You’re likely here because you’ve heard that online reviews are a powerful tool for growing your business. It’s true—businesses that overlook online reviews are missing out on one of the most effective marketing strategies available today.
This article gives you ways through which you can effectively leverage the power of online reviews to help achieve growth for your business.
The Internet is Saturated with Online Reviews
Whether you embrace it or not, it’s highly likely that your customers will leave feedback about your business online. Additionally, potential customers will often check these reviews before deciding to engage with your business. From Google and Yelp to Shopper Approved, TripAdvisor, and Facebook, the platforms for customer reviews are endless.
How to take full advantage of online reviews? For those new to the concept, online reviews can seem daunting. You might feel that controlling them is impossible and fear that negative feedback could overwhelm your business. You might even dismiss reviews as unimportant.
However, ignoring reviews is a risky approach. With up to 90% of consumers checking reviews before making a purchase, it’s clear that your business cannot afford to overlook them. So, how can you harness the power of online reviews to boost your business?
Why Reviews Are Important
The great thing about online reviews is that they offer free publicity. While this publicity may not be entirely free—since you need to provide exceptional service to earn positive feedback—online reviews are a more cost-effective way to enhance your business’s online visibility.
One of the companies we recommend for managing online reviews is Shopper Approved. By signing up using our link, you’ll receive 30 days free from this company. With Shopper Approved, you can expect to boost the visibility of your brand in the following ways:
How to Leverage The Power of Online Reviews
Wondering how to harness the power of online reviews to boost your business? With the right strategy, you can turn customer feedback into a powerful tool for growth. Here are the essential steps to fully capitalize on online reviews:
1. Claim as Many Free Listings as Possible
Many review platforms, such as Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor, offer free listings. Take advantage of these opportunities by claiming your business listing on as many platforms as possible. Once your listings are set up, share links to your pages with your customers and encourage them to leave reviews about your products and services.
2. Go Beyond Free Listings
While claiming free listings on platforms like Yelp is a must for any business, there’s more you can do to truly benefit from online reviews. For a more comprehensive approach, consider investing in paid review syndication services. Shopper Approved is an excellent option for this purpose. By signing up through the Planet Marketing link, you can enjoy a 30-day free trial. But why should you, as a dedicated business owner, invest in Shopper Approved or other paid listings? The answer lies in the added benefits these services provide, such as broader visibility and enhanced credibility, which can significantly impact your business growth.
3. Don’t Hesitate to Request Reviews
Imagine your business is a restaurant nestled in a California neighborhood. For such a business, online reviews and word-of-mouth are critical. Your customer base is likely limited to the surrounding area, making local feedback essential. But how do you encourage patrons to leave reviews for your restaurant?
You could simply wait for reviews to come in naturally. However, you’ll soon discover that most people aren’t inclined to leave reviews on their own. To get the feedback you need, you have to encourage them actively.
To truly harness the power of online reviews, it’s essential to ask your customers directly for their opinions. While some platforms, like Yelp, discourage soliciting reviews, most, such as Google, not only allow it but encourage businesses to ask for feedback.
4. Simplify the Feedback Process for Your Customers
As mentioned earlier, people generally aren’t naturally inclined to leave feedback about your brand. To encourage them, you need to make the process as straightforward and accessible as possible.
Shopper Approved equips you with the essential tools to streamline the review-gathering process. With these tools, you can effortlessly collect customer reviews through various channels, including:
By offering multiple, convenient ways for customers to provide feedback, you increase the likelihood of receiving valuable reviews.
5. Use Online Reviews to Enhance Customer Experience
Beyond simply reading them, online reviews offer a valuable opportunity for your business to enhance the customer experience. When multiple customers raise the same concern, it’s a clear indicator that something needs improvement. Online feedback serves as a direct line to your customers’ opinions, allowing you to address issues and make meaningful changes.
Give it A Try Today!
Shopper Approved makes the entire feedback-gathering process seamless. So, why wait? Start using Shopper Approved now to harness the full potential of online reviews and elevate your business.
