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5 Effective Ways to Use Social Proof
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5 Effective Ways to Use Social Proof

5 mins Cheatsheet
5 Effective Ways to Use Social Proof graphic 05 Effective Ways to Use Social Proof graphic 15 Effective Ways to Use Social Proof graphic 2
  • 1. Showing user counts

If you saw a crowd of people sprinting out of a building, you're probably not going to investigate why they're running—you'd just join them.

We use social cues to help us make decisions.

Knowing that other people liked a product is a signal that you might also like it.

But how do you actually use social proof, other than by posting boring testimonials?

Over the next few minutes, I'll show you 5 really effective ways to use social proof, even if you don't have millions of users.

1. Showing user counts

In principle, 🙋‍♂️ Social Proof provides some reassurance in what you’re about to do. 

This effect comes from the awareness that there are others doing the exact same thing as you.

It's a very basic instinct of "others are doing it, so I should".

So here’s Planta, for example, telling you that your plant is amongst 32 million others on their app:

Profile photo. A circular headshot of a smiling young man with short tousled hair and round glasses, suitable as an author avatar or user profile picture. No interface elements are shown.

Written by Peter Ramsey

Consultant to 100+ companies

Published: 04/12/2025
Last edited: 08/07/2026