Are you looking to get online reviews for your business? If so, understanding the right strategies is essential for success. Over the years, companies have achieved significant growth by effectively utilizing online reviews as part of their marketing efforts. Planet Marketing can help you navigate this process to enhance your business’s online presence.
Where to get online reviews?
Online reviews are the digital evolution of the age-old word-of-mouth phenomenon. Long before the digital age, people have always relied on the feedback and advice of others when making crucial decisions. This reliance on shared knowledge has simply transitioned into the online space, where reviews now play a key role in guiding modern decisions. For example, hunter-gatherer societies thrived by sharing vital information, such as:
For example, hunter-gatherer societies thrived by sharing vital information, such as:
10 Most Important Facts About Online Reviews
Here, in any case, are a few of the things that you need to know about online reviews;
Google uses data from online reviews to come up with star ratings
Star ratings show product and store ratings
Star ratings are a five-star system used by Google and other search engines to visually represent store and product ratings. These ratings are generated from customer reviews collected online, making it crucial for businesses to secure star rating extensions, especially in Google Shopping and Google Ads. To enhance your business’s online visibility, consider signing up with one of the companies listed in the table below to obtain star ratings.
Up to 90% of people consult online reviews before making a purchase
While the exact figure may vary depending on the research cited, it’s clear that a vast majority of consumers rely on online reviews when making purchasing decisions. In the realm of online shopping, over 88% take into account the reviews left across the internet when deciding what to buy.
This highlights the importance for every business, regardless of size, to harness the power of online reviews to drive growth. In the digital age, leveraging this phenomenon is crucial for survival.
Facebook allows people to leave reviews on business pages
Facebook allows people to leave reviews on business pages, a feature that not everyone is aware of. Over the years, Facebook has grown to become the largest platform for online reviews, surpassing even Yelp and other well-known review sites.
To activate reviews or recommendations on your Facebook Page, simply follow the steps provided in the link. Facebook also displays a rating on Pages, offering a visual summary of the experiences others have had with your business.
Online reviews are crucial for your local SEO
You might have heard that search engines, including Google, now prioritize local businesses for local queries. This makes perfect sense—there’s no benefit in showing someone in Uganda a list of restaurants in New York when they search for “restaurants near me.
Local SEO is especially important for small to medium-sized businesses. For instance, if you’re a carpenter working from your home garage, you’ll only be able to attract customers within a certain radius of your location.
Google now favor local firms for local queries.
Showing results from outside your local area is ineffective
Google understands that showing search results from outside your local area is ineffective. That’s why it prioritizes local results for searches like “restaurants near me.” To boost your business’s local SEO, focus on the best local review sites, including:
People spend more if your business has positive reviews
Online reviews can directly affect your revenue. For example, if your business has received positive reviews, customers are likely to spend 31% more than they otherwise would. Building trust through positive reviews is key, which is why 72% of people are more likely to trust a local business with favorable feedback.
88% of consumers trust local reviews as much as recommendations from friends and peers
This statistic is crucial for understanding the impact of online reviews. Up to 88% of people trust local reviews as much as they do recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues.
In business, trust is everything. Since potential customers place significant value on feedback from strangers, it’s essential for you as a business owner or marketing executive to leverage this to your advantage.
Negative reviews can be turned positive
Negative feedback is a reality in the world of online reviews, but it doesn’t have to be a setback. In fact, 68% of consumers are more likely to trust reviews if they see some negative feedback alongside positive reviews. This balance makes your reviews seem more authentic.
Addressing concerns can turn negative feedback into a positive
While negative reviews are expected, you should focus on resolving issues and improving customer satisfaction to prevent them. Engaging with unhappy customers and addressing their concerns can help turn negative feedback into a positive outcome for your business.
Online reviews play a crucial role in influencing consumer decisions and boosting local SEO. Up to 90% of people consult reviews before purchasing, and 88% trust them as much as personal recommendations.
Positive reviews can increase spending by 31%, while a mix of reviews, including some negative ones, can enhance credibility. Addressing customer concerns and leveraging platforms like Facebook for reviews can significantly impact your business’s success.
