Did you know that 90% of those who said they read online reviews said that positive ratings influenced their purchasing decisions?
That's a lot of individuals who will judge your company solely on the basis of a stranger's opinion, so why would you risk losing that business by not staying on top of review collection?
Word of mouth is no longer sufficient because everyone is searching online and comparing every business they come across, and whether you are number one on Google or number ten, negative or no reviews can have a significant influence.
We'll look at the value of reviews and how you can start collecting them right now in this article.
Customer perceptions of your business can be influenced by reviews.
It's all too tempting to dismiss a negative review and hope that no one notices, but once it's out there, you should address it... Consider this: you're looking for a marketing firm in Dorset, and the first thing you come across on Google is a complaint from a dissatisfied customer who claims the services are too expensive and the outcomes are bad... You'd go on to the next agency right away.
This negative review could be completely false, outdated, or even spam! However, if there was no reaction, no one would know.
Google despises negative ratings as well.
Bad reviews have an impact on more than just potential customers and/or clients; Google will read these reviews and penalize you as a result.
Take two Italian restaurants as an example: both have similar Google authority in terms of keyword rankings, and both keep their websites current and up to date. However, because one has a Google ranking of 2 out of 5 while the other has a 4.5, Google will naturally rank the latter higher in local searches.
Keeping Google happy is a simple way to remain ahead of the competition, and you've already won half the battle!
So, what's the best way to collect reviews?
To begin, you'll want to make sure that if you give people the chance to evaluate your products or services, you're confident that you'll get a positive reaction - remember, reviews show the good, the bad, and the ugly!
Next, you'll want to figure out which review platform is best for you. Here are some popular choices:
Google My Business — This platform is likely the most difficult to collect reviews on because reviewers must have a Google account, making it time-consuming. We've discovered that if you know your customers well, this is the greatest solution.
Many of our clients are now using Trustpilot as their review solution because it is free, quick, and simple for their consumers to submit feedback. You also get a convenient dashboard that allows you to respond immediately to your reviews (both positive and poor!). It's also Google-verified.
Facebook — Since the vast majority of individuals you meet will have a Facebook account, seeking these reviews should be simple. Sending out a targeted email campaign is an efficient technique for us to gain more Facebook reviews.
Don't forget that any of these techniques can be combined with others.
