Using social proof in your business

You know all about FOMO. Fear of missing out. It is a natural instinct that has been on the rise in recent years thanks to social media.

It used to be easy to sit in an ignorant bubble and ignore interactions that friends and family might be having outside your sphere. But now thanks to social media, those interactions or gatherings will be documented and digitally retold.

And because it is so easy to reflect and review the things we decline to participate in, envious feelings and fear rise to the surface. We don’t want to miss out on those really incredible experiences. We want to be a part of the celebration, the action, the excitement.

FOMO is a very real emotion, that is a huge driver in using social proof in your marketing.

If we know others are partaking in an experience with a brand, naturally, we want to be involved as well. That is where social proof comes in. Showcasing others experiencing your business- to spur feelings of FOMO and the desire to have the same experience.

Social proof is essentially a tool that shows others are using your product or service, it proves you have an existing market of consumers. Oftentimes others will want to emulate others or have shared experiences, so they are prompted to buy.

There are so many ways to share social proof.

Name wall. I love a name wall. Every time someone purchases or signs up for a program I like to write their name on a sticky note and pop it on my wall. I usually share these in my Instagram stories or do a snazzy reel showing them all going up.

Sharing client experiences. At least once a month, I share in an Instagram and Facebook post my client wins. What victories they have had in the last month. I do it anonymously, but it still has a fantastic impact- showing others the client experience.

Case studies. Case studies are a very powerful tool. They are an in depth look at one person or groups experience. Oftentimes this is some long form content that provides a detailed look at the transformation the client undergoes while using your services.

A map with client locations. If you service a wide area, it is really fun to showcase all the different places your clients are located at.

Client spotlight. This can look like a lot of things- blog post, newsletter feature, social post. It also allows for cross-promotion, so your client gets the added benefit of accessing your existing audience.

Testimonials. Sprinkle these bad boys everywhere! Pop them on your website, proposals, socials- think of them as magic dust. A video testimonial is the most powerful, followed by an image of the person and text, with text-only coming in last place.

If you aren’t using social proof in your business, start today. Start gathering testimonials. Start creating case studies. Start asking for recommendations on LinkedIn. Start celebrating your clients to your audience!

 HOW ARE YOU USING SOCIAL PROOF IN YOUR BUSINESS? DO YOU NEED HELP LEVERAGING THIS POWERFUL TOOL IN YOUR STRATEGY? I’M ALWAYS UP FOR A CHAT TO SEE IF I CAN HELP! BOOK A CALL!