How important are online reviews for your Westchester, NY small business? Let’s put it this way, online reviews can make or break your business.
In order to compete with the big guys, you need all the help you can get to push your brand across the web. Online reviews can do this and so much more for your business.
88% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Not only do online reviews influence your customers, but they also help you get to know your customers better. These are just two of the benefits…
Here are 5 reasons why you need online reviews:
1. Online reviews provide feedback on your business
Every review gives you more insight into your business. Whether the review is positive or negative, you’ll learn where your business excels and where your business needs work. This gives you the opportunity to take the necessary action to make changes where needed. Lets’ face it, there is always room for improvement.
2. Online reviews help you understand your customers
It’s a 2-way street…while your customers are helping you understand your business, you are also getting to know the wants, needs, likes and dislikes of your customers. Based on their feedback, you may be offering a product or service that just doesn’t appeal to your customers. Now you have a better idea of what your market is looking for, which may even prompt you to change your target market.
3. Online reviews shape your reputation
Of course the positive reviews are going to uplift your reputation, but don’t discount the negative reviews. Here’s your opportunity to showcase your customer service and support. Never ignore reviews. Recovering, maintaining, and even improving, your business’ reputation can be easily executed by how you respond to negative, possibly damaging reviews.
4. Online reviews can boost your search rankings
Online customer reviews play a large part in your organic search rankings. The more you are mentioned on the web, the more search engines see you as a credible business. New reviews are considered unique and relevant content that is going to be crawled by search engines. Reviews also provide backlinks and drive traffic to your website, this also plays a key part in the search engine optimization (SEO) process.
5. Online reviews are a FREE marketing tool that can increase sales
Last, and certainly not least, this is probably your biggest goal as a small business…increasing sales! Listing your business on online directories that provide reviews is free. Essentially, online reviews are free marketing because your business is out there for many potential customers to see. Leverage the positive reviews by using them as testimonials on your website.
72% of consumers say that positive reviews make them trust a business more and drive them to take action.
Now that you can see the importance of online reviews, don’t be afraid to reach out to your happy customers and request a review. Here’s a list of the top 10 review websites you should place your focus on. Keep in mind that not all review sites cater to your type of business, so pick and choose wisely.
List of the Top 10 Review Websites
- Google My Business – good for any type of business
- Facebook – good for any type of business
- Amazon – good for e-commerce
- Yelp – good for any business, especially the service industry
- Trip Advisor – good for the food and travel industry
- Yellowpages – good for any business
- BBB (Better Business Bureau) – good for any business
- Manta – good for any business
- Angie’s List – good for service-related businesses
- Foursquare – good for any business, especially restaurants
So now you have reviews about your business plastered all over the web, how do you stay on top of all the feedback that is out there? There are numerous review tracking websites and tools to help you such as Google Alerts, Review Trackers, Review Push and Reputation Ranger.
If you’re not sure how to handle those negative reviews, be sure to visit our blog on “How to Handle Bad Reviews” and learn how to turn an unfavorable situation into something that will actually benefit your business.
We are here to help…
As a Westchester County, NY small business owner you are probably too busy to request reviews and keep track of them. That’s where Exceller Marketing comes in, we can help you increase your positive online reviews, respond to and bury negative reviews and improve your overall online reputation. Please feel free to contact us today for a FREE consultation.
Best regards, until next time!
Kathy Argyros
Founder and Chief Consultant
Exceller Marketing, Inc.
914-450-9149
kathy@excellermarketing.com
excellermarketing.com
Exceller Marketing is a boutique-style, full-service web design and digital marketing agency in Westchester County, NY. We empower small businesses and entrepreneurs with outstanding web design and expert digital marketing services that keep our clients ahead of their competition.
Sources: Invesp, Business2Community, Vendasta
Photo: Digital Marketing Maniacs
