Does Social Proof Really Matter?
A large number of followers in Twitter; long string of digits on Facebook Likes, the minimal Alexa; greatest number of comments and really huge number of visits per month; what could be better than this for a blogger?
I saw Social Proof displayed on some blogs and tempted to. But my stats are not that startling to show and and feel proud of. Anyway, I could not resist the temptation and decided to be honest by throwing these numbers on my sidebar. One corner of my heart was ashamed with the numbers in front of my veteran friends and the next corner was proud to be honest!
Oh! Did you ask what widget I used to show those numbers?
ViperProof WordPress Plugin to Show Social Proof
The light and wonderful WordPress Plugin ViperProof developed by ViperChilli works great and silently.
ViperProof allows you to show various aspects of social proof on your website, which will help you to get more blog subscribers. It allows you to show the number of: Facebook Fans, Twitter Followers, Blog Posts, Blog Comments and Monthly site visitors.
You can download the plugin from WordPress Repository and be honest to show off your status!
How to Install ViperProof?
It is nothing different than any other plugins. You can make a search on your Dashboard with keyword ‘viperproof’ or download the plugin from link above and install on your blog.
After you install and activate the plugin, take a time to fill up the settings page:
That’s it! After you Update Options you configured it correctly. Now go to Widgets area and drag the ViperProof widget to your desired sidebar!
Do these numbers speak the truth?
I was proud to think I’m honest to show the Social Proof though my numbers are something to be proud of. But recently I went through Edwin’s post ‘How to create instant social proof (Or how I got 400 Facebook Fans in 2 Hours)’, it shook me from inside.
I used Twiends around one year earlier and that time it was to get instant twitter followers. Though Twiends does not break any of the rules, I found the follower quality really sad. (see: Twitter Strategy That Works, No Instant Followers Please).
But now the the earth has completed its complete rotation! Twiends is no longer for twitter followers but it works like a charm to increase your Facebook Page Likes and to increase the views of YouTube Videos!
Can something be so effective? I made a quick test for my Bivori (Oh! yes, I’ve started bivori.com that talks about “must have wordPress Plugins and effective blogging tools”). It is just a baby blog and you can guess what can be its Social Proof stats?
Did you find those numbers amazingly LARGE? Please visit ‘The Secrets of How I Got Custom Facebook URL Just in 15 Minutes?’ on Bivori to learn how I did that.
So now, I wonder how you take these numbers. Should I use the services like Twiends to increase traffic to my Facebook Pages and Twitter Followers? Would it be just an ornament? I’d be glad to hear your voice.
Incoming search terms:
number of follower facebook, social proof seo services, twiends banned?, twiends tips and tricks
Twitter: BasicBlogTips
24 April 2011 at 8:33 pm Permalink
Hi Suresh, I use Twiends, but not the same way Edwin does (with a dummy Twitter account). I’m worried that is a violation of Twitter’s TOS and it’s not worth getting banned.
I don’t use Twiends for my personal Twitter or Facebook accounts anyway. I just use it at work on an account I manage just to build up some momentum. Thanks for the plugin tips. Btw – are you submitting this post to WPJunkies? I’m not sure if you joined there yet.
Thanks!
Ileane recently posted..The Best Social Media Apps
Twitter: seommotips
25 April 2011 at 10:36 am Permalink
It scares me to think about getting banned, but I don’t think it will violate the rules as everybody is following or FB liking manually. It is not automated bulk follow or unfollow.
Ya, I have registered to WPJunkies and submited some of my posts. You commented here before I could submit.
Thank you Ileane for pointing good services ALWAYS!
Twitter: BasicBlogTips
25 April 2011 at 3:20 pm Permalink
Suresh, as far as Facebook is concerned I agree with you, there doesn’t seem to be a violation.
But setting up a dummy account in Twitter sounds like a big Twitter rule-breaker to me. Besides, since Twiends allows you to gain seeds by watching YouTube videos, why not use that method instead? It’s painless and it doesn’t violate any rules.
Ileane recently posted..5 Deadliest Blogging Mistakes You Should Avoid at All Costs!
Twitter: seommotips
25 April 2011 at 3:56 pm Permalink
I do not advocate to use dummy twitter account. I used my bivori account itself. I’m not going to do mass follow or unfollow – NEVER.
You really gave good suggestion. There are even higher seeds for watching YouTube videos. I watched a few of them.
