The Power of Social Proof
Wikipedia defines Social Proof as:
"Social proof is considered prominent in ambiguous social situations where people are unable to determine the appropriate mode of behaviour, and is driven by the assumption that the surrounding people possess more knowledge about the current situation."
In an eCommerce environment, this can lead to new customers converting at a higher rate due to the affect of Social Proof on them. In fact, 83% percent of online respondents in 60 countries said they trust the recommendations of friends and family - according to a Nielsen Global Trust survey. And, 63% of consumers said that they're more likely to purchase from a site if it has product ratings and reviews.
The power of Social Proof is huge, and is a viable marketing avenue that should be considered - just Google "How to get social proof" and the 432 million results will attest to that.
For the purposes of this article however, we'll stick to the Reviews and Ratings side of Social Proof.
Adding Reviews on the Platform
If a customer sends you a review or puts a review on Facebook or Google for example, you can add this to the product directly. Head to your shop's admin area and click "Reviews" from the left menu. You should then see the 'Add New Review' button, hit that and you'll see a screen like this:
Complete all of the details and the star review (if they gave you one). There is also a free text section at the bottom of the screen to add the customer's message/review. Hit 'Save' and then, when you're happy ensure you Enable the review to make it live on your shop.
Customers also have the chance to review the products they have purchased from you. They will need to have their own Account.
Why reviews are important to the success of your business
Trust Building: Positive reviews from satisfied customers build trust in your brand. When potential customers see that others have had good experiences with your products or services, they're more likely to trust your business and make a purchase.
Decision Making: Many shoppers read reviews before making a purchase decision. Positive reviews can persuade them to buy, while negative reviews can warn them away from potential issues.
SEO Benefits: User-generated content like reviews can improve your search engine rankings. Reviews often contain keywords and phrases that potential customers might use when searching for products online.
Feedback Loop: Reviews provide valuable feedback about your products, services, and customer experience. You can use this feedback to improve your offerings and address any issues that customers may have encountered.