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The Power of Reviews and Online Reputation

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Online reviews spread the word about your business while building trust with potential customers. As the number of review sites has increased, businesses have seen their online reputation affected both positively and negatively based on those reviews. As a result of this transparency, customers are using reviews to determine which businesses, services, and products they will use and which they will avoid. It’s important to remember that while negative reviews can be discouraging, they can also be an opportunity to improve your business.

Most people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, so ensuring your business is represented well on popular review sites is critical. Google and Facebook are two of the most popular places people leave reviews, but there are many others out there. Here’s why reviews matter and how you can use them to boost your business.

 

Social Proof of Purchase

Online reviews influence sales. Even if reviews are from a total stranger, they will still make an impact As they tend to provide an honest straightforward assessment of the product or service. Reviews commonly answer questions that potential buyers might have that are keeping them on the fence. They might speak to the true color, size, and overall quality of the product that one can’t see with an online product page. Reviews provide the reassurance that most people look for when deciding whether or not to make a purchase, which makes them a huge asset to your business.

 

Reviews Feed Search Engines

Popular search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing all have different algorithms when pulling up results. However, what they do have in common is they all value fresh content, which helps feed the engine. The more you feed it with customer reviews—the more likely you are to be a recommended authority and be seen by the user.

 

Popularity Builds Trust and Credibility

The more positive reviews you receive, the more you’re strengthening your brand and online identity. A 5-star review can make you look trustworthy and reliable to the consumer. Most people are hesitant to buy from a company with 3 stars or less. That means the people have spoken and their feedback is less than desirable, which could result in fewer sales.

 

More Stars Encourage More Sales

People talk. If a customer is happy and left a positive review on one forum, they may also be inclined to leave that review on another site as well. Nowadays, almost every site has a review section, whether it’s Amazon, Yelp, or Facebook. This is why increasing your positive reviews is so important. It provides yet another way to organically rank higher in the search results. Plus, positivity is contagious. One positive review may spark another, and so on, increasing your multi-channel footprint. More stars also play a big part in shaping your online identity, because it really does matter what people think.

 

The Human Touch

Online reviews also provide another great opportunity to expand your reach. They allow you to respond and engage with your customer as a human in a meaningful way. People appreciate receiving a “thank you” and being heard, and not always being forced to chat with a bot. Adding that personal touch speaks highly of your business. It also provides the opportunity to reinforce the positive aspects of reviews, allowing you to reiterate and create more content for a search engine to scrape. Responding to reviews also allows you to quickly rectify a negative review and show that you care. Promoting a friendly persona speaks highly and leaves a great impression on your brand.

 

Things To Remember

1. Make it easy for customers to leave reviews. Include links on your website and social media pages, and make sure your contact information is up to date.
2. Respond to all reviews, positive or negative. This shows that you value customer feedback and are willing to make changes based on what they say.
3. Use reviews as an opportunity to improve your business. Take the time to read each review carefully and see if there are any areas that you can improve upon.

Are you looking to build trust and credibility through your online presence and reputation? Contact us today to find out more about what Brawn Media can do for you.