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Social proof tools come in various forms and help businesses leverage different types of social proof, such as expert endorsements, customer reviews, user-generated content, and real-time notifications of customer activity.
These tools play a crucial role in building credibility, creating a sense of urgency, and reinforcing the value offered by a product or service.
If you're not already using social proof in your marketing strategy, you're missing out on more conversions. It's that simple.
In this article, we'll dive into the world of social proof and the 15 best social proof tools to leverage based on your business needs to boost conversions in 2023, and beyond.
What Is Social Proof?
Social proof is a psychological phenomenon that refers to people's tendency to follow the actions of others when making decisions, especially when they are uncertain or feel the need to conform to societal norms. It is a powerful tool that businesses and marketers can leverage to influence customer choices and boost their brand's credibility.
In the context of marketing, social proof provides evidence of the popularity or usability of a brand among consumers, which in turn influences the purchase decisions of others. There are various forms of social proof that brands can use to their advantage:
- Expert social proof: This is when an expert in the industry recommends your products or services or associates with your brand. For instance, endorsements by professionals or experts with a large following validate a product's usefulness.
- Celebrity social proof: Gaining celebrity endorsements increases the effect of social proof due to their wide reach and influence. Examples can be as simple as a social media shoutout or a full-blown endorsement, both of which can drive significant attention and sales.
- User testimonial: Customer testimonials are another powerful form of social proof, as they showcase the positive experiences of actual users who have purchased the product or service. This works to build trust with potential buyers and gives them a realistic expectation of the benefits.
- Friend referral: Recommendations from friends and peers hold immense reliability and can inspire potential customers to choose your product. Buyers often trust their friends' opinions and act upon them more than generic advertisements.
- Wisdom of the crowd: A large number of people endorsing, following, or recommending your product or service demonstrates its popularity, quality, and effectiveness. This form of social proof is significant as it shows that many people found value in your offering, thus persuading others to join the crowd.
What Is a Social Proof Tool?
A social proof tool is a marketing solution that harnesses the psychological phenomenon of people following the actions of others. By showcasing the positive experiences of past customers, these tools aim to build trust and encourage potential customers to make a purchase or engage with a product or service.
Social proof tools often employ various forms of notifications, such as pop-up messages or banners, to display customer reviews, testimonials, or other evidence of social validation. These notifications can be strategically placed on websites, landing pages, and product pages to boost conversion rates and enhance the user experience.
One of the primary features of a social proof tool is its ability to gather and display customer feedback. Reviews and testimonials offer a credible, third-party perspective on a product or service, assuring potential clients of its quality and usefulness. Many social proof tools can integrate with popular review platforms, allowing businesses to display valuable customer feedback seamlessly.
In addition to reviews and testimonials, social proof tools often include options for showcasing real-time information, such as the number of recent purchases or website visitors. This feature further instills a sense of trust and urgency for potential customers, promoting positive action.
Implementing social proof tools effectively can lead to an increase in conversions, sales, and overall customer satisfaction. By leveraging the power of social validation, businesses can improve their online presence and increase the likelihood of potential clients becoming customers.
Why Do Social Proof Tools Work?
Social proof tools work because they tap into a fundamental aspect of human behavior. People tend to rely on the opinions and experiences of others when making decisions, especially in situations where they are unsure about a certain product or service. By incorporating social proof elements such as product reviews, customer reviews, and user-generated content into marketing strategies, businesses can effectively build trust and credibility among potential customers.
One reason why social proof tools are so successful is that they lend authority to a product or service. Instead of a company claiming to have the best product, positive reviews from real customers can do the selling for them. This creates a sense of authenticity and trust, making potential buyers more likely to make a purchase.
Another driving force behind the effectiveness of social proof tools is the power of user-generated content. When potential customers see real experiences shared by other users, it helps create a connection with the brand. Moreover, user-generated content is often perceived as unbiased, adding credibility to the claims made about a product or service.
Positive reviews play a pivotal role in the success of social proof tools. A large number of positive reviews can influence the perception of potential customers, to view the product or service as reliable. Additionally, when users see that others have had a positive experience with a product or service, they are more likely to believe that they will have a similar experience.
The 15 Best Social Proof Tools to Boost Conversions
1. Simple Testimonial
Summary
Simple Testimonial is a plug-and-play tool designed to collect and display customer testimonials on your website.
