Online reviews are incredibly important for small businesses, (in fact, all businesses) for several reasons but will they really make any difference in the end?
It’s an interesting question and the answer will have changed over the years as Reviews have fluctuated in the perceived value of marketing boost it gives to your business. But you can’t get away from the simple fact that people talking about your business where you have the opportunity to join that conversation is a good thing.
But what people think about your business is only half the story. Reviews will also influence what the search engines understand about your business. If the search engines like who you are and what you are doing your rankings will be influenced.
If you are looking for some facts and figures about reviews in general you can fill your boots with this LINK to an article from Trust Pulse – it’s one for the statistic lovers among you or read on if you just want to know WHY!
Here are some good reasons to take a closer look at business reviews for your business:
Trust and Credibility: Potential customers often rely on reviews to gauge the credibility and trustworthiness of a business. Positive reviews can reassure potential customers that they are making a good decision by choosing your business.
Visibility and SEO: Reviews can impact your business’s visibility in search engine results. Many review platforms, like Google My Business are highly ranked in search engine results pages (SERPs). Positive reviews can improve your business’s visibility, attracting more potential customers.
Social Proof: Positive reviews serve as social proof of your business’s quality and reliability. When potential customers see others recommending your business, they are more likely to trust your products or services.
Feedback for Improvement: Reviews provide valuable feedback that can help you improve your products, services, and customer experience. Negative reviews, while sometimes difficult to receive, can highlight areas where your business needs to improve.
Competitive Advantage: In competitive markets, positive reviews can give your business a competitive edge. Customers are more likely to choose a business with a higher rating and more positive reviews over competitors with lower ratings.
Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Online reviews essentially function as digital word-of-mouth marketing. Positive reviews can lead to increased word-of-mouth referrals as satisfied customers share their experiences with friends and family.
Consumer Decision-Making: Many consumers actively seek out and read reviews before making a purchasing decision. In fact, studies have shown that the majority of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Overall, online reviews can significantly impact a small business’s reputation, visibility, and success. It’s essential for small businesses to actively manage their online reputation and encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews.
Managing your reviews is the big takeaway from all of this if you want to get the most out of this marketing channel. Actively managing your reviews means responding to every review, it really is that simple.
If you own a restaurant for example and while a customer is paying their bill says – “Thank you, that was a lovely meal” you would respond “That’s very kind of you to say so, glad you enjoyed it and please do come again”. It’s the same online.
At Colour It In, we often hear that clients don’t like asking for reviews or it’s not appropriate for their business. This is OK if you have other forms of marketing in place but especially if you are a public-facing business it is a very simple way to gain online traction.
So, in the spirit of asking for a review, how would you review this article, or maybe you have used our services? Follow this link to our Google Reviews and let us know what you think.
Obviously, online reviews alone will not simply convert a browser into a buyer, you still need to back it up. Your products and services as well as your website and social media channels will play a part in making the client spend with you and not your competitors. This is because fake reviews do exist and unscrupulous businesses can buy reviews so you would always check in several places before you commit anyway. We are human after all!
If you want to know more about online reviews and how they can have a positive effect on your business, please get in touch with the Colour It In Team Now on 01765 570073 to discuss how we can help you.
