If you’re looking for effective social proof examples to inspire your strategy and increase your sales conversions, you’ve come to the right place. As a business owner, your main objective is to develop products that truly resonate with your customers' needs.
But what happens when you have a great product but you’re not making enough sales?
What you can do is turn to social proof to convert your warm leads into loyal and long-term customers.
So, how can you use social proof to your advantage?
I have rounded up 13 social proof examples you can use for inspiration.
But first, let’s start by understanding what exactly social proof is and how it can help you.
Table of Contents
What is Social Proof?
Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where one person’s decision is based on another person's opinion.
Not surprisingly, research shows that 9 out of 10 customers read online reviews before purchasing a product.
Why?
If someone else had a great experience with your products or services, prospective customers would conclude that they would also have a similar experience.
So, how can your business benefit from social proof? Through the following ways:
- Builds trust and credibility: Social proof examples, like customer reviews or testimonials, help new customers trust your brand. People tend to believe what others say about your product or service. It shows that your business is reliable and worthy of their attention.
- Enhances customer decision-making: When potential customers see others enjoying your product, it helps simplify their decision-making process. Witnessing others' positive experiences fosters a sense of confidence, making them more likely to purchase.
- Improves conversion rates: Including social proof, such as user-generated content or ratings, can significantly boost purchase decisions. When potential customers see positive experiences from others, it creates a sense of trust and urgency, encouraging them to act quickly. It’s a simple yet powerful strategy to drive sales.
- Fosters community and connection: Anytime satisfied customers share their experiences with your brand, it builds a sense of belonging. Social proof examples, such as customer photos or shared stories, create a community vibe that draws in more people.
- Boosts brand authority: The more people speak positively about your brand, the stronger your position as a leader in your industry. Social proof examples, such as influencer marketing or expert reviews, establish your authority and foster trust.
- Increases referrals: Word-of-mouth referrals are among the most genuine and come naturally when your customers are happy. Social proof examples in the form of referrals or social media posts and mentions are like free marketing that brings in new customers.
- Good for social engagement: People want to be part of the conversation. Social proof examples like comments, shares, or likes create buzz and encourage more interaction with your brand. The more engagement, the more visible your business becomes.
- Drives urgency: Social proof can create a sense of urgency. If people see that others are quickly buying your product or service, they may feel like they’re missing out. Social proof examples, such as “limited stock” or “customer favorites,” encourage people to act fast.
- Strengthens customer loyalty: Social proof builds long-term trust. When customers see their peers recommending your product, they feel more connected. This loyalty often leads to repeat business and stronger relationships.
13 Social Proof Examples That Boost Sales and Conversions
Before we start our list of social proof examples, I want to clarify something important for you: social proof doesn’t just come from online review sites.
It can also come from:
- FOMO alerts
- Customer testimonials
- Influencer endorsements
- Industry expert recommendations
- Certifications and awards
Now, let’s take a look at the examples under each category.
FOMO Alerts
Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) uses the psychological fact that customers don’t like missing out on a good opportunity. Social proof examples of FOMO include limited-time offers, flash sales, or products nearly out of stock.
FOMO is a powerful tool in marketing that drives action by creating urgency. Highlighting limited product availability, offering exclusive deals, or emphasizing time-sensitive offers encourages customers to act quickly. It’s an effective way to nudge customers into action without being too overbearing.
Here are some social proof examples where brands use FOMO alerts to boost conversions.
1. Forever 21
Image via Forever 21
Forever 21 offers customers a generous 60% discount deal but adds that only a few items are left.
That last line creates a sense of urgency since many customers fear missing out on the chance to buy their favorite items at a discounted rate.
These types of social proof examples encourage them to hurry up and shop before the time runs out.
2. Booking.com
Image via Booking.com
Our second social proof example is how Booking.com creates a sense of scarcity by mentioning how many rooms are available for booking.
In the image above, the website shows that only 1 room is remaining that is within a customer’s budget. This tells a customer that if they don’t hurry and book the room, they’ll miss out.
This tactic ranks high among the most effective social proof examples that motivate customers to take action instead of second-guessing their decision.
You can also use FOMO alerts as social proof examples for your business. Start by investing in a social proof tool like Fomo. This is a software solution that you can install on your website to send notifications to your site visitors.
