When it comes to online reviews, they help show prospects valuable social proof and create trust. It can also help your small business’s website rank higher in search results. In this guide to getting online client reviews, we want to help you learn how to get more and respond to them.
Can you trust online reviews?
The simple answer is yes. Online reviews are more trustworthy now than they have been in the past. Many platforms efficiently combat bogus, fake, and spam reviews or allow the business owner to report them.
According to Bright Local, "90% of consumers read online reviews before visiting a business." Users will seek reviews across many different channels, be it online and offline.
79% of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends or family. These days, word of mouth can come from outside a consumer’s social circle, with an online review having a ripple outside of a happy (or unhappy!) customer’s peers.
In addition, online reviews give consumers detailed insights from the client’s perspective, giving a view that the business cannot provide. However, clients should and often do their due diligence when reading online reviews. They will read more than a handful of reviews to understand a wide range of client experiences. In addition, they will often use a healthy amount of skepticism, as we as humans are trained to realize nothing is perfect. Therefore, if a review sounds too good to be true, then chances are it is.
Can I buy online reviews?
While it is possible to pay someone to write fake reviews for your business, but it is a high-risk, low reward scenario. Building your small business’s reputation takes time. While purchasing reviews may appear to be a convenient shortcut, it nearly always backfires. When not if you are caught, not only will you lose the trust of your clients, but you will be banned, and your business listing will be removed. Therefore you should not do it under any circumstances!
Why is review-gating bad?
Review-gating is when businesses attempt to determine if a client has had a positive or negative experience. If they have had a positive experience, they are prompted to leave a review at one of the popular review sites such as Google. This is a manipulative technique as not all clients are equally encouraged to provide feedback. Furthermore, using review gating is against Google's policies. It is critical that your business’s reviews reflect an accurate depiction of your client’s experience. If you are dishonest, your reputation will suffer far more than a few unfavorable reviews.
How to get more online reviews
Many of us are aware of the importance of internet evaluations, yet gathering them may be difficult. Requesting evaluations from each client manually might put your personnel under additional stress and squander your resources. Even with all of that effort, a high response rate is unlikely. Here's how to make your business's review gathering procedure go more smoothly and generate more answers.
Many small businesses understand the importance and value of online reviews, yet gathering them may be difficult. Manually requesting reviews from each client can put unnecessary stress on your staff and squander your resources. Even with all of that effort, a high response rate may be unlikely. Here are some tips for making the review gathering process easier for your company and getting more answers.
Automate review requests
When it comes to gathering reviews, you should strike while the iron is hot. The longer you wait to get feedback from your clientele, the less likely they are to provide it. Automating your review requests can dramatically increase the chances of a response. By using an automated system, you can send timely review requests without overwhelming your staff.
Make the process as easy as possible
At the end of the day, clients are doing you a favor when they leave a review online. They are taking time from their hectic schedule to help boost your company's image and others like them. To encourage and help them help you make sure you make the review process is as straightforward as possible. For example, include the appropriate link within the review request so that your clients don't have to do anything except click and respond.
Respond to each review
It’s essential to develop a habit of responding to your reviews, both positive and negative. Google has confirmed that replying to reviews improves local SEO. In addition to improving your Google ranking, responding to your reviews makes clients feel valued, appreciated, and heard, which encourages future clients to leave reviews as well. When a client leaves a good review, be sure to thank them for their response. When a client leaves a negative one, respond and attempt to work with them to find a solution to their problem.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for help getting more reviews or want to learn more about how you can automate your review collection process, then look at our Online Reviews and Reputation Management with Birdeye. You can also reach out for a free consultation, and we will be happy to advise and help you even if we aren't the best solution for you and your business.
