Mitch Earll
Account Analyst
Hello and welcome back to another HIFIVE HUB Article. As a local business owner, you know that word-of-mouth is essential to your success. Online reviews are the new word of mouth in the digital age, and they matter just as much. In fact, you might be surprised to hear that nowadays consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. If you're not yet taking advantage of online reviews, now is the time to start. As a local business owner, you can't afford to ignore online reviews. Here's why:
Online reviews are essential for discovery.
If potential customers can't find your business online, they're not going to be able to leave you a review. Make sure your website is optimized for search engines and that your business is listed on all of the relevant directories (Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc.).
Online reviews build trust.
As I mentioned before, online reviews are like word-of-mouth recommendations. When someone reads a positive review about your business, they're more likely to trust you and give you their business. On the other hand, if they can't find any reviews or the reviews they do find are negative, they'll likely take their business elsewhere.
Online reviews give you valuable feedback.
In addition to helping potential customers make a decision about your business, online reviews also give you insight into what your customers think about your products or services. Pay attention to the reviews that are left for your business and use them to make improvements.
Now that you know why online reviews matter, it's time to start taking advantage of them.
Here are a few tips:
Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative.
When someone takes the time to leave a review, they deserve a response. Thank customers for their positive reviews and address any concerns raised in negative reviews. Even if you receive a negative review, a customer might still give you a chance to earn their business depending on how you respond to the negative feedback.
Encourage customers to leave reviews.
Make it easy for your customers to leave reviews by providing links on your website and social media pages. You can also include a call-to-action in your email signature and receipts.
Monitor your online reputation.
Use Google Alerts or another online reputation monitoring tool to track what's being said about your business online. This will help you stay on top of any negative reviews and take action if necessary.
By taking advantage of online reviews, you can build trust with potential customers and get valuable feedback about your business. Don't wait - start promoting your reviews today!
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