It serves businesses looking to build trust with potential customers by showcasing positive experiences from existing clients - all while keeping the experience simple for both you, and your customers.
Simple Testimonial is a great solution for those looking for a cost-effective solution compared to the "old" way of collecting video testimonials on-site, that can cost upwards of $5-10k+ per video.
Ready to collect video testimonials, starting with just a few clicks? Try out Simple Testimonial for a simple solution for both you, and your customers.
Best For
SMBs that are looking for a simple, but effective solution for collecting and embedding customer video testimonials that requires a few minutes setup, max.
Features
- Easy widget embedding integration with websites, meaning no developer resources and no coding required
- Customisable design options for your feedback form, including branding, colors and flexible question set up
- Blazing fast widgets that load under 400ms, meaning your testimonials will always load fast
- Responsive design for mobile compatibility
- Flexibility to upgrade or downgrade to larger plans, depending on how many video testimonials you need for your campaigns
Pricing
Starting at $39 per month (annually), with access to unlimited customer video testimonials, and full 1-on-1 onboarding and Slack support.
Interactive Demo
See how Simple Testimonial works in a few clicks.
2. Reviews On My Website
Summary
Reviews On My Website is a social proof tool that aggregates reviews from different review platforms and displays them on your website.
It helps businesses showcase multiple sources of positive written feedback in one place.
Reviews On My Website is an excellent solution for companies looking for a solution that allows you to collect and display written reviews, such as Google reviews, in a matter of a few clicks.
Requesting reviews from customers is also made easy, with customizable feedback forms that are easy to set up, and are user-friendly for your customers to leave their feedback.
Best For
SMBs that are looking for a written review collection and reputation management tool that is cost-effective, and doesn't have all of the bells and whistles that wrack up your monthly bill to a few hundred dollars per month, or more.
Features
- Review Collection: Collect reviews from popular platforms.
- Beautiful Widgets: Showcase collected reviews on your website using visually appealing widgets.
- Automated Review Requests: Automatically request reviews from customers.
- Responsive Customization: Responsive and customizable widget design.
Pricing
Reviews On My Website's pricing starts at $9 per month, with the option to scale up to larger plans to fit your needs, as well as depending on how many business locations you might have.
3. Fomo
Summary
Fomo is a social proof automation tool designed to help businesses increase credibility, engagement, and conversions by displaying real-time notifications of customer activities and interactions on their website.
Fomo leverages the power of social proof to show potential customers that others are engaging with the brand, leading to enhanced trust and credibility.
The software generates dynamic notifications for actions like purchases, sign-ups, reviews, and more, creating a sense of constant activity and encouraging visitors to take desired actions.
Fomo is best suited for businesses looking to boost online engagement, improve user trust, and drive conversions by showcasing real-time customer interactions, making it particularly valuable for e-commerce websites and online stores.
Features
- Customizable notification pop-ups
- Boasts over 108+ integrations, for easy set up
- Real-time updating of customer activities
- Conversion tracking and analytics
- API access for custom integrations
Pricing
Fomo's pricing starts at $25 per month, and includes 8,000 notifications per month for one single website.
4. ProveSource
Summary
ProveSource is a social proof tool that generates notifications based on user interactions with your site, indicating popularity and trustworthiness.
It helps increase conversions by leveraging the psychological phenomenon of social proof.
Features
- Customizable notification design
- Automation rules and triggers
- Integration with multiple platforms
- Real-time analytics and insights
- A/B testing functionality
Pricing
Prove Source's pricing starts at $24 per month, which includes up to 20k total monthly unique visitors.
5. YotPo
Summary
YotPo is an eCommerce marketing platform providing businesses a suite of tools including social proof, reviews, and visual marketing.
It aims to improve customer trust and increase conversions by showcasing positive customer experiences.
Best For
Businesses that run eCommerce stories, especially that run on Shopify, that are interested in collecting and embedding written reviews.
Features
- User-generated content and reviews
- On-site widgets and galleries
- Integration with eCommerce platforms
- Customizable design options
- Analytics and reporting features
Pricing
YotPo's pricing starts at $15 per month, for 50 total monthly orders. The cost of the solution scales based on your stores total number of orders.
6. Loox
Summary
Loox is a product review app focused on displaying visual reviews from customers, specifically for Shopify stores.
It helps businesses build credibility and increase conversions by showcasing real customer experiences through images and testimonials.
