Imagine this...
You come across an eCommerce website.
The overall look is sleek, and the products are fascinating.
You want to hit the Buy button, but something is missing...
There are no reviews.
So, you're not sure if the products are effective. Or if the delivery doesn't take too long and the products are still in one piece.
So, I want you to put yourself in your customers' shoes.
What if they want to buy your products, but you're not showing reviews?
Maybe there are some, but what if it's not enough for them?
Because 9 out of 10 customers read the reviews before purchasing!
And that's why you're here.
We're talking about five ways to add social proof to your Shopify store.
But before anything else...
Why Do You Need Social Proof On Your Website?
1. To Build Trust
To make more sales, trust is crucial.
But the thing is... building trust isn't easy, especially if visitors are just newly aware of your eCommerce business.
And as I said... your potential customers need to know if your online store is reliable, especially if they've just discovered you.
That's why social proof can help you build trust among new visitors and ease their concerns to make sales.
The next one is...
2. To Convince More Customers
Social proof is a way to convince potential customers to buy your products.
Why? Because social proof refers to people relying on others when making decisions.
So, social proof can be a great way to convince your target market to buy from your eCommerce store.
Because if your potential customers see that you already have a lot of existing customers, they'll know your online store is tried and tested.
But another benefit is...
3. To Encourage More Customers To Leave Reviews
There are four types of people who leave reviews on your eCommerce website:
- Customers who loved your products.
- Customers who hated your products.
- Customers who are loyal to your eCommerce brand.
- Customers who want to pay it forward because they know how valuable reviews are.
So, if you have more reviews or social proof on your website... more and more online shoppers will use them to buy from you.
Then after their transaction, they would also review it because they know how valuable it would be for other customers.
Social proof is such a powerful motivator, right?
Now, what are the types of social proof?
Types Of Social Proof You Can Add To Your Shopify Store
There are different types of social proof. It's not just limited to reviews.
Here are some examples:
- Media Features
- Statistics
- Number of subscribers
- Number of followers
- Testimonials
- User-Generated Content
- Influencer Marketing
... and more!
As long as it shows that your products and services are reliable, consider it social proof.
Okay, I know you've been waiting for this... how do you show social proof?
5 Ways You Can Add Social Proof To Your Shopify Store
1. Show Numbers
Since social proof indicates that people tend to rely on others' actions, using numbers can help you encourage them to take some actions as well.
So, just imagine seeing hundreds of thousands of people subscribing to a newsletter.
These are some ways to do it.
You can show your recent sales.
Or display how many people viewed your products on your product pages.
You can also show how many followers you have on your social media channels to encourage them more. And who knows, they might follow you, too.
Showing these can also spark a FOMO or Fear Of Missing Out.
But the primary purpose of displaying these numbers is to show your eCommerce website visitors that you already have a reputation.
Of course, if people see it... you can attract other users to join hundreds or thousands of your past customers, right?
For example...
If you look at Debutify's website, you can see that over 410,000 brand owners are using the eCommerce theme.
That's the power of numbers as social proof.
Another way to add social proof is...
2. Include Media Features
Have you been featured in significant and reputable magazines, digital publications, or news sites?
Then those add media features to your Shopify store!
I mean, just imagine when your potential customers see that your eCommerce brand is featured on and acknowledged by well-known publications.
That's huge social proof!
Here's how it would look on your website.
This is from Get Vine Box. As you can see, they have been featured on Business Insider, Glamour, and Fashion Times.
And putting their logos is a great way to show that famous publications recognize their eCommerce business.
That's why if you haven't yet...
Make sure to include being featured in magazines or prominent websites as one of your goals for your eCommerce brand this year!
But how to score a magazine or publication feature? Here are some tips!
- Tell a heartwarming story. Who is behind the online store? How did you come up with your business? Telling a story makes you stand out, and put them on your website, and share your story with the world.
- Have unique and interesting products. To score a feature, your products should move other people. You have to make them feel something. Solve problems through new and improved solutions.
- Don't be afraid to pitch your story. It's okay to reach out to them if you have to. They can't see you if you don't make yourself seen.
So, another way to add social proof to your eCommerce website is by showing...
3. Testimonials From Customers
Of course, one of the best social proofs is from the customers themselves.
Why?
Because potential customers want to read genuine customer feedback from previous customers instead of merely your promises.
Right?
So, brand positioning and value proposition are essential.
But they want to know what other buyers have to say about you before they make a decision.
For example:
Nutriseed ensures that its website visitors will see what its customers say about their products.
And to further strengthen their customer reviews and testimonials... they included a rating system and the reviewers' names and photos.
This way, potential customers would know that the reviews are legitimate.
But how to get reviews?
- Offer an incentive. Want to encourage your customers to leave reviews? Try offering an incentive. It can be through a discount code on their order or free shipping.
- Make leaving reviews easy. If they have to go through so many processes before leaving their thoughts... don't expect them to leave reviews. It should be easy. You can add it to your product pages or have a star rating system for convenience.
- Follow up with your customers. Some customers might forget to leave reviews... so reach out to them and ask what they think about the products.
Let's hop on to the next tip.
4. Take Advantage Of User-Generated Content
What is user-generated content?
Okay, picture this.
You bought a new planner for this year.
The packaging looks great, so you decided to take a video of your unboxing process.
Now, you posted it on your online platform, and you tagged the brand, and they reposted your post.
BAM! That's another social proof.
It's an excellent way to strengthen the credibility of your eCommerce brand because your customers are the ones creating content FOR YOU.
And let's be honest...
If they didn't love your products, they wouldn't really spend some time and effort taking photos and tagging your products... right?
They might also persuade their families and peers to buy from you.
So, to encourage user-generated content, here are three things you need to do.
The first is to give them a memorable unboxing experience.
Wrap their products nicely and include a personalized card.
You can also put your social media accounts and ask them to tag you on their posts to make the most out of it.
And another way is by using branded hashtags.
This is what SHEIN is currently doing.
Their Instagram feed is filled with photos from their customers. And to discover them, they're using a branded hashtag #SHEINgals.
See? There are 1.2 million posts!
So to take advantage of user-generated content, consider having a branded hashtag.
But hey, don't forget to acknowledge your customers whenever they post about your brand.
And now... we're down to our last tip!
5. Use Influencers
What is influencer marketing?
Influencer marketing uses social media personalities to promote a brand.
These are personalities with a massive following online. And influencers are usually trusted by their followers within specific industries.
Since they have already built a name for themselves in their chosen niche, you need to utilize influencer marketing to succeed in your products.
Just imagine someone with 100,000+ followers vouching for your products.
That's one way to promote your brand and boost your visibility!
To make influencer marketing effective, work with an influencer to convey your brand message to the right people.
For example, if you're selling gadgets, don't work with an influencer whose niche is beauty.
They can't bring you results because their followers might not be your target audience.
What are you waiting for?
Add Social Proof To Your Shopify Store!
It takes effort to create and implement social proof.
But they definitely go a long way in persuading your potential customers to buy from you.
And to make it easier for them to create reviews, make sure to have a reviews app that will help you collect reviews while you rest.
Luckily, Debutify Reviews is here.
