These days, it's the internet that makes the world go round, it has brought a range of new things to our fingertips, from buying the weekly shop online to researching your next purchase. It was a place for posting a new website to promote your business, but now it is a place where consumers can evaluate products that they have purchased by leaving feedback such as online reviews and customers testimonials.
So whatever you’re looking to purchase online, from a new internet provider to booking a holiday, it's rare that you will make a decision before reading through the online reviews. Research has also shown that 94% of online shoppers have said that seeing a negative review has convinced them to stop using a business. Whatever your industry having a positive online presence - and positive reviews will always provide you with an advantage.
Gaining positive online reviews will help to improve your customer experience as well as create a positive online footprint.
Around 53% of customers will expect a business to reply to their online review within 7 days, the importance of replying to a negative review can’t be ignored, surveys have shown that 45% of respondents are more likely to visit a business if it responds to negative reviews.
Research has shown that customers are more likely to leave a review after a negative experience than leave a positive review. Negative reviews can have detrimental effects on businesses so it's important to bear this in mind.
Reviews not only influence customer decisions but they can also strengthen your brand and your credibility. Reviews have the power to support customer trust and will encourage customers to use your company, customer interaction will lead to increased profits for your business. Reviews also provide the opportunity for businesses and customers to establish relationships with each other.
A lot of business owners tend to take reviews for granted, they are important for your business, the majority of customers tend to trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations from their friends or family. In this modern world where everything can be found online, people tend to look for reviews to see if a business is credible or not.