Use social proof to big up your business blog

“Most people are followers and providing social proof of popularity…can make people stop, engage and buy”. So says social media expert Jeff Bullas, and whether or not you agree, business is largely a popularity contest and this also applies to your business blog.

Picture this. You’re walking down the high street on a Saturday afternoon with your friend when hunger strikes. Two restaurants are coming up. One is crowded with diners filling their faces, windows steaming with the rising heat of plates of spaghetti bolognese. The other is empty, a bored-looking waitress drums her fingernails on the counter. Which one do you opt for?

You hit the bookshops next, searching for a Christmas present for your beloved. You skim the shelves, then pick up a book with a nice, catchy title. Splashed across the front are the words “bestseller” and numerous author and celebrity endorsements. Are you tempted?

Transfer this theory to the web, and think back to the last time you browsed blogs for your sector. Time is precious, and you only want to read something that’s worth it. Validation is key. Bullas calls this validation “social proof” – and urges you to provide it to attract users to your business blog above your competitors.

There are several ways to add social proof to your blog content, and thankfully they are simple. Consider adding widgets and banners such as Facebook Shares and Likes, blog or subscriber or Twitter follower numbers, retweet figures, LinkedIn shares, number of Google +1’s, monthly page views or even awards and ranking achievements.

Newspapers and magazines list their reader and subscriber figures to demonstrate social proof. Why? It validates each reader’s decision to purchase and ultimately sells more newspapers and magazines. Don’t be afraid to wear your credentials proudly to attract users to your blog.