The Benefits of Good Reviews for Local Businesses

Many local businesses understand that good reviews can make or break a company. In this article, we will uncover the benefits of getting good reviews and ways a company can cultivate these positive reviews to better build their business.

Why You Want Good Reviews

Good reviews stand out in search results. Search for a place in Google today and you’ll see review sites like Yelp and Google+ sit at the top of search results. Local reviews aren’t just for restaurants or hotels anymore, but can be beneficial for any local business to have. For example, if two similar businesses were listed in search results and only one had a 4.5 star listing published, the review would likely factor into the ranking of that particular listing. In some cases, it would sit above the listing without out those ratings.

Reviews increase conversions. Have a good number of positive reviews under your belt can make people feel more comfortable about doing business with you. According to this survey by Marketing Land, 90% of respondents said that positive reviews influence buying decisions.

Customers may only choose to look at the top-reviewed sites. There are so many businesses to choose from now that it can be overwhelming for a customer during his or her research. Some sites, like Yelp and Google, will let users filter out display listings that are ranked 4 stars and beyond only. If you’re a business with little & low ratings, you will most likely not show up in these types of searches.

How to Encourage Good Reviews

Make customers happy. The easiest way to foster some good reviews is to ensure that your customers are happy. While unhappy customers are most likely to leave a review (a negative one, at that), happy customers who have had a good experience with you would be glad to share their good experiences not only on a review, but with their friends and family too. Good customer service not only encourages positive reviews but also creates the most loyal of customers and brand enthusiasts for your business.

• Identify your satisfied and unsatisfied customers
• To help you determine this, you can send a satisfaction survey
• If you find that you have some unhappy clients, take the time to resolve the issue as soon as possible

Find effective review sites for your industry. There are hundreds of different review sites to build your presence on. The best advice we can give is to find review sites that match your business and industry. That’s most likely where users will be seeking reviews anyway. Do some keyword research to find out the sites that exist for your industry – make sure to search for different services, brands, and even sites where your competitors are.

When you’ve found sites that are relevant to you, really focus on the ones that sit at the top of search results. The most popular sites will receive the most traction and will be where you want to focus fostering those good reviews. Be sure to create, claim, and update your profiles to establish some credibility.

Don’t be afraid to ask. Asking for reviews either through email, flyer, business card, website, or word of mouth is a great way to grow your reviews. Provide customers with several sites so they can pick and choose. Not every customer is the same; some may have a gmail email address while others may only have a Yelp account.

Keep in mind that to your reviews will look better on the site when they aren’t from the same day or time. Fostering good reviews should be an ongoing business process and a natural progression.

What if You Get a Bad Review?

Bad reviews happen and they’re perfectly fine. In fact, never getting any good reviews credibility in many customers’ minds. The right way to approach a bad review is to respond appropriately with sincerity. Really listen to what the customer is saying and find ways to resolve the issue without escalating the situation.

If you need help building or growing you online review presence, let us know! We offer a reputation management program that will help you claim listings, grow your reviews, and protect your online reputation.