Online reviews go far beyond just being a comment. It’s your online reputation that’s at stake. Now that we know everyone’s a brand, what exactly are the benefits of online reviews? Online reputations is deeply, deeply important for businesses.
1. Increased Sales
This is the number one reason why reviews are so important to a business. Reviews give consumers the information and social proof to make a final decision and hit that “Buy Now” button. People always, always, always will more likely purchase something recommended by someone else. Even if that “someone else” is a random internet stranger.
2. Understand and better serve customers
The better you serve your customers, the more they will purchase from you. So what better way to hear it than straight from the horses’ mouth? In their reviews, they will let you know where you’re doing well and where you need to improve.
3. Improve rankings
Not only will you have a better reputation with people, search engines fancy a site that has online reviews as well. What does this mean for you? Your site will be higher ranked in search engine results, giving your site more visibility.
4. Higher keyword content
The keywords in reviews most likely contain relevant keywords for your business (they are reviewing your product/ service, after all). So your website will more easily rank higher in search engine results.
5. Customers have a voice
People love to feel that they are worthwhile and important. When they leave online reviews, it helps them feel that their words are making a real difference especially when you respond to their reviews and make adjustments according to their review.
6. Create consumer loyalty
Anyone who leaves you an online review are more likely to feel a certain loyalty to your company and return year after year.
7. Create consumer engagement
Rather than just a one-way lane of feedback, you can create a social community where everyone responds and comments to each other’s commentary. Consumers continue to go back to your website to see if their post has any responses, or to see what other customers have to say about your company in general.
8. Consumers do the marketing for yourself
A good review is invaluable as they act as micro-campaigns that keep working long after the online review has been posted. It acts as word-of-mouth marketing.
9. Reviews snowball into more reviews
Yes, it’s the snowball effect. When people see reviews on your site, it encourages them and gives them the confidence to add their own 2 cents. Psychologists are still trying to figure out this new form of online “crowd behavior.”
