COVID-19 has left an unmistakable mark on the business community. Many consumers have been forced to abandon brick and mortar retail shops and restaurants in favor of eCommerce and online ordering and delivery. With so many consumers surfing the internet, online reviews have become just as important as family and friends' recommendations. Why should you pay attention to those online reviews? Because five-star reviews can boost your sales and build your customer base. Here are just a few reasons why online reviews are so critical today.
Credibility
Building trust in your business usually can take a significant amount of time and effort to develop. But positive online reviews can help speed up that process. According to the Better Business Bureau, 92 percent of consumers read reviews to determine the quality of a business, and 88 percent say they read up to ten reviews before they decide to trust a company.
Expanded Reach
With newspaper readership at an all-time low and radio and TV advertising costs prohibitive, positive online customer reviews can reach more potential customers with no financial expenditure on your part. The number of review sites is also impressive – Google, Yelp, Amazon, Facebook, TripAdvisor, Yellowpages, Manta, and of course, the Better Business Bureau are just a few of the popular sites people turn to for customer reviews.
Decision Making
Positive reviews certainly make consumers trust a business more, and the BBB found that consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Research shows that consumers trust peer recommendations more than they trust advertising.
Boost Sales
Positive online reviews can drive more customers to your business and increase sales. They will also help boost your visibility on the internet through search engine results. Search engines like Google take into account the number of times your business's name is mentioned online. If you're mentioned lots of times, you're likely to appear higher in search results.
Start a Conversation
Online review sites give you the chance to develop a closer relationship with your customers. While there are many benefits to online customer reviews, remember it does take some effort on your part. Solicit positive feedback from your customers by encouraging them to review your business online. Be vigilant in monitoring the sites for criticism and take the opportunity to resolve any issues so you can demonstrate that you’re interested in what your customers have to say.
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