About 91 percent of millennials trust online reviews as much as friends and family. Indeed, reviews are a critical resource for your business. In today’s digital age where news of customer satisfaction travels fast, you should care about online reviews. Paying attention to reviews will help you create a positive brand image and optimize the customer experience. But why are online customer reviews essential for your business?
REVIEWS HELP YOU GET FOUND ONLINE
The more reviews you have, the easier it will be for consumers to find you online. Customer reviews provide positive content that search engine algorithms take into account to determine which results to return. Fresh and positive reviews will help to improve your rankings. This will make it easy for new customers to find you through search engines, map apps and Facebook. Increased online visibility will enable you to attract more online traffic and drive sales.
CREDIBILITY AND SOCIAL PROOF
Human beings are social creatures. A good number of consumers will want to know what others are saying about your company before doing business with you. Positive reviews are a sign of customer approval and serve as an indication that you offer quality products or services. This way, you will gain both credibility and authority. Whether you are a new or established business, positive reviews will help you build trust and stay ahead of the competition.
REVIEWS IMPACT CUSTOMER PURCHASE DECISIONS
The modern consumer is discerning and values authenticity over flashy sales tactics. Reviews have a major impact on consumer purchase decisions. In fact, nearly 95 percent of shoppers read online reviews before making a purchase. Reading reviews offers consumers more information about the product, helps them understand the benefits and drawbacks of the product, and reduces the risk of making a bad decision. As such, positive reviews are a powerful marketing asset that you can use to attract new customers.
RESPONSES TO REVIEWS SHOW THAT YOU CARE ABOUT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Responding to online reviews can create customer engagement. Also, taking time to reply to both positive and negative reviews is a critical part of managing your online reputation. By responding to reviews, you will show that you value your customers and care about what they have to say.
You can reinforce positive reviews with appreciation or promotions, effectively highlighting your strengths. Responding promptly to negative reviews and resolving complaints will help you restore customer trust. This will go a long way in improving customer experience.
REVIEWS ARE A GREAT WAY TO COLLECT FEEDBACK
Online reviews make for a great way to obtain customer feedback. They can provide feedback from otherwise unknown negative customer experiences. Through reviews, you will gain valuable insights about your customers. You can then use this information to make the necessary changes and improvements to help you effectively meet the needs of your customers. This will enable you to increase customer satisfaction, create customer loyalty and attract more customers.
REVIEWS SPARK WORD-OF-MOUTH MARKETING AND REFERRALS FROM CUSTOMERS
With positive online reviews, customers will be doing your marketing for you. Reviews will expand the conversation about your business, a factor that can expand your brand’s reach. The reviews submitted by customers who have had a positive experience with your product or service are the digital version of word-of-mouth marketing. When shared on social media, reviews become personal recommendations that will benefit your business both in the short and long term.
Online reviews are vital to your brand and business. At VIP Marketing and Advertising, we are a strategy-focused digital marketing agency that is committed to producing the highest ROI for our clients. Eric Elliot and our dedicated marketing team have the talent and expertise required to enable you grow your business. Feel free to contact us if you need help implementing the best strategies for your business.