Pro Tip: Encourage your customers to make faster buying decisions by using limited-time offers to create a sense of urgency.
Customer Testimonials
Customer testimonials are a powerful tool that shouldn’t be overlooked. They’re one of the most impactful social proof examples you can leverage to build trust and credibility.
These testimonials are reviews or feedback from people who’ve used your product or service. They share their experiences, whether positive or negative, with others.
Customer testimonials can come in many forms, like quotes, videos, or social media posts. Each of these serves as compelling social proof examples that highlight the value of your brand.
Why do customer testimonials matter?
Simply put, people trust other customers more than they trust brands. Sharing a positive experience boosts credibility and makes others more likely to try your product.
To use testimonials for marketing, just make them visible. Put them on your website, social media, and emails. The key is to make them feel personal and authentic, helping your brand connect with customers on a more relatable level.
Here are some social proof examples of brands using customer testimonials to their advantage.
3. MeUndies
Image via MeUndies
The underwear brand MeUndies uses client testimonials and user-generated content on its homepage.
These testimonials convince website visitors of the brand’s credibility and encourage them to buy its products.
As if that’s not enough.
Testimonials as social proof examples offer loyal customers free products in exchange for their honest reviews. These reviews are labeled with a special badge to distinguish them from the rest of the customers. This is a great strategy to boost customer retention.
4. Krave Beauty
Image via Krave Beauty
Another great social proof example is how Krave Beauty shows its customers’ pictures before and after using the brand’s products.
These pictures are displayed on the website, and customers provide in-depth reviews.
Social proof examples like these prove to website visitors and potential customers that the brand’s products are effective and they can trust the brand.
5. Real Estate Skills
Image via Real Estate Skills
Real Estate Skills uses video testimonials as social proof for its business.
The testimonials act like promo videos from happy customers who enrolled in the company’s program and closed a real estate deal.
In these social proof examples, the customers share their experiences, their biggest wins, and a company review.
It provides necessary social proof to website visitors of the programs' effectiveness. It also shows them that if they sign up, they could flip houses. Simply ensure the testimonials sound genuine. People can be unforgiving and ignore your brand if they discover fake testimonials.
Influencer Endorsements
Research shows that 81% of people consider buying a product after seeing a personal recommendation from an influencer. These influencers could be anyone with a strong following on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok.
Influencer marketing and celebrity social proof work very well for brands because people trust influencers, sometimes even more than the brands themselves.
For the best results, find influencers who match your brand’s vibe. Reach out to them and see if they’d like to try your product. It helps if the influencer is genuinely interested in what you offer.
Let’s look at social proof examples that prove that partnering with influencers to create social media content is great for business.
6. Indie and Harper
Image via Instagram
The jewelry brand Indie and Harper often partners with Instagram influencers to promote its product collections.
It recently partnered with macro influencer Brielle O’Neill to endorse its products.
Through the partnership, Indie and Harper shared an Instagram post of Brielle wearing its bracelet and necklace. This exposed the brand to Brielle’s 167k social media followers.
7. Louis Vuitton
Image via Instagram
Here’s a social proof example of Louis Vuitton using celebrity endorsement as social proof to promote a bag in its collection.
Through the collaboration, the brand was able to reach Lebron’s over 159 million followers.
If you want to partner with social media influencers, start by using influencer marketing tools to find digital creators in your industry.
Then, you can negotiate terms and pay the influencer to endorse your brand to provide social proof to prospective customers.
8. Gymshark
Gymshark, a leading fitness brand, frequently collaborates with social media influencers to improve its marketing campaigns. One notable partnership was with fitness influencer Kelani Mabe, who boasts over 3 million Instagram followers.
In 2024, Gymshark teamed up with Kelani to promote its Black Friday deals. The result? A single post from Kelani received over 500,000 likes and 13,000 shares.
Image via Instagram
These are just a few examples of social proof highlighting the power that social media influencers have when it comes to advertising. It’s a very effective digital marketing strategy if you can afford their fees.
Industry Expert Recommendations
If you’re looking for long-lasting credibility, using industry expert recommendations is an ideal social proof marketing strategy.
Industry expert recommendations come from professionals or specialists who endorse a product or service based on extensive knowledge and experience. Because of their expertise, people are more likely to trust their opinions and endorsements. Expert recommendations are social proof examples.
