Comments on: Grow your readership with ’social proof’ http://steveouting.com/2008/02/12/grow-your-readership-with-social-proof/ Journalist, consultant, entrepreneur ... Musings on digital media, Web 2.0/3.0, & news in the Internet era Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:56:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dave Bullard http://steveouting.com/2008/02/12/grow-your-readership-with-social-proof/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Dave Bullard Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:24:04 +0000 http://growingyournewswebsite.com/2008/02/12/grow-your-readership-with-social-proof/#comment-4 In our earliest days, when we were scrambling to grow readership, we employed a piece of social proof by posting our weekly "readership" stats. It made people feel like they were part of a growing group and they would even mention to me that they liked seeing the numbers go up a little each week. At its core, "social proof" is what traditional marketers call "testimonials". It's always better for outsiders to vouch for you than it is for you to promote yourself. Perhaps you find a place on the home page for comments from readers, as in, "This is a great resource! Beats the paper six ways to Sunday. Keep up the good work!" Rotate those comments, and reinforce them by sending the commenter a little piece of branded swag. For years, we've used calendar strips branded with our logo. They're designed to attach to a computer monitor and come off cleanly. Dave Bullard Fulton Daily News.com Oswego Daily News.com In our earliest days, when we were scrambling to grow readership, we employed a piece of social proof by posting our weekly “readership” stats. It made people feel like they were part of a growing group and they would even mention to me that they liked seeing the numbers go up a little each week.

At its core, “social proof” is what traditional marketers call “testimonials”. It’s always better for outsiders to vouch for you than it is for you to promote yourself.

Perhaps you find a place on the home page for comments from readers, as in, “This is a great resource! Beats the paper six ways to Sunday. Keep up the good work!”

Rotate those comments, and reinforce them by sending the commenter a little piece of branded swag. For years, we’ve used calendar strips branded with our logo. They’re designed to attach to a computer monitor and come off cleanly.

Dave Bullard
Fulton Daily News.com
Oswego Daily News.com

]]> By: Dave Bullard http://steveouting.com/2008/02/12/grow-your-readership-with-social-proof/comment-page-1/#comment-4248 Dave Bullard Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:24:04 +0000 http://growingyournewswebsite.com/2008/02/12/grow-your-readership-with-social-proof/#comment-4248 In our earliest days, when we were scrambling to grow readership, we employed a piece of social proof by posting our weekly "readership" stats. It made people feel like they were part of a growing group and they would even mention to me that they liked seeing the numbers go up a little each week.<br /><br /> At its core, "social proof" is what traditional marketers call "testimonials". It's always better for outsiders to vouch for you than it is for you to promote yourself.<br /><br /> Perhaps you find a place on the home page for comments from readers, as in, "This is a great resource! Beats the paper six ways to Sunday. Keep up the good work!"<br /><br /> Rotate those comments, and reinforce them by sending the commenter a little piece of branded swag. For years, we've used calendar strips branded with our logo. They're designed to attach to a computer monitor and come off cleanly.<br /><br /> Dave Bullard<br /> Fulton Daily News.com<br /> Oswego Daily News.com In our earliest days, when we were scrambling to grow readership, we employed a piece of social proof by posting our weekly "readership" stats. It made people feel like they were part of a growing group and they would even mention to me that they liked seeing the numbers go up a little each week.

At its core, "social proof" is what traditional marketers call "testimonials". It's always better for outsiders to vouch for you than it is for you to promote yourself.

Perhaps you find a place on the home page for comments from readers, as in, "This is a great resource! Beats the paper six ways to Sunday. Keep up the good work!"

Rotate those comments, and reinforce them by sending the commenter a little piece of branded swag. For years, we've used calendar strips branded with our logo. They're designed to attach to a computer monitor and come off cleanly.

Dave Bullard
Fulton Daily News.com
Oswego Daily News.com

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