Online reviews… We all know they have the power to make or break a business. It’s the first thing potential customers will find when they search for you online. To many, it will be where they form their first impression of your business. Today more than ever, people are trusting online reviews to decide whether or not they purchase your product or invest in your service.
In a recent survey, 97% of people said they rely on online reviews when they are deciding to make a purchase.
This is why it is absolutely important that your business works hard to cultivate a good reputation in person and online. Even more, so that you work to collect positive reviews from customers.
It is not enough to just sit back and thank your lucky stars no one has left a bad review. To stay ahead of your competition it is key that you reach out to your customers and actively seek reviews. Having no reviews is just as detrimental as having bad ones. When potential customers see that you have no reviews, it can signal to them that you aren’t busy or that there may be a reason people aren’t choosing your business over competitors.
How to collect reviews
Part of the battle is finding out where your clients are going to read reviews. If you’re offering physical products, you can collect reviews through your website. Other businesses can work to collect them through third party agencies and sites. Google, Yelp, and Facebook are a few important places you can use to collect reviews.
Your industry may have specific sites that are well known for review collection. Make sure to do your research and pretend to be in your client’s shoes. This can be done by searching on Google for competitors.
Keeping it fresh
Another important reason to continually work to get fresh, positive reviews is that 85% of consumers believe online reviews older than three months are irrelevant. That means you will need a consistent influx of reviews to stay relevant.
One way to help with this is having a system in place for how you collect reviews. This can be through an online system, by creating an email template, or by having someone within your company designated to collect reviews. Of course, if you need more help in this area, we’d be happy to offer our assistance!
Did you get a bad review?
Online reputation management is built around how your business responds to a bad review. While one bad review might not seem like a big deal, it really is. People tend to be more impacted by negative comments than they are positive ones. You should respond quickly to any negative feedback from customers. That’s where actively addressing your online reputation matters most.
Online reputation management works by actively monitoring mentions of your brand on websites and social media. Reputation management includes monitoring online reviews, addressing any content or customer feedback that could damage the brand, and using strategies to prevent and solve problems that could damage a business’s reputation. It ultimately helps you take care of any little fires before they cause serious damage.
The most important part of the review process is that you’re aware of how your brand is represented online. Make sure that you take an active role in responding to customers, making sure they feel heard. This will help in so many areas of your business you may have never even expected. Your SEO will grow with more reviews, more customers will purchase from you, and you’ll find that people love being heard.
Want to learn more ways to get great reviews? Watch this! If you need help with branding your business or any other digital marketing service, us directly at https://fusiononemarketing.com/contact-us