Features
- Photo-based reviews
- Integration with eCommerce platforms
- Customizable display widgets
- Import and export of reviews
- Incentives for leaving reviews
Pricing
Loox's monthly pricing starts at $9.99 per month, including a free trial. It's based on your total number of orders, starting at a total number of 500 orders for the beginner plan.
7. BirdEye
Summary
BirdEye is a reputation management and customer experience platform that provides social proof tools such as review management and customer surveys.
It helps businesses gather valuable feedback and display positive reviews to build trust.
Features
- Review aggregation and monitoring
- Customer surveys and feedback collection
- Integration with review platforms
- Review response management
- Customizable review widgets
Pricing
BirdEye doesn't offer pricing directly on their website. You'll have to book a demo call to learn more.
8. VocalVideo
Summary
VocalVideo is a video testimonial platform focusing on collecting and sharing customer success stories through video.
It aims to capture the authenticity of customer experiences and build trust with potential customers.
Features
- Video testimonial collection
- Customizable video player
- Responsive design for mobile compatibility
- Integration with website platforms
- Video analytics and insights
Pricing
VocalVideo only offers quarterly, or annual billing. Their quarterly billing starts at $297 billed quarterly.
9. SmashBalloon
Summary
SmashBalloon is a social media integration tool allowing businesses to display user-generated content from social media platforms on their websites.
It helps create social proof through authentic customer interactions and testimonials.
Features
- Integration with multiple social media platforms
- Customizable display options
- Filtering and moderation tools
- Responsive design for mobile compatibility
- API access for custom integrations
Pricing
SmashBalloon starts at $299 for access to all social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
10. Provely
Summary
Provely is a social proof tool that creates customizable pop-up notifications based on user activities on your website. It demonstrates the popularity and demand for your products, encouraging more visitors to convert.
Features
- Customizable pop-up design
- Real-time activity tracking
- Integration with various website platforms
- Conversion tracking and analytics
- Campaign management features
Pricing
For pricing details visit the Provely website.
11. Endorsal
Summary
Endorsal is an automated customer review management software that streamlines the process of collecting and displaying customer testimonials for businesses.
It offers the ability to import reviews from platforms like Google and Facebook, and it facilitates automatic review requests to customers through email.
The software works through three simple steps: creating a custom form to collect data, sending automated review requests via email, and then displaying the collected testimonials on websites.
Endorsal is particularly useful for businesses looking to enhance their online reputation by showcasing authentic customer feedback. It's designed to save time and effort by automating the review collection process, making it an ideal tool for businesses aiming to build trust and credibility with potential customers.
Features
- Automated Testimonial Collection: Endorsal provides powerful social proof tools to automate the collection of customer testimonials for businesses.
- Custom Review Forms: Users can build custom forms to gather specific data and feedback from customers, streamlining the testimonial collection process.
- Automated Review Requests: The software enables sending automated review requests to customers via email, making it convenient to gather reviews.
- Embeddable Testimonials: Endorsal allows users to embed testimonials anywhere without coding knowledge, enabling the display of customer feedback on various platforms.
- Innovative Features: Endorsal offers innovative features like review request forms and the ability to pull reviews from different platforms, enhancing its utility.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Suitable for those just starting out, offering basic features.
- Paid Plans: These include the Professional plan at $79.00 per month and the Agency plan at $199.00 per month.
- Custom Plan: Endorsal also offers custom plans based on customer requests.
12. Repuso
Summary
Repuso is a cloud-based review aggregation tool that excels in automatically monitoring various social media channels for reviews and testimonials. It gathers these reviews and testimonials and then showcases them on users' websites. Repuso's primary function is to simplify the process of collecting, approving, and displaying customer/client testimonials, helping businesses effectively showcase positive feedback and enhance their online reputation.
This software is designed for website owners who want to streamline the review collection process and enhance their online presence through customer feedback. Repuso's ability to centralize reviews from different platforms and display them in one dashboard makes it a valuable tool for businesses seeking to harness the power of customer testimonials
Features
- Auto Tracking: Repuso automatically monitors social media channels for reviews.
- Widget Customization: Customize widgets to showcase reviews on your website.
- Integration: Repuso integrates with various platforms to collect reviews from multiple sources.
- Live Visitor Count: Track live visitor counts to display real-time engagement.
- Recent Activity: Stay updated with recent activities related to reviews and testimonials.
Pricing
- Basic Plan: Priced at $9 per month when billed annually or $12 on a monthly basis. This plan includes features like 2 widgets.
