SEO and social proof: the perfect combo

Your search engine optimization is, perhaps, your most effective marketing weapon. But, when you combine consistent SEO along with unbeatable social proof, you have a combination of weapons that will make your company nearly impossible to beat. When it comes to social proof, a huge swath of potential customers are really on the lookout for it. Some recent research published by TrustPulse regarding the importance of social proof demonstrates the power of this formidable duo. The following stats are taken directly from their published research:

  • 83% of people trust reviews over advertising.
  • 90% of users need less than 10 reviews to form an opinion about a business.
  • Users browsing on mobile are 127% more likely to make a purchase decision than those browsing on a desktop.
  • 82% of users specifically seek out negative customer reviews.
  • 56% of users suffer from FOMO or “fear of missing out.”
  • The average consumer reads 10 customer reviews before making a purchase decision
  • After reading a review, 50% of consumers will visit the companies website.
  • 82% of Americans say they seek recommendations from friends and family before making a purchase.
  • 94% of online shoppers reported that a negative review has convinced them to avoid visiting a business.
  • 83% of users think reviews older than 3 months aren’t relevant anymore.

  • 73% of people prefer to see written reviews over star ratings.
  • 97% of consumers look at reviews before purchasing.
  • Testimonials can increase conversion rates on sales pages by 34%
  • 50% of consumers’ next step after reading a good review is to visit the brand’s website.
  • A single good review can increase conversions by a whopping 10%.
  • Online product reviews about a specific product can increase conversion rates by 270%.
  • Customers would spend 31% more on a business with good reviews.
  • Purchase likelihood increases by 15% when reviews are written by a verified customer than a random person.
  • 88% of buyers are influenced in their buying decision by reviews.
  • 63.6% of people do a Google search for reviews before making a purchase.
  • 70% of users use Pinterest to get inspiration on what to buy.
  • 76% of US citizens have purchased a product they’ve seen in a brand’s social media post.

-Written by Kevin Sawyer