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A Beginner's Guide To Social Proof Pop-Ups

Learn how to use social proof pop-ups effectively to boost trust, increase engagement, and convert visitors into customers.

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A Beginner's Guide To Social Proof Pop-Ups
Title
A Beginner's Guide To Social Proof Pop-Ups
Date
Jan 7, 2025
Description
Learn how to use social proof pop-ups effectively to boost trust, increase engagement, and convert visitors into customers.
Status
Current Column
Person
Writer
Consider you’re shopping online for a new laptop. You find a model with what you need, but one thing is holding you back: the reviews. The product on the website has a decent star rating, but there’s no telling how many people contributed to that score. Then, you spot a social proof notification pop-up. "Larry from Ohio just bought this laptop 10 minutes ago." "12 other people are looking at this product right now." "It has 8 reviews, and they all mention the fast performance." Suddenly, you feel much better about this purchase.
Why? Because the social proof pop-up gave you a rating and context about the product’s recent popularity and performance. You certainly aren’t buying a used car, but it’s clear that the more info you can get about this laptop before making a purchase, the better. That’s exactly what social proof does: it gives you the information you need to make a confident, informed decision.
In this case, the notifications offered by social proof helped the buyer feel more confident about the product and the personal choice they were about to make. Now, consider you’re the website owner. By implementing social proof notifications on your site to boost performance, you’ve helped both the buyer and yourself. The social proof pop-up helped the buyer make a confident choice, and you’ve just made a sale. This guide will discuss social proof pop-ups, including their value, how they work, and how to implement them on your website so you can start boosting your sales today.
Testimonial testimonial software is a valuable tool for achieving goals, such as learning about implementing social proof pop-ups on websites. It helps you collect, curate, and share customer feedback to increase online sales.

What Is Social Proof Pop-Up?

Social Proof Pop-Up
Social Proof Pop-Up
Social proof pop-ups on a website are real-time notifications that show visitors the actions other customers have recently taken, such as purchases, signups, product reviews, or registrations. These pop-ups create a sense of trust and urgency, notifying visitors that others are engaging with your store and encouraging them to do the same.
It’s a virtual word of mouth. Just like people feel more confident about making a purchase when recommended by their friends, seeing “Mike just purchased a watch” or “50 people subscribed today” gives visitors the nudge they need to take action. Social proof pops up, taps into FOMO, and builds credibility by reinforcing that other customers trust your online store.

Benefits Of Social Proof Pop Up For Businesses

Social Proof Pop-Up
Social Proof Pop-Up

Building Instant Trust with Social Proof Pop-Ups

Consider this: You're shopping for a new gadget online. You’re not sure if it’s the right choice until—bam!—a pop-up says, “Sarah in Toronto just purchased this!” or “Rated 4.8 stars by 500 customers." Suddenly, it feels less risky because others buy and love the product. Social proof pop-ups tap into our natural tendency to trust the choices of others, making your brand feel more credible and reliable.

Creating Urgency with Social Proof Pop-Ups

Pop-ups like “Only 3 left in stock!” or “John just bought this 5 minutes ago” trigger FOMO (fear of missing out). This urgency motivates potential buyers to act quickly before they lose out, which is especially powerful during sales or limited-time offers.

Driving Conversions with Social Proof Pop-Ups

For hesitant shoppers sitting on the fence, social-proof pop-ups are the gentle nudge they need. Seeing that other people are already enjoying your product or service gives them the confidence to hit that "Buy Now" button. It’s a subtle yet effective way to turn casual browsing into actual sales.

Attention-Grabbing Without Being Pushy

Since these pop-ups appear dynamically, they catch the eye without being overly intrusive. Unlike a lengthy sales pitch or banner ad, social proof pop-ups deliver impactful messages in a concise, visually appealing way that visitors can't ignore.

Working Across Industries

Whether running an e-commerce store, offering services or promoting a SaaS product, social proof pop-ups fit smoothly into your strategy. From testimonials to subscriber counts, they’re versatile enough to support any business goal, from building credibility to growing your email list.

