The Importance of Social Proof By Valentino “Blog So Hard” Crawford
When it comes to doing business with social media, the importance of social proof is just as crucial as your brand.
Whether you’re an internet marketer or a home business owner looking to gain an online presence, social proof is your “currency” in this digital age of business.
What is Social Proof?
According to Wikipedia, “Social proof, also known as informational social influence, is a psychological phenomenon where people assume the actions of others reflect correct behavior for a given situation.
This effect is prominent in ambiguous social situations where people are unable to determine the appropriate mode of behavior, and is driven by the assumption that surrounding people possess more knowledge about the situation.”
In other words, when something looks too good to be true and we cannot determine if it is legitimate, we tend to look toward the reaction of our peers for validation.
We trust that if our friends are talking about something or sharing it, then it must be something good.
Social Proof is Vital to going Viral
When it comes to social media influence, if no one is talking about you or your content, then it is “socially acceptable” to assume that you have no value to offer.
Whether it is true or not is irrelevant. You can have the next best thing since sliced bread, but if your market is not acknowledging it, you have no influence. You have no clout.
Social proof is vital to going viral!
Ways to Build Social Proof
There are 3 sure ways to create and establish social proof. Â
1. Testimonies 2. Content Syndication 3. Leading with Value
Testimonies are one, if not the most powerful way to establish social proof. Anyone can toot their own horn, but when there is 3rd party validation from a satisfied client/customer/student, your credibility becomes more solid.
Tino’s tip: Video testimonies reign supreme. If the testimony is scripted or is phony, the audience will sense that. Not only will video testimonies reveal the genuineness of the client, but videos are more likely to go viral; therefore spreading the message on a larger scale.
Content syndication, though it has many dimensions to the definition, is basically a fancy way of saying ‘content sharing.’ Other people can share your blog posts, videos, and articles on your behalf. This benefits both the sharer and the originator.
It benefits the sharer by giving value to its audience via leveraging the efforts of the originator. It benefits the originator by allow its content to be reached by those whom may not have been previously accessible.
Tino’s tip: Being a part of a tribe is a great way to get your content syndicated. A tribe is a group of people/community that shares the member’s content utilizing the principle of reciprocity; the more you share other people’s content, the more your content will likely to be shared.
Leading with value should always be a top priority, no matter what you are doing in business, or life for that matter. The product or service you provide is not enough. Customers want to be assured that doing business with you is worth their time and money.
People don’t like to be sold to… but they like to spend money. So how do you keep your audience engaged without pushing them away with sales pitches?
Tino’s Tip: This tip is especially important for network marketers who are promoting their businesses on the internet. You must develop a skill set (proficiency in a marketing tool or strategy) that your prospects can value and appreciate.
Being the go-to person when it comes to information your audience is interested in will create that value as well. A good guideline to go by is the 90/10 ratio (90% valuable content, 10% promoting your business).
No matter what product or service you offer and no matter what industry you are in; these three strategies are universal and will work for anyone.
The one key element that ties everything together is consistency. Without a consistent flow of testimonies, your market may see you no longer relevant.
If your content is not being shared by others on a consistent basis, your audience may view you as not sustainable.
If you do not lead with value consistently, you may be viewed as someone who has no substance.
If you feel that this post is helpful in any way, please ‘like’ it and share with your Facebook and Twitter friends. I’m sure that this tiny nugget of info will give someone an ‘ah-ha’ moment like it did for myself.
Connect With Me: Valentino Crawford Jr.
"The Ultimate Goal is Self-Mastery“ Email: growrichenterprises@gmail.com Phone: 757-768-8011 Follow me on: Facebook: http://facebook.com/valentinocrawford LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/valentinocrawford Twitter: http://twitter.com/GrowRichProject Skype: vcrvideo Blog: http://ValentinoCrawford.com Build a business while having a life: http://empowermynetwork.com