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What is social proof in SEO? You may have heard the term before, but what does it actually mean? In short, social proof is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people are uncertain about how to behave in a given situation. So what does that have to do with SEO? Quite a lot, actually. Read on to find out how social proof can help your website rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
What is social proof in SEO?
Social proof is the idea that people are more likely to do something if they see that other people are doing it. For example, if you see a line of people waiting to get into a club, you’re more likely to think that the club must be popular and worth going to. This is because we tend to trust the judgment of others.
In the context of SEO, social proof can be a powerful ranking factor. This is because search engines like Google take into account the number of social signals when determining where to rank websites in their SERPs. So, if your website has a lot of social proof, it’s more likely to rank higher than a website with no social proof.
How can social proof help your SEO?
There are a few ways that social proof can help your SEO. First, as we just mentioned, social proof is a ranking factor. This means that if your website has a lot of social signals, it’s more likely to rank higher in SERPs.
Second, social proof can help to increase the click-through rate (CTR) of your website. This is because people are more likely to click on a website that they see other people are talking about. And since CTR is a ranking factor, this can further improve your website’s position in SERPs.
Third, social proof can help to build trust and credibility with potential customers. If potential customers see that other people are talking about your website, they’re more likely to trust it. And if they trust your website, they’re more likely to buy from you.
What are some of the best ways to use social proof for your SEO?
There are a few different ways that you can use social proof to improve your SEO. Here are a few of the most effective:
1. Get involved in social media. This is one of the best ways to increase the number of social signals pointing to your website. Make sure to post interesting and engaging content that will encourage people to share it with their followers.
2. Encourage customer reviews. Customer reviews are a great way to build trust and credibility with potential customers. Make it easy for customers to leave reviews by including links to your review pages on your website and in your email signature.
3. Use social proof widgets. Social proof widgets are a great way to show potential customers that other people are talking about your website. Include them on your website and make sure to update them regularly with fresh testimonials and customer reviews.
Conclusion
Social proof is a powerful ranking factor that can help improve your SEO. There are a few different ways that you can use social proof, but the most effective are by getting involved in social media, encouraging customer reviews, and using social proof widgets. Implement these strategies and you’ll start to see an improvement in your website’s position in SERPs.

Jamie Fallon is an SEO expert who lives life to the maximum, redlining every day on a rollercoaster straight to the grave.
In an SEO career of almost ten years, he’s seen it all, he’s done it all, and he’s not impressed: from white text on a white background to today, when you can have robots paint or write for you like some kind of sick science fiction come true.
No matter what life throws at him, Jamie always manages to come out on top. He’s an expert at seeing the silver lining in every cloud and making the best of every situation. His positive attitude and unshakable faith in himself have seen him through tough times. For some people, success goes to their heads; but Jamie never forgets what got him to wherever he thinks he is.
When he’s not busy gaming the system, you can find him writing angry thinkpieces on how Google is ruining everything good about the internet, or hanging out with his wife (pictured).