{"id":31923,"date":"2019-09-12T11:08:43","date_gmt":"2019-09-12T16:08:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crowdspring.com\/blog\/?p=31923"},"modified":"2023-12-10T18:18:46","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T00:18:46","slug":"social-proof","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crowdspring.com\/blog\/social-proof\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Social Proof and Why Your Business Can Die Without It"},"content":{"rendered":"

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When is the last time you didn’t care or want to know if others recommended a product or service you liked?\u00a0 Chances are, the answer is never.<\/p>\n

Humans are social creatures. We’ve told and sought out stories about common experiences from the beginning.<\/p>\n

We crave social proof<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What Is Social Proof?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

According to Wikipedia<\/a>, social proof is:<\/p>\n

a psychological<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0social<\/a>\u00a0phenomenon wherein people copy the actions of others in an attempt to undertake behavior in a given situation.<\/p>\n

Social proof is considered prominent in ambiguous social situations where people are unable to determine the appropriate\u00a0mode of behavior<\/i>, and is driven by the assumption that the surrounding people possess more knowledge about the current situation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As we pointed out in Marketing Psychology: How You Can Use Commitment and Consistency Principles To Increase Sales<\/a>,\u00a0 Dr. Robert B. Cialdini, who coined the term “social proof,” declares social proof as one of his “6 Principles of Influence”.<\/p>\n

Influence prompts action, and action equates to sales and growth.<\/p>\n

Simply put: we want to know what others are watching, buying, wearing, and experiencing — which ultimately influences our decisions to do the same.<\/p>\n

Our innate tendency to group together this way makes social-proof marketing tactics successful.<\/p>\n

Types of Social Proof<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Six types of social proof can be effectively used by marketers.<\/p>\n

1. Expert<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This type of social proof occurs when an expert in a field or genre recommends your product or service. The experts are somehow associated with your brand.<\/p>\n

Example<\/strong>: When a dentist recommends a type of toothpaste.\"\"<\/p>\n

2. User<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Current users who detail their experience and offer their recommendation of your product or service based on their own experience.<\/p>\n

Example<\/strong>: Positive reviews on your website. At crowdspring, we include reviews across all categories, but also let clients sort to see reviews from other clients in logo design<\/a>, website design<\/a>, and all the other categories of projects we offer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Celebrity<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Marketing campaigns that feature celebrity endorsement can be very effective.<\/p>\n

Example<\/strong>: Popular skincare line Pro-Active<\/a> historically has used celebrities with skin issues to be the face of their product.\"\"<\/p>\n

4. Crowd Wisdom<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This type of social proof comes into play when a large group of people includes many active users of a product or service.<\/p>\n

Example<\/strong>: at crowdspring<\/a> we show that we’re trusted by the world’s top agencies and Brands.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Certification<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When a product or service is given a stamp of approval by an authority in the industry.<\/p>\n

Example<\/strong>: When a company can boast an A rating by the BBB<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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