To leverage the expert social proof strategy, collaborate with experts whose values and goals align with your brand. With their permission, you can feature their quotes in your content marketing, adding credibility and trustworthiness to your messaging.
Here are some social proof examples of how different brands use expert recommendations to boost sales.
9. Colgate
Image via Facebook
One of Colgate's most famous social proof examples is partnering with industry experts like dentists to endorse its toothpaste.
In the image above, the brand partnered with a cosmetic and family dentist who recommends the brand.
10. Fitbit
Image via Fitbit
Smartwatch company Fitbit has an expert program that current users can enroll in to answer customers’ questions.
In return, the experts earn special badges and Google perks.
The brand also displays what tech experts say about its products on its website. This increases the brand’s credibility and drives more sales conversions.
Certifications and Awards
There’s nothing like showing off in business; certifications and awards can help you do that. These are social proof examples that act like honor badges, showing you’re good at what you do. In business, there’s no endorsement better than that.
A certification means passing a test or completing a program proving your skills. An award is given when you're recognized for your achievements, like winning a competition or excelling in your field.
You need to display these certifications and awards everywhere: on your website, social media profiles, and email signatures. People will notice and feel more confident buying from you or working with you.
Here are some effective social proof examples of how brands use these as social proof.
11. Smile Brilliant
Image via Smile Brilliant
Smile Brilliant displays its Google Trusted Store verification on its homepage. This certificate from Google is given to businesses that offer customers a great shopping experience.
It acts as both a social proof strategy and a stamp of approval for the brand. This is one of the powerful social proof examples that helps build trust with potential customers, encouraging them to make a purchase without hesitation.
12. Nature Made
Image via Nature Made
Nature Made, a popular gummy and vitamin brand, shows its USP verification on its social media posters to market its gummies.
This verification is one of the most effective social proof examples that prove to current and potential clients that the products are of high quality, without the brand needing to say it outright.
13. CyberSapiens
CyberSapiens is a cybersecurity company that is ISO 27001:2022 certified. This means it has been tested and found to follow all the required cybersecurity laws regarding the protection of user data.
Image via CyberSapiens
By displaying this certification on its website, CyberSapiens is communicating to potential clients that their data will be in safe hands. This is one of the best social proof examples that shows how much trust a brand can build by getting the right certifications.
FAQ
Q1. What Is the impact of social proof on businesses?
A. Social proof can help you increase your conversion rate and boost sales. By showing potential customers that other people love your product, you can boost your brand’s credibility. This makes it easier for them to trust and buy from your company.
Social proof examples you can implement for your business include influencer endorsements, certifications, expert recommendations, and FOMO alerts.
Q2. How do you use social proof effectively?
A. Start by showcasing your customer testimonials and reviews on your landing pages or website’s homepage. These social proof examples make your business relatable and trustworthy. For social media, repost customer shoutouts or tag happy customers.
Q3. Which businesses benefit from social proof?
A. Any business can benefit from social proof. For example, health brands can use expert recommendations and certifications as social proof. On the other hand, beauty brands can focus on client testimonials and influencer recommendations.
Q4. Are there any rules I should follow when using social proof?
A. Yes, here are some rules to abide by.
- Don’t try and trick your potential customers by editing their testimonials. People can tell when your social proof examples are made-up stories.
- Keep it relevant. Only use social proof examples that fit your product or service.
- Don’t overload your audience. A few positive reviews or testimonials can be enough to show social proof.
- Ensure the social proof examples you use are visible. If they’re hidden away or hard to find, they won’t do much for you.
- Get customers’ consent before using their real names and pictures on your website.
Q5. How do I know if my social proof is working?
A. To ensure your social proof is working, track performance metrics. For example, if you’re working with an influencer, give them a special code to use when they’re advertising your product. Then, check the number of sales made using the code.
Additionally, check conversion rates on pages where you’ve added testimonials, reviews, or other social proof examples. A boost means success. You should also keep an eye on social media interactions and monitor direct customer feedback.
Final Thoughts
Learn from these 13 social proof examples and build trust and credibility for your business. Replicating these examples will help you convert potential customers into paying clients and, eventually, loyal customers.
Also, check out this Fomo Review and learn about the social proof software that you can use to create FOMO alerts for your website.
Need further help using these social proof examples to your advantage? Leave comments and we’ll get back to you.
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