We are most influenced by people like ourselves. Instead of general popularity claims like '10,000 users,' specify how many customers are in the user's specific state or city. This tailored social proof creates a much stronger connection and is more persuasive.

Eddie Schleiner grew his newsletter by offering backlinks in exchange for testimonials. This created an overwhelming wall of social proof on his homepage, establishing instant credibility and attracting subscribers and clients, much like a product with thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon.

Don't shy away from industry-specific lingo in advertising. Using terms that only your target audience understands (e.g., "SLPs" for speech pathologists) acts as an immediate trust signal. It proves you're an insider who deeply understands their specific problems, making the message more resonant.

Generic social proof like "1 million customers" is minimally effective. The key is to tailor the message to the user's identity. We are most influenced by people like ourselves, so messages like "other doctors in Sydney" or "your neighbors" have a much stronger impact.

To sell to risk-averse CFOs without many customer logos, Briq built credibility by partnering with financial associations in their target industry. This strategy provided the necessary social proof and trust verification needed to close early deals with skeptical buyers.

While sharing testimonials on your own profile is standard practice, asking a satisfied client to write a post about their experience working with you is far more powerful. This provides authentic, third-party validation and leverages their network for credibility.

Content's impact is determined more by the messenger's credibility than the message itself. Authority, built on tangible proof of success, decreases the audience's perceived risk and cognitive load, making them receptive. Without a backdrop of real-world achievement, even the best advice lacks the context to be trusted and acted upon.

People want to learn from practitioners, not just teachers. The "overkill bias" means customers want to learn skateboarding from Tony Hawk. Your credibility is capped by your tangible success in the field you teach, making "doing the work" and proving your skill the ultimate prerequisite to winning in the info-product space.

To get gym trainers to sell supplements, have them complete a 30-day challenge using the products. This personal experience builds genuine belief, turning them into authentic advocates and creating powerful social proof that drives sales.