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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
Some entrepreneurs can be a little intimidated by online reviews. It is never fun to read what disappointed customers have to say. But there are a few reasons that you actually want your customers to write online reviews.
In This Post:
People Trust Reviews
Studies reveal that 70% of consumers trust online reviews. This is particularly true when they are coming from friends and family. If a consumer is going to make a purchase, she wants to be sure that the company has a good reputation. Reviews add another layer of trust.
Defending Integrity of Reviews
Of course, you should never write fake reviews for your company. It will give the impression that consumers do not have anything good to say about your products, so you have to fake it. Review websites like OpenTell defend the integrity of reviews by filtering out fakes. This could also defend against disgruntled employees and smear campaigns.
Identify Your Blindspots
Negative reviews can highlight deficiencies in your product that you did not know were there. If you show your audience that you are willing to adapt based on their criticism, they are more likely to be loyal to your business.
Conduct Market Research
A wise entrepreneur is not merely scanning her reviews. She is also researching rival companies. Online reviews can provide insight into your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. You could use that information when you are marketing. For example, imagine that you sell air conditioners. After reading reviews, you discover that consumers think a competitor’s controls are difficult to use. You would respond by ensuring that yours are easy to use and advertising that feature.
Building External Links
Search engines reward websites that have multiple offsite links. An online review site would be an optimal place for these links. Consumers will flood the internet with your brand. Even negative reviews can bolster your SEO because they are using your company name and website.
Understand What Customers Want
Sometimes, after you have focused a lot of your attention on a particular aspect of your product, you find that people are not even interested in that feature. Reviews can underline where you should focus your attention.
Fodder For Advertisements
Positive reviews might not change your business much. But they will show what people appreciate. You can use that information when you are marketing your product. Learn what appeals to people.
Negative Reviews Are Rare
If you are concerned about negative reviews, you probably should not be. Most reviews are positive. Unless a customer is absolutely furious with a product, she is probably not going to bother to write a review. People do not want to come off as confrontational. If fact, only 3% of customers say that they frequently leave bad reviews.
People Make Online Purchases
Depending on your industry, you can probably expect a lot of online purchases. Prior to making these purchases, consumers will check reviews. If you do not have any, they will think that your business is not significant enough to be noticed. Further, most people do not want to take a risk on a company without any reviews.
Engagement
Digital marketing is about finding creative ways to get customers to engage. If they are talking about your product, that is engagement. Their friends and family will want to know what they have to say. Many people like to share their reviews on social media platforms. This would fulfill a concept known as brand repetition.
Many companies actually reward customers for writing reviews. You should create a loyalty program wherein customers are given discounts in exchange for writing reviews.