Boosting Credibility with Social Proof Pop-Ups

Endorsements from influencers or celebrities add more trustworthiness to your brand. If someone they look up to and admire uses your product, they’re more likely to trust your brand and choose to buy from you. This endorsement shows that respected individuals believe in your product’s quality and benefits, which can convince potential customers that your brand is reliable and worth trying. This increased credibility can lead to more people trusting and buying from your brand as they see it endorsed by someone they admire.
Testimonial simplifies the process of building trust and credibility for businesses. Our software allows easy collection and display of authentic client testimonials, featuring video and text options, an embeddable 'wall of love' widget, a smart Email Assistant, and third-party review imports. Ideal for content creators, agencies, eCommerce, and SaaS companies, Testimonial helps boost your credibility and conversion rates by showcasing real customer experiences. Build a wall of love for free today with Testimonial.

5 Use Cases Of Social Proof Pop-Ups

Social Proof Pop-Up
Social Proof Pop-Up

1. Customer Testimonials: Building Trust with Social Proof Pop-Ups

Displaying customer reviews, quotes, videos, or endorsements in a popup format can reassure potential buyers. These testimonials feel authentic, much like recommendations from a friend, and add credibility to your site.

Use Case

Show product-specific testimonials on product pages to nudge buyers after they’ve browsed descriptions or photos. On homepages, company-wide testimonials can highlight your brand's trustworthiness.

Pro Tip

Don’t have enough reviews for an item? Use category-wide reviews or general praise for your company. Employee testimonials can also emphasize your positive workplace culture.

2. Bestseller Alerts: Reduce Bounce Rates with Social Proof Pop-Ups

Highlighting your most popular products or services in a social proof popup is a great way to tap into FOMO (fear of missing out). First-time visitors are more likely to be swayed by knowing what others love.

Use Case

Add a "Top Seller" popup to product pages or even 404 error pages to guide lost visitors to popular items and reduce bounce rates.

3. Social Media & Subscriber Numbers: Build Trust with Social Proof Pop-Ups

Big follower counts or subscriber numbers on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or your email list show people that your brand is popular and worth checking out.

Use Case

Display a popup showing, “Join 10,000+ subscribers for exclusive deals!” or “Follow us on Instagram with 50,000+ fans!” to encourage actions like subscribing or following your social accounts.

4. Product Ratings: Help Visitors Make Decisions with Social Proof Pop-Ups

Star ratings or average product scores in popups instantly impact visitors. They provide visual proof of quality and are especially effective for online stores.

Use Case

Include ratings on product pages to help visitors make faster decisions. These popups work best for high-rated items and can be featured in your bestsellers campaign.

5. Social Media and Subscriber Numbers: Build Trust with Social Proof Pop-Ups

Show social proof pop-ups with the numbers of your followers on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media. The higher the number of your followers, the more convincing it will be for others to join them or at least check out your social media profile.
Making consumers follow you on your social media accounts is a good idea because you can easily reach them with your marketing campaigns. On the other hand, if you want to convince readers to subscribe to your newsletter, simply add a social proof pop-up with the number of your subscribers. This will make them consider what additional content others can access that they are missing out on.

How To Create Social Proof Pop-Ups

Social Proof Pop-Up
Social Proof Pop-Up

Exploring the Different Types of Social Proof

When creating social proof pop-ups, you must consider the type of social proof you want to display. Different types of social proof work better in different situations, so consider your audience and goals before deciding. Here are a few popular options:

Customer Testimonials

These display positive feedback from satisfied customers to build trust. Quotes, video testimonials, or even review excerpts can be highly persuasive.

Product Ratings and Reviews

These highlight customer satisfaction using star ratings or snippets of product reviews. This works exceptionally well on product pages.

Live Purchase Notifications

These show real-time activity, like “Jane from New York just bought this!” This creates a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out).

Bestsellers

Highlighting your top-selling items can guide first-time visitors toward proven customer favorites.

Subscriber or Follower Counts

Showcasing your social media following or newsletter subscriber numbers can validate your brand’s popularity. Each type of social proof serves a unique purpose, so choose based on what aligns with your audience’s needs and your business goals.

Eye-Catching Design Matters

Once you choose the type of social proof to display, it’s time to design your pop-up. An effective design ensures your pop-up grabs attention without annoying visitors. Keep the following in mind:

Clarity and Simplicity

Avoid clutter. Use a clean design with concise messaging that communicates the value immediately.

Compelling Call-to-Action (CTA)

Add a strong, actionable phrase like “Join Now,” “Shop the Bestsellers,” or “See What Customers Are Saying.” Ensure your CTA is specific to the social proof being displayed.

Brand Alignment

Match your pop-up design with your website’s branding—colors, fonts, and overall aesthetic.

