It’s no secret that online reviews can make or break a business. A single bad review can send customers running for the hills, while a glowing five-star rating can attract new businesses like bees to honey.
But what do good reviews actually mean for businesses? Are they really the key to success, or are they just a nice-to-have?
Here’s what you need to know about online reviews and how they can impact your business:
Boosts Your SEO Rankings
One of the benefits of good reviews is that they can help boost your SEO rankings. Search engines like Google take into account the number and quality of reviews when determining where to rank websites in search results. So, if you have a lot of positive reviews, you’re likely to rank higher in search results, which can lead to more traffic and more customers.
Attracts New Customers
Another benefit of good reviews is that they can help attract new customers. People are more likely to do business with companies that have positive reviews. In fact, studies have shown that nearly 90% of consumers read online reviews before making a purchase. So, if you want to attract new customers and grow your business, it’s important to make sure you have plenty of positive reviews.
Builds Trust & credibility
Another benefit of good reviews is that they can help build trust and credibility. “When potential customers see that other people have had positive experiences with your business, they’re more likely to trust you and do business with you”, mentions Narelle, who runs a successful Hamptons e-commerce store. “This is especially true if the reviews are from credible, third-party sources”.
Helps Boost Sales
One of the most important benefits of good reviews is that they can help boost sales. Studies have shown that businesses with positive reviews see an increase in sales of up to 20%. So, if you’re looking to increase your sales and grow your business, make sure you’re focused on getting lots of great reviews.
Makes You Stand Out From The Competition
Finally, one of the benefits of good reviews is that they can help you stand out from the competition. In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s more important than ever to differentiate yourself from your competitors. And one of the best ways to do that is by having lots of positive reviews. When potential customers see that you have great reviews, they’re more likely to choose you over a competitor who doesn’t have as many good reviews.
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why good reviews matter for businesses. If you want to attract new customers, boost your sales, and stand out from the competition, make sure you’re focused on getting lots of great reviews.
So, How Do You Get Positive Reviews Then?
This doesn’t happen by accident. You need to know how to ask for them in the right way.
Here are 6 tips on how to ask for customer reviews:
1. Make it easy for customers to leave reviews
Make sure you have a system in place that makes it easy for customers to leave reviews. The easier you make it, the more likely they will be to do it.
2. Personalise your request
When you ask for a review, make sure you personalize your request. Don’t just send out a generic message asking for a review. Take the time to write a personal message that explains why you value the customer’s feedback.
3. Be specific about what you want
When you ask for a review, be specific about what you want. If you just say “Please leave a review,” customers may not know what type of review you’re looking for. Do you want a positive review? A negative review? Something in between? Be clear in your request so that customers can give you the type of feedback you’re looking for.
4. Offer an incentive
Sometimes, offering an incentive can be a great way to get customers to leave reviews. This could be anything from a discount on their next purchase to a free product or service.
5. Follow up after the purchase
Don’t just ask for a review once and then forget about it. Make sure you follow up after the purchase is made. Send a thank-you email and include a link to where they can leave their review.
6. Address negative reviews promptly
No one is perfect, and even the best businesses will get negative reviews from time to time. It’s important to address these reviews promptly and professionally. Thank the customer for their feedback and try to resolve the issue. This shows other customers that you’re willing to listen to criticism and make things right.
Asking for customer reviews can be a great way to get feedback about your business. Just make sure you do it in the right way. Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to getting the type of reviews you want.
But, What Happens If You Get Damaging Reviews?
If you’ve been the victim of negative reviews, you know how difficult it can be to remove them. Google is one of the most popular search engines, and a top-rated review on their site can do serious damage to your business. However, there are steps you can take to try to remove these reviews and protect your reputation.
The first step is to reach out to the customer who left the review and attempt to resolve the issue. If they are happy with the resolution, they may be willing to remove the review themselves. If not, you can ask them to edit their review to reflect their satisfaction with the resolution.
If the customer is unwilling or unable to remove the review, you can flag it as inappropriate. Google will then review the review and determine whether or not to remove it.
You can also try to get in touch with Google directly and ask them to remove the review. This is often a long shot, but it’s worth a try if you’re desperate to remove a negative review.
However, “more often than not, some businesses make the mistake of trying to remove negative reviews themselves, but this can often do more harm than good. Not only will it take up valuable time that could be better spent on running your business, but you also run the risk of violating Google’s terms of service”, believes Remove Digital, a team of experienced professionals who know how to remove negative reviews from Google quickly and efficiently.
