Social proof is a psychological phenomenon that influences the behavior of people. It refers to a person’s tendency to be influenced by what other people think, say, or do. In other words, it happens when you follow others and copy them due to uncertainty about the correct action or decision.
Social proof can come from any environment. But one of the most powerful places where an individual looks for guidance is online content. Once you know how to use social media for social proof, you will significantly increase your chances of success in digital marketing.
Here are tips on how to make it work! Let’s check out these social media strategies on how to use social media for social proof.
1. Remember, Opinions Matter
You might not believe it, but even on social media, people care about what others think. And the more authoritative the source of information is, the more likely it affects your brand’s reputation and popularity.
Here’s how to boost your social proof with opinions: ask for them. When you ask for input (as long as it doesn’t feel like a survey), you will be surprised by how many individuals will look for an opportunity to voice their opinion.
This goes both ways. If someone asks for your valuable input or feedback online, don’t hesitate! You can easily help out a company or a person without being prompted.
2. Add Social Sharing Buttons
Social sharing buttons will help you grow your audience and reputation. Social media was originally designed to help people connect and interact with their peers online.
However, it also helps businesses attract new audiences and increase brand awareness through influencer marketing. It can be a tough job to build your community on social media, but you can easily borrow the audience of others.
Using social sharing buttons on your website, blog posts, or e-courses will allow individuals to share your work with their friends and followers on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other networks.
This way, they get exposure for supporting you (and vice versa). On top of that, it shows that others like what you do enough to recommend others to check it out.
3. Get Ready to Be More Productive
Getting more done and meeting your deadlines is all about leveraging the power of others. So here’s a cool tip: by asking for others’ help, you can increase productivity on social media. Know, though, that expertise matter at this point, especially if you’re in a highly niched market.
A good example is HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning). The market isn’t as big as others, but it is a highly technical field. A jack of all trades wouldn’t pan out.
Instead, hire social media experts who also specialize in HVAC marketing. Working with a team is also ideal if you have a team or community to work with.
4. Don’t Make Social Media All Work And Play
When building up trust from others, don’t forget to share a few personal details about yourself. This way, you’ll be able to show that you’re also a human being, not just a professional company/brand.
For instance, post some of your recent photos from the party you went to last night or plan a movie night with friends tonight. Soon enough, people will learn more about what makes you real and interesting. They’ll trust your brand even more because of it!
5. Share the Love
Although social media is all about making connections and meeting new people, sometimes others want to connect with specific brands online. Like them on Facebook and share their posts with your friends and followers or follow them on Twitter and retweet their messages. This is an easy way to increase exposure for the brand itself, but it’s also a great way to show that you’re interested in their work.
6. Get Your Content Noticed
Do you know what sucks? Promoting your content online only to have barely anyone look at it or share it.
But with each update about new blog posts, videos, infographics, or other content you write, share, or post, make sure you mention who else will find it interesting. It can increase the chances of people sharing your content with others on social media.
For example, rather than just posting on Facebook that “Check out this awesome post!” try adding, “And don’t miss out on these similar articles too.” By including some other links to relevant articles for your audience, you will increase the chances of others clicking through.
7. Be Positive
Asking questions on social media is an extremely easy way to create engagement, but what happens when you ask too many?
Well, it’s no big deal. You can diversify it, however, by asking some positive questions. For example, rather than asking, “Did I forget anything?” after five questions about your last blog update, try sharing another post first and then asking that same question again.
These excellent social media strategies can help you use social proof for your digital marketing. Every customer is different, but these tips will give you a good start on effectively using the power of social media in your business.
