What is social proof? Authors who self-publish are running a business, and like any business these days an online presence is vital. If you don't have a website that can be found with a quick search,  you don't exist in the public eye. Your website is proof that you are running a business, or in the author's case, have written a book. But to encourage a customer to buy your product or engage your services you need something called 'social proof'. Social proof is what tells customers that you and your product can be trusted.  We can tell people about our books, or about our editing services, but it's what people who've read our book or used our editing services say about them that provides social proof that the book or the services are worth purchasing. Reviews are social proof for authors, and recommendations provide social proof for me as an editor. Social proof is everywhere Even Facebook pages have a way to rate them now; someone can visit your page and give you a 5 star review or a … [Read more...]