For the majority of customers, social media is the first source of information they turn to when searching for products or services. Positive reviews, feedback, and recommendations play a major role when it comes to making purchase decisions.
Hence, social proof has become an influential factor in determining success on social media. It is essentially the concept that people are more likely to trust and interact with something that has already been endorsed by others.
The question then is- how do you build trust from scratch, particularly when you are just getting started or struggling to grow your following? Buying engagement in the form of followers, likes, views, and comments is one answer! Let’s explore how paid engagement can help you build social proof and aid your growth on social media.
The Case of Social Proof
Social proof is the idea that people are influenced by the opinions or actions of others. When you see a post with hundreds or thousands of likes, comments, or shares, you will be more comfortable in trusting that and will be inclined to engage with it. This is why social media accounts with a high level of engagement are perceived as more credible and influential.
For you as a brand, a content creator, or a marketer, social proof plays an important role in attracting new followers, increasing your engagement, and driving sales. The more visible your social proof, the more likely you are to stand out despite the intense competition.
How Paid Engagement Can Help You Build Social Proof
Now, let’s talk about how you can use paid engagement to build social proof. While organic engagement is ideal and much desired, it is hard to achieve early on. This is especially true for instances where you are not well-known or you are competing in a saturated market. In such a case, buying likes, comments, or followers can help give your account the initial push you need to take off.
Become More Visible
When you buy likes for your posts, you are instantly giving yourself a boost in visibility. The more likes your content gets, the more it will appear in people’s feeds. This makes it easier for others to see and even engage with your content.
On social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, posts with higher engagement tend to get more organic reach. This means that your paid likes can function as a catalyst for more organic growth over time.
Become More Popular
People are naturally drawn to what is popular. Everyone wants to follow an account that has wide traction as they, too, want to be part of something really remarkable. This is what we call the bandwagon effect!
When you purchase likes, you make your content appear more popular and engaging. As a result, your content becomes more attractive to new users who may want to stop and check out your profile.
Build Trust Faster
During the early stages of growing your social media presence, it can be hard to gain the trust of your target audience. People are usually hesitant to follow accounts that are new or have little social proof.
If you buy likes and followers, you can create an image that reflects that your account is already established and trusted. This can help you break barriers that may stop someone from following you in the first place.
When a curious onlooker sees that others are already engaging with your content, they may be tempted to give your content their time and attention. So, if you want to establish credibility quickly, paid engagement can be very effective.
Create a Momentum
One of the most important aspects of social proof is the snowball effect. When you buy engagement, it invites more engagement as your posts are more likely to appear in front of a larger audience. This increased visibility may attract organic interactions, and as your account grows, so does the social proof. The more people see that you have a high level of engagement, the more they will be attracted to your account.
Hence, as your engagement grows, it becomes easier to gain even more likes, followers, and comments, thereby creating a cycle of growth. While it is important that you maintain the quality of your content, investing in engagement initially can start this growth cycle and give you the momentum you need to continue building your social proof over time.
Final Thoughts- The Right Way to Leverage Paid Engagement
While buying likes can certainly help you build social proof, it is important to get the strategy right so you can leverage your investment. If you are not careful when buying likes or followers, you may find yourself with a large number of fake or low-quality engagements. These will not result in any meaningful engagement or real followers.
That said, when you invest in paid engagement, choose a reliable provider that delivers genuine followers and likes and employs a gradual delivery process. Also, ensure that you create content that encourages real and organic engagement. Paid likes may help you get noticed but it is the real followers who will help you grow through meaningful engagement.
Sources
https://akohub.com/blogs/the-role-of-social-proof-in-building-customer-trust-and-loyalty
https://www.savvysme.com.au/article/737-fake-social-proof–buying-followers–more
