WHAT IS SOCIAL PROOF?
Social proof is validation from a third party that your businesses is awesome.
It's when a person or a brand that you identify with or trust shares their experience or opinion about a business. This 'social proof' lends your business immediate credibility.
It works because people naturally like to copy the actions of others and conform. They feel good about doing something when they know others are doing it as well.
In addition, when there's uncertainty, people incorporate the opinions of others to help them make a decision. If a person is unsure about buying a product or trying a service, and they see validation from others, they feel more comfortable about taking the next step.
If a prospect is evaluating one product over another and one has glowing reviews and the other has none, there's a good chance that person will choose the one with glowing reviews. This affirmation or 'social proof' can move someone from 'prospect' to 'customer'.
Social proof can help your product or service stand out from your competitors,
A simple example is would you go to the restaurant with nobody inside or the one that's packed? Exactly.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
So much of our marketing and business interactions are online – that makes it harder to judge products, services, location, etc. People rely even more on those who've already experienced a product or service to guide their choices.
In our 2020 Moms Online Survey, 89.4% of moms said they are influenced by 3rd party reviews when evaluating a local business for their kids. That's huge. And emphasizes how important it is for local businesses to leverage social proof in their marketing.
WHERE DOES SOCIAL PROOF COME INTO PLAY IN YOUR MARKETING?
Local businesses like yours can showcase social proof in many ways. Here are a few:
Social proof isn't hard to get - just keep on doing the amazing things in your business that you already are. Don't be afraid to ask customers to help out by providing reviews, testimonials, and just liking and commenting on social media.
Give your business the best chance you can to make a great impression on moms and improve your customer conversion rate.
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