronologically so the readers can relate to the experience.<\/p>\n

Things to remember:<\/p>\n