- Enhanced Plan: This plan is available at $19 per month when billed annually or $27 monthly. It offers more widgets and additional features.
- Agency Plan: The Agency plan is priced at $23 per month. However, details about the specific features included in this plan are not provided in the search results.
13. Boast
Summary
Boast.io is a software designed for collecting videos, reviews, and written feedback from customers, and it's primarily focused on facilitating video interactions
The platform distinguishes between testimonials and reviews and emphasizes the significance of understanding the nuances between them. It's best suited for businesses or individuals seeking to leverage video testimonials or written feedback from their clientele to enhance trust, foster business growth, and promote their brand or services.
Features
- User-Generated Video Collection: Boast.io enables businesses to gather videos from users, facilitating the collection of video testimonials and reviews which can be leveraged for brand trust and growth.
- Feedback Management: This feature allows businesses to manage customer feedback, ensuring that they can process and understand customer sentiments effectively.
- Custom Form Builder: This gives businesses the flexibility to create custom forms tailored to their specific needs, which can be useful for gathering specific feedback or testimonials.
- Display Reviews on Websites: Boast.io provides tools that make it easy to display customer reviews directly on websites, leveraging them for social proof, SEO, and more.
- Embeddable Widgets: Boast.io offers widgets that can be embedded on websites, allowing businesses to showcase praise and testimonials from their customers seamlessly.
Pricing
- Team Plan: This plan is suitable for medium-sized businesses. It starts at $100 per month and provides features for receiving and managing customer feedback and testimonials.
- Enterprise Plan: For businesses with custom needs, Boast.io offers an Enterprise plan priced at $249 per month. This plan provides benefits such as unlimited responses, forms, locations, staff, and a dedicated account manager to assist with integrating Boast into your workflow.
Final Thoughts
Implementing social proof tools can be vital for businesses looking to improve their online visibility, attract more site visitors, and ultimately drive significant growth in sales.
These versatile tools serve to increase trust, reliability, and credibility among potential customers, making it much more likely for them to become loyal brand advocates.
FAQs
What Is Social Proof, and How Does it Help With Conversions?
Social proof is the psychological phenomenon where people look to the actions of others to guide their own decisions. In the context of business and marketing, it boosts trust, engagement, and credibility when potential customers see others praising or engaging with your products or services, thereby increasing conversions and sales.
Social proof can come in various forms, such as customer reviews, testimonials, case studies, and influencer endorsements. By showcasing positive social proof on your website, you signal to site visitors that your products and services are reliable, ultimately improving their likelihood to make a purchase or subscribe to your offerings.
Does Social Proof Work?
Yes, social proof is a powerful tool for driving conversions and increasing revenue. Research shows that customers trust peer recommendations more than advertisements or expert suggestions, making it an essential part of any successful marketing campaign. Higher trust levels can result in an increased number of customers, subscribers, and site visitors. Additionally, incorporating social proof into your website allows for valuable analytics so that you can tailor your strategies and boost further engagement.
How to Get Social Proof?
There are several ways to gather social proof for your business:
- Customer reviews: Encourage customers to leave reviews on your website, Google Reviews, and other platforms.
- Testimonials: You can request testimonials from your satisfied customers and display them on your website.
- Case studies: Share success stories of your customers' experience with your products or services.
- Influencer partnerships: Collaborate with relevant influencers to promote your offerings and leverage their audience.
- User-generated content: Encourage customers to post photos or share their experience with your products on social media.
By implementing these strategies, you can showcase the value and effectiveness of your products or services, thereby boosting credibility and enhancing trust.
How do I Get Social Proof on My Website?
To effectively showcase social proof on your website, consider the following steps:
- Select the type of social proof that best fits your business (e.g., reviews, testimonials, case studies, etc.).
- Use customizable widgets or social proof software tools, like ProveSource, Fomo, or Yotpo, to easily integrate and manage the display of social proof on your website.
- Determine display rules to ensure that relevant social proof appears at the right time and place on your website, creating a seamless user experience.
- Perform A/B testing to optimize the presentation and placement of your social proof, maximizing its impact on conversions and revenue.
- Regularly update the content with fresh social proof to maintain a dynamic and engaging website.
Incorporating social proof on your website is an essential aspect of driving conversions, increasing sales, and building trust with potential customers, making it a valuable asset for any business looking to grow and succeed.
