Search engine optimisation is one of the main ways that small businesses can compete with larger companies, allowing you to stand beside esteemed brand leaders. In this blog post, we look at the concept of social proof; including the implications this has for smaller firms and how this helps you convert leads.
What is social proof?
Social proof refers to various markers that indicate the credibility of your brand – up to and including customer reviews, influencer deals, business partnerships, and testimonials. SEO is also a significant part of this, as many people view search engines as only displaying the most relevant results.
The more you use SEO to your advantage, the more likely you are to rank highly in your field during a potential lead’s internet searches. Positive online reviews are a great form of social proof, but they usually only have the effect you’re hoping for if your SEO highlights the brand in the first place.
How to mix social proof and SEO
It’s possible to combine these two methods in a way that still emphasises both of their strengths. For example, new testimonials still count as new content – encouraging search engines to promote you. This could help your company keep pace with national competitors that have large-scale marketing strategies.
Capitalising on your industry’s current trends and topics could also serve as a great form of social proof, which again allows you to generate fresh web content. Finally, your partnerships and referrals could lead to frequent backlinking, which search engines interpret as your company having authority on the topic.
At Westcountry Media, our experienced team understands how to leverage SEO for small businesses and offers built-in tools to help with this alongside regular website audits. If you would like to learn more about our web design services, you’re welcome to book a free consultation.