Visual Elements

Include images, product photos, logos, or icons to make your pop-up more engaging. Using customer photos for testimonials adds authenticity. Many tools, such as Testimonial, OptiMonk, FOMO, or Privy, provide customizable templates, so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Targeting Rules to Get the Right Pop-Up to the Right People

The success of your pop-ups often depends on showing them to the right people at the right time. Consider these targeting strategies:

Behavioral Triggers

Display pop-ups based on user behavior, such as time spent on a page, scrolling past a certain point, or exit intent (when a user is about to leave).

Geographical Targeting

Tailor pop-ups to the user’s location. For example, highlight region-specific reviews or offers for localized services.

Referral Source

Customize pop-ups based on how visitors arrive at your site. Someone from a social media campaign might see testimonials, while organic search visitors might see live purchase notifications.

Page-Specific Pop-Ups

Use testimonials on your homepage, product ratings on product pages, and subscriber counts on your blog to align with user intent. Smart targeting ensures your pop-ups feel relevant and personalized, enhancing their effectiveness.

Launching Your Pop-Ups Is Just the Beginning

Once your pop-ups are live, don’t stop there. Regular optimization is essential for maintaining and improving performance:

A/B Testing

Experiment with different designs, copy, CTAs, and targeting rules to determine what works best. For instance, test whether a testimonial or a live purchase notification converts more visitors.

Monitor Metrics

Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and engagement time to measure success.

Iterate Based on Insights

Use the data from your A/B tests and analytics to refine your pop-ups. If a design isn’t performing well, tweak it or try a different approach.

Pro Tip

Use Pop-Ups as Part of a Larger Strategy Social proof pop-ups are powerful, but they work best when integrated into a broader strategy. Combine them with strong website copy, high-quality visuals, and other trust-building elements to create a smooth and persuasive customer experience.

Where To Place Social Proof Pop-Ups

Social Proof Pop-Up
Social Proof Pop-Up

Product-Specific Popups: Get the Best Results When You Target Social Proof to Specific Items

When you want to nudge shoppers toward a particular item, place social proof popups—like "5 people just bought this!"—on product or category pages. This works exceptionally well for popular items or with limited stock, creating a sense of urgency and FOMO (fear of missing out).

Landing Pages for Trust Building: Use Social Proof Popups to Build Credibility

Your landing page is all about making a great first impression. Adding popups with customer testimonials, ratings, or recent purchase activity builds credibility immediately. Think of it as showing visitors that other people trust your brand—so they should, too.

Exit-Intent Popups: Use Social Proof to Bring Hesitant Shoppers Back

If someone’s about to leave your site without buying, this is your chance to reel them back in. Exit-intent popups are perfect for offering discounts, free trials, or limited-time deals. For example, a message like, "Wait! Here's 10% off your first order!" can turn browsers into buyers at the last second.

Side of the Page

These subtle popups don’t interrupt the browsing experience, making them great for passive nudges.

Full-Screen Popups

A full-screen popup cannot be ignored if you want to grab attention and make an impact. Use it for significant announcements or irresistible offers.

Combine with CTAs: Don’t Just Stop at Social Proof

Pair it with a clear call-to-action (CTA). For example, a popup that says, "50 people just bought this item today!" should also include a button like "Shop Now" or "Add to Cart" so users can act on their excitement immediately.
  • Fomo Alternatives
  • Social Proof Tools
  • Useproof Alternative

Build a Wall of Love for Free Today with Testimonial

Online shoppers are paranoid. They are careful about which businesses they can trust. One way they do this is by looking for testimonials from previous customers. 72% of shoppers say that positive testimonials increase their trust in a business.  And it’s not just any business they want to hear from. People want to read reviews from “people like them,” meaning customers who seem to have similar demographics or purchase the same product or service they are considering.
For instance, if you’re a woman looking to buy a pair of running shoes, you’d feel more at ease buying from a business whose website featured testimonials from other women, especially if they noted how the shoes worked for their particular needs. This social proof is critical if the purchase involves a significant financial investment or something that could affect your health.
Testimonial simplifies the process of building trust and credibility for businesses. Our software allows easy collection and display of authentic client testimonials, featuring video and text options, an embeddable 'wall of love' widget, a smart Email Assistant, and third-party review imports. Ideal for content creators, agencies, eCommerce, and SaaS companies, Testimonial helps boost your credibility and conversion rates by showcasing real customer experiences. Build a wall of love for free today with Testimonial.

Written by

Damon Chen
Damon Chen

Founder of Testimonial