The Importance of Social ProofThe Importance of Social Proof

By By Valentino “Blog So Hard” Valentino “Blog So Hard”

CrawfordCrawford

When it comes to doing business When it comes to doing business with social media,with social media, the  the importance of social proof importance of social proof is is just as crucial as your brand. just as crucial as your brand.

Whether you’re an internet Whether you’re an internet marketer or a home business marketer or a home business owner looking to gain an online owner looking to gain an online presence, presence, social proofsocial proof is your  is your “currency” in this digital age of “currency” in this digital age of business.business.

What is Social Proof?What is Social Proof?

  According to Wikipedia,According to Wikipedia, “ “Social Social proofproof, also known as , also known as informational social influence, is informational social influence, is a psychological phenomenon a psychological phenomenon where people assume the where people assume the actions of others reflect correct actions of others reflect correct behavior for a given situation. behavior for a given situation.

This effect is prominent in This effect is prominent in ambiguous social situations where ambiguous social situations where people are unable to determine the people are unable to determine the appropriate mode of behavior, and appropriate mode of behavior, and is driven by the assumption that is driven by the assumption that surrounding people possess more surrounding people possess more knowledge about the situation.”knowledge about the situation.”

In other words, when something In other words, when something looks too good to be true and we looks too good to be true and we cannot determine if it is cannot determine if it is legitimate, we tend to look legitimate, we tend to look toward the reaction of our peers toward the reaction of our peers for validation. for validation.

We trust that if our friends are We trust that if our friends are talking about something or talking about something or sharing it, then it must be sharing it, then it must be something good.something good.

Social Proof is Vital to going Social Proof is Vital to going ViralViral

When it comes to When it comes to social media social media influenceinfluence, if no one is talking , if no one is talking about you or your content, then about you or your content, then it is “socially acceptable” to it is “socially acceptable” to assume that you have no value assume that you have no value to offer.to offer.

Whether it is true or not is Whether it is true or not is irrelevant. You can have the next irrelevant. You can have the next best thing since sliced bread, best thing since sliced bread, but if your market is not but if your market is not acknowledging it, you have no acknowledging it, you have no influence. You have no clout. influence. You have no clout. 

Social proof is vital to going Social proof is vital to going viralviral!!

Ways to Build Social ProofWays to Build Social Proof

There are 3 sure ways to create There are 3 sure ways to create and establish social proof.and establish social proof.

  

1. Testimonies1. Testimonies2. Content Syndication2. Content Syndication

3. Leading with Value3. Leading with Value

  TestimoniesTestimonies are one, if not the  are one, if not the most powerful way to establish most powerful way to establish social proof. Anyone can toot their social proof. Anyone can toot their own horn, but when there is own horn, but when there is 3rd party validation from a satisfied 3rd party validation from a satisfied client/customer/student, your client/customer/student, your credibility becomes more solid.credibility becomes more solid.

Tino’s tip:Tino’s tip: Video testimonies reign  Video testimonies reign supreme. If the testimony is scripted supreme. If the testimony is scripted or is phony, the audience will sense or is phony, the audience will sense that. Not only will video testimonies that. Not only will video testimonies reveal the genuineness of the client, reveal the genuineness of the client, but videos are more likely to go but videos are more likely to go viral; therefore spreading the viral; therefore spreading the message on a larger scalemessage on a larger scale. .

Content syndicationContent syndication, though it , though it has many dimensions to the has many dimensions to the definition, is basically a fancy way definition, is basically a fancy way of saying ‘content sharing.’ Other of saying ‘content sharing.’ Other people can share your blog posts, people can share your blog posts, videos, and articles on your behalf. videos, and articles on your behalf. This benefits both the sharer and This benefits both the sharer and the originator.the originator.

It benefits the sharer by giving It benefits the sharer by giving value to its audience via leveraging value to its audience via leveraging the efforts of the originator. It the efforts of the originator. It benefits the originator by allow its benefits the originator by allow its content to be reached by those content to be reached by those whom may not have been whom may not have been previously accessible.previously accessible.

Tino’s tip:Tino’s tip: Being a part of a tribe is a  Being a part of a tribe is a great way to get your content great way to get your content syndicated. A tribe is a group of syndicated. A tribe is a group of people/community that shares the people/community that shares the member’s content utilizing the member’s content utilizing the principle of reciprocity; the more you principle of reciprocity; the more you share other people’s content, the more share other people’s content, the more your content will likely to be shared.your content will likely to be shared.

  Leading with valueLeading with value should always be  should always be a top priority, no matter what you are a top priority, no matter what you are doing in business, or life for that doing in business, or life for that matter. The product or service you matter. The product or service you provide is not enough. Customers want provide is not enough. Customers want to be assured that doing business with to be assured that doing business with you is worth their time and money. you is worth their time and money. 

People don’t like to be sold People don’t like to be sold toto…but they like to spend …but they like to spend money. So how do you keep your money. So how do you keep your audience engaged without audience engaged without pushing them away with sales pushing them away with sales pitches?pitches?

Tino’s Tip:Tino’s Tip: This tip is especially  This tip is especially important for network marketers important for network marketers who are promoting their businesses who are promoting their businesses on the internet. You must develop a on the internet. You must develop a skill set (proficiency in a marketing skill set (proficiency in a marketing tool or strategy) that your tool or strategy) that your prospects can value and appreciate.prospects can value and appreciate.

Being the go-to person when it Being the go-to person when it comes to information your comes to information your audience is interested in will audience is interested in will create that value as well.  A good create that value as well.  A good guideline to go by is the 90/10 guideline to go by is the 90/10 ratio (90% valuable content, 10% ratio (90% valuable content, 10% promoting your business). promoting your business).

No matter what product or No matter what product or service you offer and no service you offer and no matter what industry you are matter what industry you are in; these three strategies are in; these three strategies are universal and will work for universal and will work for anyone.anyone.

The one key element that ties The one key element that ties everything together everything together is is consistencyconsistency. Without a . Without a consistent flow of consistent flow of testimoniestestimonies, , your market may see you no your market may see you no longer relevant.longer relevant.

If your content is not being If your content is not being shared by others on a consistent shared by others on a consistent basis, your audience may view basis, your audience may view you as not sustainable. you as not sustainable.

If you do not If you do not lead with lead with valuevalue consistently, you may be  consistently, you may be viewed as someone who has no viewed as someone who has no substance.substance.

If you feel that this post is If you feel that this post is helpful in any way, please ‘like’ helpful in any way, please ‘like’ it and share with your Facebook it and share with your Facebook and Twitter friends. I’m sure and Twitter friends. I’m sure that this tiny nugget of info will that this tiny nugget of info will give someone an ‘ah-ha’ moment give someone an ‘ah-ha’ moment like it did for myself. like it did for myself.

Connect With Me:Connect With Me:Valentino Crawford Jr.

"The Ultimate Goal is Self-Mastery“Email: growrichenterprises@gmail.comPhone: 757-768-8011

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