Online reviews

As a small business owner, you know that attracting new customers and increasing sales is vital to the success of your business. One often-overlooked strategy for achieving this is through the power of online reviews.

How people use reviews to make decisions

In today's digital age, potential customers are increasingly turning to the internet to research products and services before making a purchase. According to a survey by BrightLocal, 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation from a friend or family member. This shows the significant influence that reviews can have on a person's purchasing decision.

In fact, research has found that businesses with a rating of 4 or higher on a 5-point scale see a significant increase in sales compared to businesses with a rating of 3 or lower. One study found that businesses with a rating of 4 or higher saw a 70% increase in sales compared to businesses with a rating of 3 or lower. This highlights the importance of maintaining a high overall rating in order to attract new customers and increase sales.

More reviews = more trusted

However, it's not just the overall rating that matters, but also the number of reviews. A business with a high rating and a large number of reviews is likely to be seen as more trustworthy and reliable compared to a business with a high rating but only a few reviews. This is because a larger number of reviews provides a more comprehensive understanding of the business and its offerings.

For example, let's say that you own a small restaurant and you have a rating of 4.5 stars with only 5 reviews. While your rating is impressive, a potential customer may be hesitant to make a reservation based on such a small number of reviews. On the other hand, if you have a rating of 4.5 stars with 100 reviews, a potential customer is much more likely to trust in the quality of your restaurant and be willing to make a reservation.

Reviews can improve your SEO

In addition to increasing sales, a high number of reviews can also help to improve the visibility of your business online. This is because search engines often use reviews as a ranking factor, so having a large number of positive reviews can help to improve your business's search engine ranking and make it more visible to potential customers.

Best platforms to ask for reviews

So where should you be putting your time and energy when asking for online reviews? There are two online platforms that our team here at Steer Systems recommends. The first platform is google. Google is a great place to ask your customers to leave a review for your business because it is the most popular search engine. Google makes it easy for people to leave a review for a customer. The next platform to ask customers to leave a review on is Facebook. Similar to google, Facebook makes it easy for its users to leave a review for a business.

How can you improve your reviews?

So, how can you increase the number of reviews for your small business? Here are a few tips:

1. Encourage customers to leave reviews: Make it easy for customers to leave reviews by providing them with information on how to do so. You can do this by including links to review platforms on your website, social media pages, and email communications. You can also ask satisfied customers to leave a review after their purchase or visit to your business.

2. Respond to reviews: Show that you value your customers' feedback by responding to their reviews, both positive and negative. This shows that you are engaged and willing to listen to your customers' concerns. Thank customers for their positive reviews and address any negative feedback in a constructive and professional manner.

3. Offer incentives: Consider offering incentives, such as discounts or promotional items, to customers who leave reviews. This can be an effective way to encourage more people to leave reviews. Just make sure that any incentives you offer do not violate the terms of service of the review platform you are using.

How Steer Systems can help

Steer Systems software can help improve your business's online reputation by sending automated SMS and email review request once the service is done. Our campaigns can help your business stop a bad review from coming in by having a 2 step review process. This process can determine whether or not the review will be negative towards your business. If it is, the business can get in contact with the customer to try and resolve the problem, so a negative review is not public. For positive reviews, we make it easy for your customers to say all the great things about your business to be posted on things like google an Facebook.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having a high number of positive reviews can be a valuable asset for small businesses. By encouraging your customers to leave reviews, you can improve the visibility and credibility of your business, which can ultimately lead to increased sales. Don't underestimate the power of online reviews in attracting new customers and driving sales for your small business. Make sure to actively seek out and respond to reviews, and consider offering incentives to encourage more people to leave reviews. If you are interested in using Steer Systems software, please schedule a call today to see how you can start increasing your reviews today!