Do you have a social proof folder?
Let me explain, because if you don’t have one, now is the time to start. Whenever anyone, and I mean any one, says something nice about you and your work, screenshot it.
No matter how small, even if it’s only a few sentences long. And here’s why, because from time to time, you’ll need what’s called ‘social proof.’
Social proof is based on the idea that consumers will adapt their behaviour according to what other people are doing.
Years ago, when I used to own a market stall, if sales were a little thin on the ground, a great trick was for me to go outside of the stall and stand there as if I was a customer.
I’d fuss with the products, under the guise of cleaning them and sorting them, when really I was just pretending to be a customer and after a couple of minutes, someone would come up to the stall and start looking at what I was looking at.
I’d wait a few minutes more, and people would walk past, see us looking and come over for a nosey.
‘What’s so interesting?’ They’d want to know and come over to have to have a look themselves.
In about five minutes, I’d have a sale.
I’d go back behind the counter and enjoy being busy because people attract people, and it’s the same on socials.
You need to demonstrate that you have people queuing up at your stall, so to speak, so whenever you get chance, take a screenshot and keep it in a folder, ready to use.
It’s a really powerful way to get people over to your page, but also it’s brilliant at reminding yourself just how amazing you are.
So when you have a bad day, you have your social proof folder as a little pick-me-up!
Today’s content idea is all about how to use that social proof in your feed, when to show it, how to embed it within your content for best effect.
I’m looking at Lauren North and her book The Ugly Truth (which is excellent by the way) and what’s super effective about the way social proof is being used to market this brilliant book.
But first, let’s see what’s been happening this week….
WHAT’S NEW?
TikTok is working on another way for creators to make money
The app is adding the ability for creators to put a paywall up and invite subscribers to pay for exclusive content. And the videos behind the paywall can be up to 20 minutes long!
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