Hi, Suresh, thanks for mentioning my article, much appreciated
Edwin recently posted..How To Create Instant Social Proof Or How I Got 400 Facebook Fans In 2 Hours
Twitter: seommotips
25 April 2011 at 10:38 am Permalink
You’ve pointed wonderful tool and helped me get my custom facebook URL before somebody else snatched. Thank you Edwin, thank you very much.
Twitter: problogsuccess
25 April 2011 at 9:01 am Permalink
Hi Suresh,
You should really be proud of this. There is nothing wrong with the numbers, but it is a great motivational push to display little numbers. You know your readers are viewing them and you really want to improve them. So it is a great thing to have this feel.
Being honest is one of the necessary traits of every blogger and you possess it, be happy.
Cheers,
Jane.
Jane@Blogging Tips recently posted..SEO For Targeted Traffic In And Out Of Your Blog
Twitter: seommotips
25 April 2011 at 10:47 am Permalink
Thank you Jane, I really appreciate. I spoke the truth as I saw!
Twitter: danalingga
25 April 2011 at 9:13 am Permalink
I think It is still good to show our social prof as long as we get it via the legit way.
Dana recently posted..7 Best Navigation Related Android Apps
Twitter: seommotips
25 April 2011 at 10:40 am Permalink
Agreed! I hope it is legit way. Thanks Dana for the visit.
Twitter: sfihomebizz
25 April 2011 at 10:15 am Permalink
Although I am currently not having significant social status but got fascinated with viperproof showing social stats on your blog and added to mine. Twiends is a good site to get some extra fans and followers but always better to add people from your niche or may lose them fast as fast you got. This has happened to me with twitter.
Thanks for the latest blogging news you provide through your posts, Suresh.
Kavita recently posted..7 Tips to Make Money from Sponsored Tweets
Twitter: seommotips
25 April 2011 at 10:42 am Permalink
That’s what Kavita, ViperProof no longer could speak the truth, but I hope, i spoke it, didn’t I?
Twitter: sfihomebizz
25 April 2011 at 11:48 am Permalink
your facebook fan page at the bottom showing 159 fans while Viperproof show 732 in the sidebar. Viperproof is certainly not speaking the truth. Check it.
Kavita recently posted..7 Tips to Make Money from Sponsored Tweets
Twitter: seommotips
25 April 2011 at 3:33 pm Permalink
You caught it very well. I wonder but I may have made mistake supplying Facebook ID. I don’t think ViperProof lies in that amount
Checking the settings. Thank you very much for pointing out inconsistencies.
Suresh Khanal@SEO MMO Tips recently posted..The Secrets of How I Got Custom Facebook URL Just in 15 Minutes
Twitter: sfihomebizz
25 April 2011 at 6:38 pm Permalink
One suggestion. Change the viperproof social status image in the post too.
Kavita recently posted..7 Tips to Make Money from Sponsored Tweets
Twitter: techiesblog
25 April 2011 at 4:02 pm Permalink
Hi Suresh,
I was about to ask you about the Social STAT widget that you were using here.. However you made the point by creating a post just before asking.
One question is it helpful to show our Social stat to all.
Thanks
-Imran
Imran@shariffdotorg recently posted..Google Webmaster Tools Verification WordPress Plugin
Twitter: seommotips
25 April 2011 at 5:21 pm Permalink
That is what I’m discussing in this post Imran. Social Proof widgets like ViperProof collects data from social networks and displays so that visitors could have some idea about how worthy the content and connection of blogger is. But when there are tricks to increase the numbers, should they really matter?
Anyway, they speak the connections, good to show!
Twitter: blognetworking
26 April 2011 at 1:30 am Permalink
When it comes to Social Proof, I think we shouldn’t worry about that. Some people may take it “from a different perspective” ; they may think that we are trying to show off. We don’t want that to happen, right ? I did try out Viper proof for some time(now, I am only using the subscribe bar), but then I took it off when I realized the disadvantages of putting it up. It may even affect your traffic (both negative and positive).
For instance, if you have big numbers to show, then it is going to have an impact on the visitor’s mind, they may think : this guy/gal really knows what he/she is talking about. I should follow them !
But, if you numbers are not that good, then the thought would be : This guy/gal doesn’t have much followers/visits, should I really follow them ?
I hope that you agree with my comment (would be glad to
). Thank you for the post,
Jeevan Jacob John
You’re right Suresh, Viperproof do work like a viper
which can make things embarrassing as well. While for some visitors the numbers may not matter that much but first time visitors do get drawn by the numbers sitting on the sidebar. The social media is one of the most amazing and wonderful thing that happened for all of us and its better to play it safe and benefit from this service.
