Want to Improve Your Online Reviews? Try This.

Positive reviews do two things well: they help your business show up in search results, and they make people more likely to buy once they find you. You can increase visibility as well as authority when you receive positive reviews on online platforms.

Getting good reviews isn’t easy as it means your business has delivered customers exceptional service or product. However, it doesn’t always work that way. Most customers are reluctant to leave a review unless the product/service greatly affects them both in a good or bad way.

That’s why reviews are so polarized. You’ll likely see a positive comment on how your product has amazingly helped solve customers’ problems or a harsh critique of your service.

If you have a Google My Business or other social account where public comments are not restricted, make sure to keep tabs on your online reviews. People still rely on customer testimonials and overall business ratings before spending their money. That said, improving online reviews will contribute to more leads and higher sales.

Why Should You Boost Your Online Reviews?

Online reviews are a snapshot of how your business actually treats people. A steady stream of positive feedback tells potential customers that you consistently deliver — and a few bad ones can undo months of good work.

After all, good reviews speak louder than any marketing strategy. No matter how hard you promote a business, nothing beats what customers say about you.

This is why you can’t neglect online reviews at any cost.

Actively managing your reviews pays off in several concrete ways:

Some of these benefits are:

• People trust online reviews as much as they make personal recommendations. Hence, more positive reviews mean more customers will be acquired.
• Online reviews improve your SEO ranking, which helps you get more organic traffic. This is especially true if the review is scored-based, like the star rating system. A higher star rating will attract online users to visit your website. On the other hand, fewer stars can significantly decrease the number of organic visitors.
• Online reviews help you build social proof, which helps convert more leads into customers. What’s more, social proof helps you establish a more trustworthy business.

7 Best Practices to Improve Online Reviews

1. Send a follow-up email after every purchase or service is complete

One of the most important things you can do is encourage customers to leave reviews. This can be done in various ways, such as sending a follow-up email or chat once the customer has made a purchase.

Although encouraging customers alone won’t yield an expected result, there are some ways to urge them to leave a personal comment. An incentive program or creating a review link on your website are the fastest ways to get their attention.

Making a reward system for those who leave a good review of your business still works wonders. People love getting appreciated after doing a good job, and that’s what you can do.

2. Respond to all negative reviews promptly

While positive customer feedback is something to be happy about, the negative ones shouldn’t be ignored either. Since customers are using online reviews to research your business, they expect it to be active and helpful in answering their questions or concerns.

This means that regardless of how harsh a comment may seem, never ignore it blindly.  Instead, train your employees to respond to each review with empathy and politeness (using videos is a good idea). This will show them that you care about their opinions and that there is always room for improvement.

3. Update your review page regularly

Online reputation management doesn’t stop after launching a review campaign on your site or social media. You must be proactive and keep the lines of communication open at all times.

One way to do this is by updating your review page regularly. This will not only show that you’re still active but also let customers know that their voices are being heard.

Moreover, it would be best to set up Google Alerts for your business name or keywords related to your industry. This way, you can track what people are saying about you online and quickly act on any negative reviews.

4. Highlight the positive reviews on your website

Source: Breadnbeyond

Once you start receiving positive feedback from customers, don’t just leave them there without taking any action. Put those reviews to work by featuring them on your website or social media.

This will increase your social proof and give potential customers the confidence to do business with you.

5. Use a third-party review platform

While showcasing reviews on your website can be helpful, there are also many advantages of using a third-party review platform. It builds trust and credibility since it’s coming from an independent source.

It also allows you to get more exposure since these platforms are usually well-known and have a large audience.

Some popular third-party review platforms that you can use are Yelp, Google My Business, and TripAdvisor.

When using these platforms, make sure to create a profile for your business and claim your listing. This way, you can respond to reviews quickly and take control of the conversation.

6. Improve your social media presence

In addition to using third-party review platforms, it’s also important to have a strong social media presence. This way, you can connect directly with customers and encourage them to leave positive reviews on your site or profiles.

Some effective ways to do this include posting regular updates about your business, creating and hosting online events for your target audience, and having an active customer support team.

Done consistently, these social media habits strengthen your credibility and give potential customers more reasons to choose you over a competitor.

7. Seek out influencers

Lastly, you may need to ask influencers to encourage their followers to leave reviews on your products. Influencer marketing is now one of the most effective ways to reach out to potential customers.

There are many platforms that can help you find and connect with relevant influencers, such as Hootsuite’s Insights tool and Followerwonk by Moz.

When approaching an influencer, make sure to have a solid plan in place. This way, they will be more likely to influence their followers to purchase a product as well as leave a review for you.

Takeaway

Whether someone finds you through Google, Yelp, or social media, your reviews are likely the first thing they read. That makes review management not optional, but a core part of running your business. 

However, online reviews can come up in many different shapes: positive and negative ones. Make sure to respond publicly to negative reviews to show potential customers that you care about their feedback and are actively working to resolve any issues they may have had.

You also need to optimize your response accurately with accurate information so that users who make a complaint will get a positive first impression, which then improves their experiences with your company.