#11: Shopify Trust Hacks: How I Used Social Proof to Make Strangers Buy Faster

No one likes being the first one at the party—especially online shoppers.

When I first launched Teka Originals, I had funny plaques, great packaging, solid copy… and no sales.

Why?

Because no one trusted me yet.

That’s when I discovered social proof isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

What Is Social Proof?

It’s the psychology of seeing others do something—and wanting to do it too.

In eCommerce, that means:

• Product reviews

• Star ratings

• Live purchase notifications

• UGC from customers

• Trust badges (like “Secure Checkout”)

Add the right kind, in the right place, and you bypass doubt.

Step 1: Collect Reviews (Even Without Many Sales)

Here’s how I started:

• Gave early buyers a 15% refund for photo reviews

• Asked testers to leave honest video feedback

• Added reviews from Etsy and social media (with permission)

Step 2: Display Social Proof Everywhere

• Product Pages – right below price

• Home Page – “Wall of Laughs” carousel

• Checkout Page – recent buyer quote + 5 stars

Tools I used:

• Loox (for photo & video reviews)

• Fera.ai (for “X just bought this” popups)

• Judge.me (for syndication)

Step 3: Use AI to Rewrite or Enhance Reviews

Sometimes reviews need polishing to fit the vibe.

Prompt I used:

“Rewrite this review in a funny tone with emojis. Keep it honest but add energy.”

I also asked ChatGPT to categorize reviews by sentiment, style, and topic. Great for dynamic placement.

Step 4: Real-Time Activity = Instant Credibility

I added popups that said:

• “Sarah in Texas just bought ‘Sarcasm Loading’ plaque!”

• “24 people have this item in cart.”

• “92% of customers rate us 5 stars.”

These boosted time on page and checkout rate.

Step 5: Create a Social Proof Loop

Here’s how:

1. Show review during or after purchase

2. Reward them for adding photos/videos

3. Feature their review in ads and homepage

4. Tag them on Instagram for visibility

One customer’s photo can turn into:

• A product image

• An ad

• A reel

• A homepage banner

Bonus: Embed Social Proof in Ads

I took review screenshots and turned them into:

• TikTok reaction vids

• Facebook carousel cards

• IG story slides

Best performing ad last month?

A stitched reaction video with the caption: “Real customer. Real LOLs. Real fast shipping.”

Results After 30 Days:

• Sales: +33%

• Abandoned cart recovery: +17%

• Bounce rate: -22%

• Review collection rate: doubled

Final Thoughts: Borrow Trust Until You Earn It

You don’t need to be a big brand. You just need proof that your brand is real.

The fastest way to do that is to let your customers speak for you.

Make it easy. Make it visible. And make it part of every page.

Because when a stranger lands on your store, they’re not looking for you.

They’re looking for someone like them who already bought.

Show them that, and the rest takes care of itself.

Part #8:

Part #9: 

— Stephen Matthews, Teka Originals

Part #1 Mistake Shopify Beginners Make

Part #2 Optimize Before You Advertise: Why SEO First Saves You Thousands