Social Proof

Definition

Recommendations

6 Types of Social Proof:

1. Expert: Expert social proof is when an expert in your industry recommends your products or services or is associated with your brand.
1. Examples: a Twitter shoutout by an expert or having an expert on your Twitter chat.

2. Celebrity: Celebrity social proof is when a celebrity endorses your products.
1. Examples: an Instagram post or tweet about your product by a celebrity or influencer.

3. User: User social proof is when your current users recommend your products and services based on their experiences with your brand.
1. Examples: praises on social media or positive ratings on review sites.

4. The wisdom of the crowd: This type of social proof is when a large group of people is seen to be endorsing your brand.
1. Examples: having thousands of customers or millions of followers on your social media profiles.

5. The wisdom of your friends: This type of social proof is when people see their friends approve your product.
1. Examples: seeing their friends use your product or follow you on social media.

6. Certification: This type of social proof is when you are given a stamp of approval by an authoritative figure in your industry.
1. Examples: the blue checkmark on Twitter or Facebook.

Examples

1. Customer Testimonials

2. Case Studies

3. Number of Shares

4. Number of Users/Downloads

5. Trust Seals

6. Privacy Policy

7. App/Service Ratings

8. Expert Collaborations

9. Press Coverage

10. Brand Ambassadors

11. User-Generated Content

12. Success Metrics

13. Professional Verifications

How to handle Social Proof for early and pre-launch products

1. Relevant public comments

2. Quotes from people who are excited about the product

Resources

Low-hanging social proof opportunities for indie hackers

We are social creatures and that's why social proof is so important — nothing is more convincing. It builds trust, increases conversions, explains your...

https://www.indiehackers.com/post/low-hanging-social-proof-opportunities-for-indie-hackers-87718d4776

Social proof

Social proof (or informational social influence) is a psychological and social phenomenon wherein people copy the actions of others in choosing how to behave in a given situation. The term was coined by Robert Cialdini in his 1984 book Influence: Science and Practice.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_proof

Social Proof: What It Is and 18 Ways to Use It in Your Marketing

Social proof is a powerful ingredient for marketing. Here're 18 creative ways to use social proof on social media to boost your brand and drive more sales.

https://buffer.com/library/social-proof/

Social Proof

In the context of marketing, social proof provides evidence of the popularity of a brand among consumers to influence purchase decisionss.

https://sproutsocial.com/glossary/social-proof/

20 Examples of Social Proof in Action in 2020

Learn what social proof is and how brands are using social proof to buff up their marketing campaigns.

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/social-proof-examples

5 Ways You Can Add Social Proof to Your Landing Pages

Social proof can be a powerful tool for converting visitors to your landing page. Learn some ways to add social proof to your landing pages.

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/social-proof-examples-landing-pages

References

1. Wooten, D; Reed II, A (1 January 1998). "Informational Influence and the Ambiguity of Product Experience: Order Effects on the Weighting of Evidence". Journal of Consumer Psychology. 7 (1): 79–99. doi:10.1207/s15327663jcp0701_04.