Twitter: seommotips
27 April 2011 at 7:17 am Permalink
There must be a pride to show off the larger numbers in showing ViperProof. Thanks Andrew for your comment.
Twitter: shaanhaider
4 May 2011 at 12:37 pm Permalink
Showing the social proof is never important… I know few sites having more than 5k Facebook fans but no traffic… So, better try to concentrate on the content and get the real loyal readers
Shaan @Geeky Stuffs recently posted..Geeky Stuffs Got Google Sitelinks
Twitter: seommotips
5 May 2011 at 7:37 am Permalink
Honest suggestion and I agree with you. When trying to improve social proof, I never suggest to ignore the value of content and improving loyal readership. Thank you Shaan for your views.
Twitter: shaanhaider
5 May 2011 at 9:37 am Permalink
You are always welcome, bro
Shaan @Geeky Stuffs recently posted..Geeky Stuffs Got Google Sitelinks
I don’t think social proof matters very much, instead bloggers should focus more on writing quality posts.
Petre @ Jocuri De Imbracat recently posted..Gateste Salata Ruseasca
Although I am currently not having significant social status but got fascinated with viperproof showing social stats on your blog and added to mine. Twiends is a good site to get some extra fans and followers but always better to add people from your niche or may lose them fast as fast you got. This has happened to me with twitter.
Tech@blackberry playbook recently posted..Pre-order HP Pre 3 on Amazonde- €449 for the best of webOS
Twitter: seommotips
20 May 2011 at 7:04 pm Permalink
That’s true Tech, when you have people with similar interest there remains no reason to unfollow or dislike back again. If you increase the number of hours the user has signed in, you can get bit more serious members. There are a huge number of members who are looking for immediate results. They follow everybody, collect all followers and fans then wipe off and go their way
Twitter: danielsnyder1
20 May 2011 at 9:02 am Permalink
Hey Suresh, this whole issue of social proof is intriguing me lately. I’m liking the conversations that are going on about it, and how the numbers aren’t the bottom line… still numbers mean a lot, and influence people in a big way! Thanks for your thoughts.
Daniel Snyder@Fireproof Safes recently posted..Looking at 3 Measures and Metrics for Website Quality
Twitter: seommotips
20 May 2011 at 7:02 pm Permalink
Its being harder to stand on either side of the discussion. I guess I should avoid these servicer after I reach larger number?
Twitter: kirapermunian
9 June 2011 at 12:42 pm Permalink
Google Page rank and the Alexa rank are somewhat important to me when looking at the social proof of a website. But it should be that you must have tools like seoquake,etc to really find out the real rank of a certain website.
Kira@SEO Blogging recently posted..SEO Blogging Updates Best Wrap Up
Twitter: seommotips
10 June 2011 at 3:53 pm Permalink
I agree Kira, but did you notice, I am exclaimed if the social status values worth relying any more? We have the tools that can very easily manipulate and earns those numbers in minutes.
Twitter: budwalkr
10 June 2011 at 3:47 am Permalink
Hi there Suresh. Thanks for sharing this! Actually it took me quite some time before I’ve finally find the plugin that shows a blog’s social proof which is the ViperProof plugin. Actually, I’ve been into Twiends but not really that much – I only make use of it once in a week or in a month. Although Twiends could get you some fans and followers, not all of them would stay with you and would eventually unfollow in a day or two.
Argie Monroy@SEO Blogger recently posted..3 Suggestions for Beginning Blog Owner Relationships
Twitter: seommotips
10 June 2011 at 3:56 pm Permalink
That’s very true Argie but you can configure the settings to have bit longer members and those that have interest on your niche. This will help to get a bit quality followers, but its always true. Anyway, I used it to get my facebook url before somebody got it. I needed 25 fans to create custom facebook url and it tool less than 5 minutes.
Twitter: budwalkr
10 June 2011 at 4:29 pm Permalink
Well, I guess even though we may get a bit of quality followers at a small span of time, we cant still be rest assured that they would stay. But at least a few of them do
Argie Monroy@SEO Blogger recently posted..Comment On My Blog- Please
Having thousands of followers on twitter or fans on facebook can certainly be used as a social proof to let new visitors or even advertisers that there are many people who trust and visit your website.
This can lead a new visitor to subscribe to your newsletter or an advertiser to pay more for ad space to your site.
Thanks for sharing!
Kostas@Online Opportunities recently posted..Social Proof – Getting Others to Generate More Business for You