The Importance of Online Reviews to Your Business

Increasingly more customers are using the Internet to search for information on products and services. Millions of people are willing to share their personal experiences about a brand they have tried. Their opinion is crucial to those who want to do business with you. Online customer reviews can make or break your reputation. Thus, it”s important to monitor your Internet presence and find out what people are saying about you.

How Significant Are Online Customer Reviews?

The importance of customer reviews should not be underestimated. Statistics show that more than 60 percent of clients trust online reviews and ratings. Over 70 percent of Internet users in U.S. read reviews and compare prices before going to a brick-and-mortar store. They often visit forums, chat rooms, and social networks to find out more about a business. Many of them type in questions like: “Is this product going to last,” “Is this doctor good,” or “Has anyone tried this service?”

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There are thousands of websites featuring customer reviews and product ratings. Their role is to help people make an informed decision before buying particular products or services. These sites often have complex rating systems that enable customers to evaluate a business properly. Marketing experts claim that online reviews are almost as important as product descriptions.

Studies indicate that 70 percent of customers trust a business more after reading positive reviews. Websites like Yelp, Merchant Circle, Insider Pages, and City Search offers valuable information about local companies. A business with good reviews is more credible and trustworthy. People are going to talk about your brand online, whether you like it or not. There’s nothing you can do to stop them from sharing their experiences. As a business owner, you should focus on offering the best customer service while monitoring your reputation. Start by building a website, connect with your clients online, and share relevant information.

Protect Your Company”s Reputation Online

Online customer reviews can be a powerful marketing tool. Many companies are constantly asking their clients to leave feedback on the Internet. Online reviews are important decision influencers for your potential customers. This kind of information affects client decisions as well as your rankings on the search engines. Positive reviews can drive huge traffic to your website and generate sales. They will act like a magnet for potential clients.

If your business has received negative feedback through online reviews, your search engine rankings will drop significantly. Negative information will keep prospects away and hurt your reputation online and offline. The good news is that there are several things you can do to improve your image on the Internet and minimize the impact of negative reviews.

Developing a good online reputation should be your priority. All of your marketing efforts, including pay-per-click, SEO and social media, will be useless if you have a bad reputation. You can either solve this problem yourself or hire an expert. Many companies provide reputation management services for corporate clients. They can help increase your website rankings and take the necessary measures to turn negative reviews into positive ones.