Online Reviews are extremely important for 95% to 98% of the businesses that I have come across.
I have had a local car dealership that we had managed to get top ranking for over 50 keywords yet their website visitor traffic did not show significant increases or improvements. After some more digging we realized that it was most likely their mediocre reviews. They had 14 reviews in total with an average rating of 2.8 stars on Google.
We implemented a feedback process (our review widget) in their showroom and recommended that they ask every person who come in contact with any staff member to provide an honest feedback. Within a short time their online reviews improved from 2.8 to 3.4 then to 3.6 and now they are sitting at 4.4 stars. As soon as they moved from 2.8 to 3.4/3.6 their website traffic increased by 25%.
Their overall traffic has improved by 100% now - simply from maintaining a 4.0+ stars rating. It's not that they are not getting negative reviews. They still are! However, by having an automated review/feedback process via website, landing page, email and SMS text they are able to get significantly more positive reviews from happy customers that they failed to capture before.
That is the benefit of positive reviews. Online Reviews are perceived as personal recommendations from those providing reviews.
Of course, there are some businesses that are generating fake reviews and review channels such as Google, Dealer Rater, Rate MD, etc; are getting better in recognizing review patterns through Artificial Intelligence and are even filtering fake reviews from showing up. Some businesses have been penalized as well.
So, be aware of asking your friends and families for fake reviews or worst, paying for reviews. It will end up hurting your business.
You may wonder what about negative reviews?
Well, the answer is that bury that negative review with a lot more positive review. Of course, I am assuming that you are ethical in your dealings and want to provide the best product and service to your customers. I also personally know of one landscape architect/designer in San Diego who lost their business and had to go work for their competitor simply due having two negative reviews. And, I also know about a landscape design company in Calgary who landed a big contract because that had 4.9 star rating on Google.
I hope these example can she some lights on the importance of online reviews.
They are crucial depending on your niche. Can increase click through rate
Business from Sooke, BC
Answered on Mar 24th, 2018
They are extremely important as everyone has access to the internet and the ability to search until they find the best. Excellent reviews = very satisfied clients/customers and that is what counts.
Actually, the most effective form of advertising for me is word-of-mouth. That is where I get most of my reviews, not online. I also prefer to talk to someone who has used a service or product I am interested in using/purchasing, versus reading reviews on-line. I put much more stock in a positive or negative review when I am speaking face-to-face with the customer or former client who is actively, enthusiastically explaining why I should or should not invest in that product or service. Word-of-mouth reviews also open the possibility of asking more questions and getting more information than having to rely on just a sentence or two about it.
Business from Campbell River, BC
Answered on Mar 24th, 2018
very important
Business from Kelowna, BC
Answered on Mar 24th, 2018
They are very important. If all else is equal people always , at least people that I know, look at the online reviews.
The reviews can also help build your brand. Even people that hear about our business by word of mouth, still check out our on-line "Google" reviews.
Would you eat at a new restaurant with the 100 reviews averaging 2.5 stars or a new restaurant with 10 reviews averaging 4.5 stars?
Online review is part of the digital marketing success recipe. I should know since we are a Local technology deployment company which has learned how to do internal digital marketing. We simply could not trust the call we were getting from people promising us, 1 page positioning and conversion ( Click to $)
Online review translates to Online word of moth. People believe what they read personally.
We search for a method to get genuine reviews. We found one. The net result is as follow
1- Higher SEO ranking in Google map position ( 1s page )
2- Higher SEO ranking in Google search position ( 1s page )
3- Boosting up morale
4- Easier Call to $ conversion since people read it and they call us knowing we are the best
5- The last one was s surprise to me, we actually raised our rates since Branded reputation bring price power
See a sample for key phase Network Cabling Los Angeles or even Network cabling Irvine .... We are branded as the best and have moved to the 1st with stars
Answers (1-10)
Online Reviews are extremely important for 95% to 98% of the businesses that I have come across.
