Business owners have long understood the importance of word-of-mouth recommendations. No matter how much money you pour into your digital marketing strategy, nothing is worth more than hearing a trusted friend or family member say, “You should shop here.”
The digital age is opening up more opportunities for businesses and consumers and changing the face of the traditional word-of-mouth recommendation. Now, over 90% of 18-34-year-olds trust online reviews as much as word-of-mouth reviews.
If generating and posting online reviews has never been a top priority for you, it’s time to make a change.
Read on for 7 undeniable benefits of posting online reviews. Transform your business’s reputation overnight!
1. Influence Consumer Decisions
The biggest and most obvious reason to generate and post reviews online is that it positively influences consumer decisions.
When potential customers go sifting through the internet in search of the best product or service, they’re going to be drawn in by 3-5 star reviews and testimonials. Businesses with poor reviews or no reviews at all are going to raise suspicion or get passed over.
Why do reviews help consumers make decisions? Consumers are smart about how and where they spend their money. Seeing that your previous customers had a positive experience builds trust that they will, too.
2. Boost Search Engine Ranking
Are you looking to get your business into the Google Local 3 pack? There are a number of factors that go into Google’s algorithm for top-ranking businesses, and having several good reviews is one of them.
Good reviews can also boost your ranking on sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor. If you want to see your business listed in these platforms’ Top 10 articles, it’s time to start racking up those good reviews.
3. Build Client Loyalty
Getting reviews on websites like Google and Yelp is the first step. Taking some of the best ones and using them on your business’s website and social media is the next.
Posting reviews on your own platforms is a great way to streamline the searching process for potential customers. Just as important is the way that it can build client loyalty. A repeat customer who posts a review about your business is going to feel both appreciated and important when you share their words on your website, which will increase the loyalty they already feel.
4. Address Your Weaknesses
Posting reviews online is all about reputation management. Frankly, not every review will be 100% positive. This may seem daunting or counterproductive, but there is a way to turn a negative into a positive.
When you receive bad reviews, do your best to address the issues at hand. Respond to the reviewer with an apology, an acknowledgment of their frustrations, and a commitment to do better. (Then make sure that you follow through and actually address your weaknesses.)
5. Improve Your Website Click-Through Rate
We hear an awful lot about search engine optimization because it’s one of the best ways to get your business on the digital map. However, your SEO only does you good if your click-through rate increases.
Imagine two businesses that rank equally high when it comes to search engine results. Now, imagine that one has over 30 reviews and the majority are positive, while the other has one or two reviews. Chances are, consumers are going to click through to the website of the well-reviewed business because it appears more trustworthy and well-liked.
6. Boost Employee Morale
Not every benefit of posting reviews online is outward-facing. Good reviews can also have a positive impact on your employees, too!
If you ask consumers for reviews, encourage them to discuss the staff. Some reviewers may include shout-outs to specific employees in their reviews. When your employees see how they’ve made a difference in a customer’s experience, they’ll feel appreciated and inclined to keep up the good work.
7. Build a Positive Reputation
Ultimately, the goal of posting reviews online is to manage your reputation and keep things positive. Local businesses now have the daunting task of competing with one another and massive e-commerce corporations. Fostering good relationships with your community and showcasing those relationships online will help you stand out from the pack and remind consumers that local business is still the way to go.
Positive reviews have a way of creating an emotional response. When consumers see that your business has generated positive reviews from other members of their community, they’ll feel like they’re part of something positive when they shop with you. When we feel good about where we spend our money, we feel inclined to share that information with our friends and neighbors!
How to Manage Your Online Reviews
When reviews start pouring in, you may find the process overwhelming. You will need to monitor the reviews posted everywhere from Google to Facebook to Yelp, and some of them will require more management than others.
How do you ensure that you’re responding to negative reviews, boosting and sharing positive reviews, and flagging false or fake reviews? You don’t want to let this work pile up or you may lose control of your reputation.
Consider outsourcing that work. This Yelp review management company can take the reigns on your reputation control and let you focus on your business. (And they have great reviews!)
Focus on Posting Online Reviews
Digital marketing is no small feat, and it can seem like we’re having to find more creative (and more expensive) ways to market our businesses every day. However, don’t lose sight of the best kind of marketing there is: customer testimonials. In the digital age, posting online reviews is just as valuable as word-of-mouth recommendations.
Are you making the transition to working from home? Are you ready to build a business from your living room? Take a look at more of our content for valuable tips and information about working from home.