7 Reasons Why Online Reviews Are Crucial For Your Business
Posted: 1st May 2018
We all know the internet is the “go to” place when consumers are looking to buy their stuff nowadays, whether it’s for products or services. The trouble is, whatever product or service you provide, there are other businesses offering it too. That’s why you need to give customers a reason to trust you over the competition, and online reviews can help you do it.
Online reviews really matter, and with 84% of consumers saying they trust them as much as a personal recommendation (Forbes), you could say they’re essential. And they show you’re a trusted company that provides what your customers need. So here are our top 7 reasons why online reviews are crucial for your business.
1. They can increase sales
Online reviews are integral to increasing your sales as they give potential new customers the information and validation they’re looking for. Whatever service or product you sell, consumers are always much more likely to buy if it’s already been recommended, so make sure they buy from you.
2. They help customer relations
If you’ve done a great job for your customers, they’ll probably tell you. If you do a bad job, they’ll definitely tell you – and everyone else as well. Reviews, good and bad, will help you improve your service overall, while helping you resolve any issues quickly if they arise.
3. They can boost your rankings
While online reviews are great for your customers, they’re also a major bonus for you in the search results. The more reviews your business has shows Google that you’re being talked about positively. And the more you’re being talked about online, the higher you’ll appear in relevant searches.
4. They can include organic SEO
When someone leaves you a review, it will often include keywords or phrases that could help your site appear in someone else’s search results. This sticky SEO is always attached to your website, and will help it appear when they’re looking for products or services you provide.
5. They can encourage more reviews
Reviews encourage more reviews, and having plenty of reviews already, will act as a magnet for others to add their own comments to the list. Ask your customers to leave a review, and the chances are they will – you might not even have to ask at all.
6. They can encourage customer engagement
When customers leave you a review, it’s always good PR to leave a “thank you” comment in return. And if your review platform allows multiple replies, it can keep customers coming back to see if others have added to the discussion. This will create a bond between your customers and your business.
7. They can provide priceless marketing
All your positive online reviews are little nuggets of priceless ‘and free’ marketing. While they can be displayed on your website, you can tweet them and share them on Facebook, time and again. Each one will help build and maintain your brand awareness as being a trusted supplier.
About the author
Paul Clapp
Paul has over 15 years of web design and project management experience working in IT and marketing. As Co-Founder and Creative Director of Priority Pixels, Paul manages the day to day running of all web design and SEO related projects.
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn.
