Building a Social Proof Strategy for Shopify Success

4/17/2025

Creating trust & credibility for your Shopify store isn’t just a luxury—it’s absolutely essential for success! With potential customers regularly bombarded with choices online, how can you make them feel confident they’re making the right decision shopping with you? Enter social proof—the impactful tool that can help elevate your e-commerce game. The idea is simple: when people see others acting or making choices, they tend to follow suit. Let’s dive into how to create a compelling social proof strategy that will engage your customers & convert casual browsers into loyal buyers.

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where individuals look to the actions & opinions of others to determine how to behave in uncertain situations. It’s why you’re more likely to trust a restaurant that’s packed with customers vs. one that’s empty, or why you might be swayed by online reviews. Richard Cialdini, a notable psychologist, has built a whole theory around social proof. It’s fundamental in marketing, especially in e-commerce.

To craft an effective social proof strategy, you can utilize several types:

Testimonials & Reviews: Encourage customers to leave reviews about your products. This can be facilitated through follow-up emails or invitations after a purchase. As per Shopify's insights, about 91% of shoppers read at least one review before making a purchase.
User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage customers to share their photos using your products on platforms like Instagram or TikTok. This type of content creates authenticity & connects other potential buyers with real experiences.
Influencer Collaborations: Partnering with influencers allows your product to reach their audience. Their endorsement acts as substantial social proof, as many followers trust influencers' recommendations over traditional ads.
Social Media Engagement: Show off your followers, likes, shares, & comments. When potential customers see a buzz around your products, they are more likely to feel confident buying from you.
Expert Endorsements: If you have any endorsements from industry experts, make sure to flaunt them! This works as an authoritative source of social proof, adding credibility to your products.
Wisdom of Friends: Allow users to share your products or link interactions with their friends. Word of mouth remains one of the strongest forms of social proof.
Scarcity & Demand: Display how many items left in stock or how many others are viewing/ have bought a product. Drafting a compelling narrative around scarcity showcases your product’s popularity.

Now that we understand what counts as social proof, let’s break down the steps to building a robust strategy:

1. Collect Customer Feedback

Start by gathering reviews & ratings from your customers. You can send follow-up emails post-purchase asking for honest feedback. Use platforms like Loox or Fera to facilitate gathering reviews efficiently. Create a Testimonials page on your website where the best reviews can shine.

2. Encourage User-Generated Content

User-generated content can amplify your brand’s authenticity. Conduct photo contests, encourage hashtag campaigns, or partner with customers who can authentically showcase your products. Display their content on your main page or dedicated gallery. Just like how Partake Foods leverages product reviews, encourage customers to share their stories using your products for a true sense of community.

Monitor your social media channels closely. Identify posts with significant engagement & showcase these on your homepage. The Bohemian Traders do this exceptionally well, showcasing customer stories featuring their clothing. This fun tactic demonstrates confidence in their products & highlights genuine user experience.

4. Influencer Marketing

Identify influencers whose audience would resonate with your product. Connect with them for collaborations that can broaden your reach and solidify social proof. Using platforms like Shopify Collabs makes finding relevant influencers easier than ever!

5. Create Visual Testimonials

Videos or images of satisfied customers can be more persuasive than text alone. Ask customers if they’d be willing to share a video review or post a pic featuring your product. This adds a layer of authenticity—did you know 64% of consumers turn to videos when making purchasing decisions?!

6. Showcase Certification & Security Badges

If you have any certifications or quality seals (such as being verified through TrustedSite), display these prominently on your site. Security is a huge factor! Customers need to know they’re shopping somewhere safe when they spend their hard-earned cash.

7. Highlight Top Sellers & Popular Products

Feature bestsellers on your website & categorize products as trending or most purchased. This presents potential buyers with insights into products that others are loving right now!

Implementing the Strategy

With the strategy in place, it's about implementation:

Website Layout: Ensure your website showcases social proof prominently. Consider dedicating a section on your homepage, creating rotating carousels with reviews, or integrating a rating system that displays prominently on product pages.
Incorporate Trust Badges: Using trust badges helps in showcasing your credibility while reducing anxiety during the checkout process. These badges can proclaim secure transactions, money-back guarantees, etc.—essentially lower buyers’ hesitations.
Use Automated Emails: Automatically solicit feedback post-purchase through automated emails. This could be via Shopify Email or simply through follow-up requests.
Analytics and Adjustments: Regularly track user engagement metrics. Test various forms & placements of social proof (like reviews & testimonials). Google Analytics can be beneficial in assessing what resonates most with your audience.
ARSTURN Promotion: That’s right! If you want to take your customer engagement up a notch, consider integrating a conversational chatbot via Arsturn. It enables you to create custom AI chatbots for your store, enhancing the customer shopping experience by providing instantaneous support & information. This further improves your credibility while also helping automate responses & streamline communication. Plus, it’s a totally user-friendly process, requiring no coding skills!

AirAsia: They showcase user testimonials across their booking confirmation pages. It’s a brilliant move to pull in experience-driven buyers.
Glossier: The beauty brand leverages UGC by encouraging fans to create videos and posts around using their products, resulting in a loyal community.
Superfoods: This brand utilizes social proof through well-illustrated graphics that outline customer satisfaction ratings, sales volumes, & product popularity.

Building credibility & trust with social proof is all about humanizing your brand & connecting emotionally with audiences. By implementing testimonials, user-generated content, and effective engagement strategies, you’ll not only increase conversions but also cultivate a loyal customer base that believes in your brand.

Remember, each step you take in establishing social proof will create ripple effects, drawing customers in & encouraging them to champion your brand. Let ARSTURN help facilitate these connections through chatbots, elevating your e-commerce experience.

Together, let's transform browser visits into loyal customers! Don't wait. Start implementing these strategies today to see how social proof can WORK MAGIC for your Shopify store.

How to Create a Social Proof Strategy to Increase Trust & Credibility for Shopify Stores

What Is Social Proof?

Types of Social Proof to Consider

Steps to Build a Social Proof Strategy for Your Shopify Store