As the business world evolves, companies need to find new ways to attract customers and build a rapport with them. One way to do this is through soliciting and posting online reviews. Doing so gives your customers a way to express their opinions while providing a business with valuable consumer insight.
Customer Testimonials Are Easier to Trust
When a consumer is looking for a mechanic, doctor or other service provider, they want to find someone who does a quality job at a reasonable price. They also know that company is going to portray itself in the best possible light. Therefore, customer reviews serve as an unbiased way for companies to show a potential new customer how others feel about them. As a general rule, a business should allow both positive and negative reviews to be posted to provide as clear and objective picture of the organization as possible.
Customer Reviews Help with SEO
There are a variety of benefits for companies that allow reviews to be posted on their website. Evans Tire & Service Centers does this and even shows visitors to their site the percentage of reviewers who would refer them. The more reviews that this business and other such business gets, then the more traffic that they will get towards their site as it will influence their SEO. According to Search Engine Watch, it does so in the following ways:
- Tells potential customers whether or not their business is good or bad
- Reviews influence Google ranking factors by 8.4%
- Improves local search
Learn What Your Customers Want
Allowing customers to post reviews tells you what they like and don’t like about your business. For instance, if customers post reviews saying that you should stay open later, it might be worth looking into expanded hours once or twice a week. You could also choose to offer appointments on Saturdays or after 5 p.m. for those who can’t get in during normal business hours. If customers think that you charge too much, it could be worth experimenting with different price points to better meet their needs.
Seeking customer input is a great way to get information without spending a lot of money. Specifically, online testimonials can help boost local SEO and increase brand visibility while making your customers feel valued and respected. If your business website doesn’t have a place where customers can leave reviews, think about doing so. Make sure to also check out other review sites to see what else customers are saying about your business.