How to Get More Customer Reviews Online

Customer feedback is important for businesses and consumers, with online reviews becoming increasingly more important. For businesses, online reviews provide valuable insight into your product/service performance, as well as further opportunities to engage with customers. For consumers, online reviews provide honest feedback about a product/service they are considering purchasing.

→ 91% of people read online reviews before making a purchase decision.
→ 85% trust online reviews as much as they would a personal recommendation.
→ 73% trust a local business more when it has positive reviews.
→ 68% read four or more reviews before choosing to trust a business.

No matter your brand or business, you can benefit from online reviews. That being said, some industries do see a greater impact. For instance, the hospitality industry is the most impacted, with more people looking up reviews for restaurants, hotels, bars, etc. than anything else. People want to know that they aren’t wasting their time or money on dirty rooms or bad food. (Can you blame them?)

In recent years, healthcare has seen a shift in how people choose their doctors and online reviews are playing a major role. 51% of people look up reviews about their doctors. 30% of parents use online reviews to help choose a pediatrician. Not only do consumers want to know they’re getting their money’s worth, they want to ensure they are receiving quality care.

Homeowners also rely heavily on online reviews when searching for contractors and subcontractors, with 56% using online reviews to find construction/repair crews. In fact, 86% say they would be willing to pay more for service providers with higher reviews.

So, where are consumers leaving these reviews? Oftentimes, social media. When people are seeking information they turn to social networks where they can find other like-minded consumers. It’s no surprise that crowd-sourced business review and social networking site Yelp! is one of the most utilized sources for online reviews, both in terms of users leaving reviews and reading reviews from others.

And as the largest and most active platform, Facebook’s reach and influence makes it a powerful marketing tool and one of the most trusted sites when it comes to reviews. Business pages can enable Facebook Reviews, allowing customers to leave star ratings and comments about their experience with that business. Both Yelp! and Facebook also allow business owners and managers to engage with consumers about their experiences, whether they’re positive or negative.

Now that you know the value of online reviews and where they’re being viewed, check out our tips for increasing reviews for your business:

Tips for Getting More Online Reviews

• Claim your business’ page on all review sites, including Yelp!, Facebook, Google, etc..
• Encourage customers to leave reviews on social networks and other platforms by sending direct links through email.
• Actively engage with those who leave reviews. If someone leaves a positive review, let them know you appreciate that they have taken time to do so. If they have a negative experience, work quickly to resolve the issue.
• Don’t be afraid to use incentives! Offer a coupon code or entry into a giveaway for a free product, service, or gift card in exchange for leaving a review.

At Business House we specialize in data-driven digital marketing solutions for businesses, like yours. If you’re interested in learning more about our services, contact us to get started.