Job photos, award badges, online reviews, and user-generated content are all forms of social proof.
The term social proof was first coined in 1984 as a psychological and social phenomenon where people conform to the actions of those around them to try and conform to a behavior that they believe fits the situation.
Today, the term has evolved to mean something slightly different: online consumers gauge the trust and credibility of a website, business, or brand based on its social engagement and perception.
In an age of highly targeted digital advertising, social proof presents a much-needed dose of authenticity in which opinions about a business are formed based on others’ genuine experiences.
To showcase how significantly social proof impacts businesses and digital marketing campaigns in 2025, we’ve compiled an array of updated social proof statistics:
Key Social Proof Statistics
1) Consistent social proof can increase revenue by 62% per customer.
2) 92% of consumers hesitate to buy when no customer reviews are available.
3) 88% of consumers trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations.
4) 79% of consumers watch video testimonials to learn more about a brand or product.
5) 50% of consumers find website trust badges reassuring regarding trust and security.
Online Reviews Statistics
6) 68% of buyers say positive reviews make them more likely to use local businesses.
7) 33% of customers always read online reviews when searching for a local business.
8) 87% of consumers would not consider a business with less than a 3-star average rating.
9) 57% of consumers will only buy or use a business service with at least a 4-star rating.
10) 97% of consumers say online reviews help them decide what to buy.
11) 85% of consumers think online reviews older than 3 months aren’t relevant.
12) 45% of consumers are likelier to shop with a business that responds to negative reviews.
13) Customers are willing to spend 31% more on a business with excellent reviews.
14) 76% of consumers are “always” or “regularly” reading online reviews.
15) The average consumer reads ten online reviews before purchasing.
16) A one-star increase in Yelp rating leads to a 5-9% increase in revenue.
17) 58% of shoppers choose pricier products due to better reviews.
18) Products with 5+ reviews sell 270% more than those without.
19) 50% of consumers visit a website after reading a positive review.
20) 66% of consumers say positive user reviews are the most important when purchasing.
User-Generated Content Statistics
21) 84% of consumers place greater trust in brands who use UGC in their marketing campaigns.
22) 75% of marketers believe user-generated content makes their marketing more engaging.
23) 56% of consumers prefer user-generated photos and videos from brands.
24) 37% of consumers say user-generated content is more authentic than branded content.
25) UGC increases web conversion by 29%.
26) UGC-based ads reduce cost per click by 50%.
Social Media Statistics
27) Over 90% of consumers use social media for purchasing guidance.
28) 39% of consumers have bought products online after seeing influencers use them.
29) Businesses earn $6.50 per $1 spent on influencer marketing.
30) 66% of consumers are influenced by other customers’ social media posts.
31) 71% of customers are likelier to purchase based on a social media referral.
32) 44% of consumers list social media video shorts as their preferred product medium.
33) 13% of customers will share a negative purchase experience with 15+ people.
Trust Signals Statistics
34) Reviews on a website’s homepage influence 86% of consumers.
35) Website images with human beings can increase conversion rates by 48%.
36) Testimonials can increase conversions by 34%.
37) Articles with relevant images receive 94% more views.
38) Photos can increase content recollection by 65%.
39) 52% of consumers are influenced by media mentions.
40) Consumers spend 25% more on trustworthy brands.
Product and Service Research Statistics
41) 87% of buying decisions begin with online research.
42) 82% of Americans seek recommendations from friends and family before purchasing.
43) 92% of B2B buyers are more likely to buy after reading a trusted review.
44) 54% of consumers research visual proof of a product or service before purchasing.
45) Other customers’ experiences influence 74% of consumers.
Local SEO Statistics
47) 5-star aggregate review ratings for GMB listings increased CTR by 28%.
48) Websites with multiple pin pages get 80.9% more Google clicks than those with one.
49) DataPins users that utilize automated review requests increase frequency by over 94%.
50) 78% of local searches result in a purchase.
51) Businesses with a Google Business Profile increase consumer consideration by 50%
Social Proof Examples
The key to website-based social proof is credibility and verification, whether a customer review, an award badge, or a geotagged photo of your company providing services.
Below are some tangible examples of social proof on a business website:
Customer Reviews
Most websites have a testimonials or reviews section. However, the feedback only qualifies as social proof if it comes from a verifiable source.
For example, a screenshot of a customer review is not social proof because the web admin can manipulate the photo to serve an agenda.
Consider using a plugin like DataPins, which inserts a reviews slider onto your website.
The slider plugin pulls Google and Facebook reviews via API so users can see genuine reviews from top platforms and click them.
Award Badges
If you receive an award, the platform should provide a custom badge that you can upload to your website’s homepage using its HTML.
In addition, the nominator should send you a transparent image file, usually in SVG format. Ask your web developer to insert the image onto your site.
Awards can come from various sources. However, the best social proof comes from reputable institutions within your industry or region.
For example, a roofing company in Denver, CO, should showcase awards from roofing-related institutions or regional and local organizations.
Brand Videos
Videos are vital for building trust with consumers, as evidenced by the numerous statistics on video’s influence.
Considering this, filming, posting, and embedding branded video content (both shorts and long-form) that includes your staff and work is integral to social proof.
Upload your video content on all major social media platforms, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
Embed your YouTube videos onto your website so visitors can access the content and gain trust in your brand.
Project Gallary
Showcasing recent jobs or projects your business performs in a gallery is a form of social proof on a website.
Much like reviews, project highlights are more valuable when validated by credible information, which is where a tool like DataPins can help.
DataPins converts your project information into consolidated local SEO signals, including schema markup, geo-coordinates, images, descriptions, and mini-maps.
This added information gives search engines and their users more context regarding the project, leading to more engagement and credibility.
Applying Social Proof to Your Marketing Campaign
These statistics reveal that social proof, such as online reviews, social media mentions, award badges, and user-generated content, significantly influences consumer behavior.
In addition, social proof also impacts search ranking visibility, creating a multi-faceted boost in your impressions and conversion rates.
However, statistics are only valuable if you can put them into action.
At DataPins, we developed software that automates social proof for small businesses through local SEO and reputation management.
Business owners can use the DataPins app to convert recent projects into SEO-friendly social proof on their websites.
Also, the DataPins app features automated review requests through SMS and email to drive more reviews and enhance reputation.
To learn more about how DataPins inserts social proof onto your business website, call 800-775-1250.
