Did you know that 95% of customers read online reviews before buying a product?

This powerful form of social proof can significantly boost conversion rates. One review can improve conversion rates by 10% or more. Reviews and ratings plays huge role in conversion and are crucial type of social proof in UX design.

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people reference the behaviour of other to guide their own actions. It leverages our natural inclination to conform to the actions of others especially in situations of uncertainty.

Types of Social proof in design

1. Likes/Dislikes or Upvotes/Downvotes: These indicators show that content or product are favoured by others.

2. Followers, Members, Subscribers: A large following can suggest popularity and credibility.

3. Viewing Numbers: Displaying the number of viewers for a product or video creates a sense of interest and trust.

4. Video Testimonials, Comments: Real user feedback through videos or comments add authenticity.

5. Product Availability: Showing that product are going out of stock creates sense of urgency and scarcity.

6. Badges & Certifications: These can indicate quality and trustworthiness.

In my experience, working on various projects, I’ve seen firsthand how integrating social proof can lead to significant increase in conversation rates. For example, adding customer testimonials and ratings to a product page once resulted in 20% boost in sales within two weeks.

Understanding and leveraging social proof in UX design can be game change for improving conversion rates. By incorporating elements like reviews, testimonials and badges you can create trustworthy and appealing UX.

How have you used social proof in your design? Share your experience & thoughts.