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This week’s post and podcast are about the power of social proof in recruitment marketing. In today’s competitive marketplace, candidates and clients check you out before deciding to work with you. I want to share why social proof matters, the data behind it, and practical ways to leverage testimonials and reviews to grow your recruitment business.
The Review Society We Live In
We live in a society where many personal and professional decisions are shaped by what other people think and experience. The internet has expanded the availability of reference points. Whether buying sports socks on Amazon or considering a new business partner, you likely check reviews first.
This is particularly true in recruitment. People want validation that they’re making the right choice before making significant decisions about their careers or hiring needs. They don’t want to make mistakes in something as important as their work or team building.
Why Social Proof Works For Recruiters
Trust and validation are crucial in today’s crowded recruitment marketplace. Your expertise needs to be validated by others, especially when clients and candidates are entrusting you with their careers or hiring needs.
Social proof works because we’re all influenced by others’ experiences. Candidates and clients want to know they’ll get results, particularly when deciding something as important as their career or team. Our work and purpose are among the most significant aspects of our lives, so people don’t want to make mistakes in these areas.
What puts marketing on steroids is combining your positioning and messaging with real experiences from people who have used your service. I like to call it hearing it from the horse’s mouth.” If you’ve done a great job for someone – helped them build their team or secure a role in their dream company – they’re typically happy to provide a testimonial.
The Data Behind Social Proof In Recruitment
If you want evidence of our “Review Society,” here’s some data to consider:
70% of job seekers check reviews before making a career move. They examine the companies you’re sending them to, so ensure you work with clients on their employer brand.
According to a LinkedIn survey, nearly 60% of people turn to social media, with employee testimonials being the most trusted source.
According to LinkedIn’s Global Trends report, 79% of recruiters consider LinkedIn recommendations a significant hiring factor when looking for candidates.
The benefits of social proof extend beyond validation—it builds your brand authority, helps differentiate you from competitors, enhances your credibility, removes perceived risk for potential clients, and even helps with SEO and online visibility.
Four Key Types of Social Proof for Recruiters
There are four main types of social proof I recommend for recruiters:
Google Reviews
Google reviews appear when someone searches for your company, providing immediate validation. They’re easy to get – you need to ask for them in a structured way.
Once you have Google reviews, you can share them in emails, on LinkedIn, or wherever your clients spend time. That little star rating with multiple reviews gives potential clients an unconscious tick of approval.
LinkedIn Recommendations
Many recruiters overlook LinkedIn recommendations, yet they’re incredibly valuable. LinkedIn makes it easy to request recommendations from satisfied clients and candidates.
These recommendations appear on your profile for all your connections to see, and you can also use them across your different marketing channels. For those with many connections who have helped numerous people, cherry-pick some and ask for recommendations.
Testimonials
Testimonials have a low barrier to completion, making them easy to collect and share. Ask every placed candidate and satisfied client for a testimonial.
If they’re unsure what to write, send them specific questions to answer. Video testimonials are powerful because people can see and hear the authentic experience.
Structure your questions to elicit the information you want to convey to your market. What differences did you make to their business or career? What problems did you solve? How was the experience of working with you?
Case Studies
Case studies offer more in-depth social proof. At Superfast Recruitment, we create case studies by interviewing clients, recording video calls, transcribing the content, and formatting it as video and PDF documents.
When we have sales conversations with potential clients, we include links to relevant case studies in our follow-up emails. The key is getting case studies from your ideal clients and candidates—the ones you want more.
People look at who’s providing the testimonial and unconsciously connect with those who resemble them. They think, “They work with people like me.”
One important caveat: always clarify that you’re requesting testimonials for marketing purposes. While you can anonymise testimonials if necessary, using names, titles, company names, and photos makes them more impactful. Just ensure you have proper authorisation.
Sharing Your Social Proof Effectively
You can share testimonials and case studies across all your marketing channels. Follow what we do at Superfast Recruitment—we share testimonial snippets highlighting various aspects of our service.
Use Canva to create visually appealing testimonial graphics. Post them on social media, include them in emails, and feature them on your website. On our thank-you pages, we display numerous testimonials and case studies visitors can access.
Don’t be nervous about sharing testimonials. Your recruitment services significantly improve the lives of many people—both candidates seeking new opportunities and clients building their teams. After a conversation with a prospect, send a follow-up email with links to case studies of similar clients showing the results you’ve delivered.
Thanks
Denise and Sharon
How We Can Help
At Superfast Recruitment, we provide our Superfast Circle members with training and templates to help them gather and leverage social proof effectively. We guide you through the entire process – from requesting Google reviews and LinkedIn recommendations to creating compelling case studies that showcase your expertise.
Our marketing resources help you position yourself as the go-to recruiter in your sector. Social proof is a key component of building trust with potential clients and candidates. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you implement a social proof strategy in your recruitment business, book a call with us to discuss how Superfast Circle can support your marketing efforts.
