In today’s digital environment, websites have become essential to any business’s marketing strategy. With a website, you can easily reach potential customers, showcase your products and services, and generate leads. However, more than having a website alone is needed to guarantee your success in the online world. You need to incorporate social proof into your website to stand out from the crowd.

So, what exactly is social proof, and why is it essential for your website?

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where the actions and opinions of others influence people. In the context of a website, social proof refers to using customer testimonials, reviews, ratings, case studies, and other forms of social validation to demonstrate the value of your products or services to potential customers.

Social proof can be compelling when driving conversions on your website. By showcasing positive customer feedback, you can establish trust and credibility with potential customers, making them more likely to take action and purchase.

Here are a few reasons why social proof is essential for any website:

1. Builds Trust: One of the biggest hurdles businesses face when generating leads online is establishing trust with potential customers. Social proof can help overcome this hurdle by demonstrating that others have tried and tested your products or services and that they are valuable and practical.
2. Increases Conversions: Social proof can significantly impact your website’s conversion rate. By showcasing positive customer feedback, you can reduce the perceived risk of purchasing from your website and encourage visitors to take action.
3. Differentiates Your Brand: Social proof can help distinguish your brand from competitors in a crowded marketplace. By showcasing positive customer feedback, you can highlight the unique value that your products or services provide, making it easier for potential customers to choose your brand over others.
4. Improves SEO: Social proof can also positively impact your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). By incorporating customer reviews and testimonials into your website, you can provide valuable, user-generated content to improve your search engine rankings.

Social proof is a powerful tool that can help businesses of all sizes establish trust, increase conversions, differentiate their brand, and improve their search engine rankings. By incorporating social proof into your website, you can create a powerful marketing asset to help you achieve your business goals and succeed in the competitive online landscape. So if you’re a web design client looking to build a successful online presence, prioritize social proof in your web design strategy.

Review plugin options for your website

There are many WordPress plugins available that can help you incorporate social proof and reviews into your website. Here are the options that I recommend:

Endorsal.io: This is the plugin I use on my website, and I’m currently using the free version that will allow up to 100 reviews. To increase that to 500, I must pay $29 a month. This plugin also has a form to collect reviews. To see how it works, leave me a review: https://forms.endorsal.io/form/618c206d1ccbd91b3e628abb

You will be prompted to share it on Google Reviews or Facebook. The form asks the client to post on external websites versus sending you a review just for your website. The power lies in getting those reviews on other platforms and not just added to the third-party review tool. This doesn’t have a plugin, but a widget generator is included.

Feedback.Link: I recently purchased a lifetime license for this plugin to test for clients. It looks promising and has more features than Endorsal.io, including a QR code for gathering reviews. I paid $69 for a lifetime license through AppSumo. This is the way to go if you expect to collect many testimonials. I may eventually replace Endorsal.io on my own website with this option! Lifetime purchases can be risky if the provider goes out of business, but paying monthly can add up. A year of Endorsal’s next level would be $348 vs. $69 one-time for Feedback.Link. I’ll update you in my next newsletter on how this goes!

Repuso.com is another Endorsal alternative that is only $9 a month and has a WordPress plugin. It also supports adding on support for multiple locations.

Reputation Igniter: I met Chris Lollini through BNI and can vouch that he’s running a proven system. He’ll even meet with you to discuss your needs. I don’t see pricing listed on his site anymore, but I believe this will cost you around $100 monthly. It does include a robust review collection system, with reminder emails and drip campaigns. I could connect you (via email) to Chris if you want to talk to him.

At WebCami LLC, I understand the importance of social proof in establishing credibility and driving conversions on your website. If you’re a client looking to add social proof to your website but need help figuring out where to start, I’m here to help. As an experienced web designer, I can work with you to identify the most effective social proof strategies for your business and implement them on your website. From customer reviews and ratings to real-time user activity notifications, we can help you create a powerful social proof strategy that drives results.

Contact me today to learn how I can help you succeed in the competitive online landscape.