I have had a local car dealership that we had managed to get top ranking for over 50 keywords yet their website visitor traffic did not show significant increases or improvements. After some more digging we realized that it was most likely their mediocre reviews. They had 14 reviews in total with an average rating of 2.8 stars on Google.
We implemented a feedback process (our review widget) in their showroom and recommended that they ask every person who come in contact with any staff member to provide an honest feedback. Within a short time their online reviews improved from 2.8 to 3.4 then to 3.6 and now they are sitting at 4.4 stars. As soon as they moved from 2.8 to 3.4/3.6 their website traffic increased by 25%.
Their overall traffic has improved by 100% now - simply from maintaining a 4.0+ stars rating. It's not that they are not getting negative reviews. They still are! However, by having an automated review/feedback process via website, landing page, email and SMS text they are able to get significantly more positive reviews from happy customers that they failed to capture before.
That is the benefit of positive reviews. Online Reviews are perceived as personal recommendations from those providing reviews.
Of course, there are some businesses that are generating fake reviews and review channels such as Google, Dealer Rater, Rate MD, etc; are getting better in recognizing review patterns through Artificial Intelligence and are even filtering fake reviews from showing up. Some businesses have been penalized as well.
So, be aware of asking your friends and families for fake reviews or worst, paying for reviews. It will end up hurting your business.
You may wonder what about negative reviews?
Well, the answer is that bury that negative review with a lot more positive review. Of course, I am assuming that you are ethical in your dealings and want to provide the best product and service to your customers. I also personally know of one landscape architect/designer in San Diego who lost their business and had to go work for their competitor simply due having two negative reviews. And, I also know about a landscape design company in Calgary who landed a big contract because that had 4.9 star rating on Google.
I hope these example can she some lights on the importance of online reviews.
They are extremely important to a small business but can also be frustrating. When someone lies and you have no way to explain what "really occurred".
They are crucial depending on your niche. Can increase click through rate
They are extremely important as everyone has access to the internet and the ability to search until they find the best. Excellent reviews = very satisfied clients/customers and that is what counts.
Actually, the most effective form of advertising for me is word-of-mouth. That is where I get most of my reviews, not online. I also prefer to talk to someone who has used a service or product I am interested in using/purchasing, versus reading reviews on-line. I put much more stock in a positive or negative review when I am speaking face-to-face with the customer or former client who is actively, enthusiastically explaining why I should or should not invest in that product or service. Word-of-mouth reviews also open the possibility of asking more questions and getting more information than having to rely on just a sentence or two about it.
very important
They are very important. If all else is equal people always , at least people that I know, look at the online reviews.
The reviews can also help build your brand. Even people that hear about our business by word of mouth, still check out our on-line "Google" reviews.
Would you eat at a new restaurant with the 100 reviews averaging 2.5 stars or a new restaurant with 10 reviews averaging 4.5 stars?
That is why online reviews are important.
Online reviews are extremely important to us.
Online review is part of the digital marketing success recipe. I should know since we are a Local technology deployment company which has learned how to do internal digital marketing. We simply could not trust the call we were getting from people promising us, 1 page positioning and conversion ( Click to $)
Online review translates to Online word of moth. People believe what they read personally.
We search for a method to get genuine reviews. We found one. The net result is as follow
1- Higher SEO ranking in Google map position ( 1s page )
2- Higher SEO ranking in Google search position ( 1s page )
3- Boosting up morale
4- Easier Call to $ conversion since people read it and they call us knowing we are the best
5- The last one was s surprise to me, we actually raised our rates since Branded reputation bring price power
See a sample for key phase Network Cabling Los Angeles or even Network cabling Irvine .... We are branded as the best and have moved to the 1st with stars
We are very proud of our good reviews and I am sure it helps our future customers decide where to take their business.
I know some companies opt to fake their reviews (or have a firm do it on their behalf) but I just couldn't.