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5 Reasons Why Businesses Should Take Reviews More Seriously

Posted on May 21, 2019

If you’ve had a bad experience with a business, what’s the first thing you do?


Don’t underestimate the power of customer reviews & the impact they can have.

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You would probably send them a strongly-worded email explaining exactly what you think of them and the way they operate or give them a call in the hope you’ll be able to speak to someone in charge? Of course not! You turn straight to social media to write a review and tell the world just how unhappy you are.
So why is it then that businesses are still ignoring the power of reviews and what they can do for their business? Both positively and negatively.

1. Reviews provide an honest, unbiased insight into your business

Customers, whether happy or unhappy, are more than willing to reveal the nitty-gritty of their experience with your business because they’re unbiased. Therefore potential customers will put more trust into what an existing customer has to say about you rather than what you have to say about your own business. Is there anything that can define your business better than your customers’ own words and experiences?

2. Responding to reviews (both positive and negative) can make or break your reputation.

All reviews should be responded to, regardless of whether they are positive or negative. A customer could leave the most terrible review imaginable but if it is responded to in a timely, polite and appropriate manner then there’s a chance that the trust could be rebuilt. If the terrible review is ignored then your business is missing a key opportunity to salvage your reputation with that customer. You could lose the customer’s trust, other customers’ trust and worsen the situation – all because you couldn’t face up to a less-than-complimentary review.
social media - google reviews

3. Turn new customers into loyal customers by providing incentives in exchange for honesty

You could encourage your customers to leave honest reviews about you in exchange for incentives. These incentives could persuade one-time customers to purchase from you again making them repeat customers and the positive reviews could encourage new customers to purchase from you. These new customers will then begin the cycle by purchasing from you, writing an honest review in exchange for an incentive and then encouraging new customers to purchase from you. Why spend hours promoting your business when you can let your customers do the work for you?

4. Turn your most loyal customers into your brand ambassadors

If a customer feels passionately enough to write a positive review about their experience with your business then they are more likely to engage with your content, right? This in itself could help to spread the word about your business as it’s a form of word-of-mouth marketing. By combining this with an incentive scheme to encourage customers to write an honest review or tell a friend in exchange for a special offer, your business could build a dedicated fan base of loyal customers who are eager to spread the word about you. What’s more, you won’t even have to lift a finger!

5. You can shout about positive reviews as much as you can, wherever you like

Your business cards, your website, your email footer – positive reviews can be shouted about almost anywhere you can think of. When you think about it, what’s the point in earning great reviews if you’re not going to tell people about them? Sharing positive reviews in multiple places extends their value and means you can use your customers’ own words to promote your business in as many places as you like.
When 67% of consumers take online reviews into account before making a purchase, can you really afford not to take them more seriously?
If you need support managing reviews for your business, advice on how to gather new reviews or just a helping hand with social media then get in touch.
sophie wright - status social apprentice - social media
 
 
 
 
 
By Sophie Wright. Sophie is a Marketing Professional who spent twelve weeks with Status Social, learning about the world of social media for business and researching its possibilities.
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